Self-publishing: any UK print on demand (POD) services?

[thaddeus6th]

I'm not that thrilled dealing with HMRC, but even more annoyed at always having to jump through IRS tax hoops.

I'd gotten quite far along in the Lulu process, but I really don't want to dick about hunting for an IRS tax number. It'd be much easier if there was just a UK print on demand service.

Has anyone found/used one?

 

[Glitch]

Have you looked at lightning source?

 

[thaddeus6th]

No, I'll go check that out.

Having looked back I seem to have made a slight mistake. I thought the SSN/ITIN was required, but it seems to be optional.

That said, I'd still rather work with a British firm, all else being equal. The US tax grab really irks me.

 

[Ursa major]

I think it's a US firm, Thad, but they do have a site in Milton Keynes (which may make one's dealings with them less US orientated). Oh, and their UK operations are performed through a limited company registered in the UK.

 

[Ogma]

Would dealing with a UK POD service really cut out the IRS? Surely you would still have to account for the foreign income?

 

[Ursa major]

The UK has an agreement with the US regarding what might be seen as double taxation (i.e. paying tax both in the UK and US on the same income).

Here's a starting point with HMRC:

UK residents - claiming tax relief or exemption for foreign income or gains.
​

 

[thaddeus6th]

Ogma, I think you're probably right.

The IRS rules (taxing foreigners by default) really irks me, though. It's the antithesis of no taxation without representation. Plus, a British firm would pay British corporation tax.

Cheers for the link, Ursa. I really doubt I'll sell enough (due to the pricing structure) copies in the US for it to make a substantial difference, but it's the principle that annoys me.

Ha, bit ranty today.

 

[Brian G Turner]

W-8BEN, If I recall correctly:
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw8ben.pdf

 

[thaddeus6th]

Aye, that's the monkey.

Anyway, I shall have a bit of a look around. I may stick with Lulu (taken me a little while to try and get a file ready for it), but this IRS tax grabbing annoyed me the first time I came across it and it still irks me now.

 

[thaddeus6th]

Had a quick search, but fees seem to abound. Xlibris, for example, seems to charge £199 for the privilege of setting your own price.

So, I decided to go back to Lulu, only to find there's an unrecoverable error or some variety (no idea why). Oh well, at least I still have the files needed to redo it. Bah!

 

[Stephen Palmer]

Lightning Source were one of the very first to get into POD, they had a good rep then, probably still do now.

 

[DaCosta]

Don't let the tax thing put you off using Createspace. A five min call to the IRS and they'll give you a ITIN number. Just fill out the form W8BEN and 'bob's your uncle'. Amazon now ask for this whether you want to sell in the US or not as they've had their wrists slapped recently when it comes to 'tax' issues.

 

[thaddeus6th]

Hmm.

That's slightly confused me. I do self-publish (e-books) directly through Amazon and recently remember being annoyed by having to provide more tax info... I've no ITIN, though.Hmm.

 

[Clive Catterall]

Don't let the tax thing put you off using Createspace. A five min call to the IRS and they'll give you a ITIN number. Just fill out the form W8BEN and 'bob's your uncle'. Amazon now ask for this whether you want to sell in the US or not as they've had their wrists slapped recently when it comes to 'tax' issues.

Maybe it's quicker now. It took me 6 weeks to get an ITIN. You have to send passport/birth certificate and contract/offer letter to the US Embassy in London. It's not difficult at all; it just takes time. The IRS take a lot of trouble to identify you as a genuine foreign national and not a US citizen trying to evade tax payment.

IIRC you need to fill out a W8BEN form for every publisher/POD service you use and send it to them. This declaration allows the publisher/POD service to pay you the full amount. If they are still taking tax from your payments, that is not the fault of the IRS! If they have done this after you have a W8BEN in place you might be able to get a rebate from the IRS. Maybe.

Clive Catterall

 

[George Ian]

Has anyone come across Feedaread? I've just started investigating what they offer.