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KDP tax interview (tax profile): W-8, withholding and treaties

Checked against Amazon’s pages on 2026-11-09. Not affiliated with Amazon.

What is the KDP tax interview, and how much tax does Amazon withhold from my royalties?

KDP's tax interview, now called the Tax Profile, establishes your tax identity, and you cannot publish or update books until it is validated. US persons have no US withholding once they give valid information. Non-US persons complete a Form W-8 and have 30% withheld from Amazon.com ebook sales and some print sales, including KDP Select Global Fund payments, unless a US tax treaty and a tax ID number allow a lower rate.

Key facts
Required before publishingYes, validated Tax Profile
US personsNo US withholding with valid tax information
Non-US default US withholding30%
Treaty rate needsUS TIN (ITIN or EIN) or your country's tax ID
W-8 validityUntil the last day of the third calendar year after signing
Mismatch with IRS recordsUpdate within 30 days or publishing is suspended
Year-end forms1099-MISC by Jan 31 (US); 1042-S by Mar 15 (non-US)

Terms on this page: Tax Profile

What the Tax Profile does

US tax rules require Amazon to collect your tax identity because royalties can count as income. In KDP you complete it under Your Account, then Tax Information, then Complete Tax Profile. The questionnaire generates the right form from your answers: a Form W-8 for non-US persons, or a W-8ECI if your income is connected with a US trade or business. US persons enter a US tax number (SSN, EIN or ITIN) that must match IRS records exactly; KDP’s help pages don’t walk through the US form by name. Until the status is Complete, you cannot publish new books or update existing ones.

Withholding for US persons

Once valid information is on file, royalties carry no US tax withholding. Brazil still withholds 15% on Amazon.com.br sales, and Amazon.in sales are subject to 10% Singaporean withholding.

Withholding for non-US persons

The default US rate is 30% on Amazon.com ebook sales, on print sales from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.jp, Amazon.com.au and Amazon.ca, and on KDP Select Global Fund payments. If your country has an income tax treaty with the US, you may get a lower rate by giving a US TIN or, if you don’t have one, your own country’s income tax ID.

Worked example

A non-US author signs a W-8 on September 30, 2026. It stays valid through December 31, 2029. If it isn’t renewed by then, any treaty rate reverts to 30%.

Common mistakes

  • Entering a name that differs from the IRS record: SSN names must match the Social Security card, and EIN names the first line of the IRS notice.
  • Forgetting that a newly issued TIN can take up to 60 days to reach the IRS database.
  • Comparing the 1099 or 1042-S to royalty reports. The forms show payments received, not royalties earned.

Amazon changes these rules; the linked KDP help pages are the authority.

Questions

Do I need a US tax number to complete the interview?
No. You can submit the Tax Profile without one, but any treaty reduction from the 30% rate won't apply until you provide a tax ID. You can retake the profile once you get it.
What happens when my W-8 expires?
You update your Tax Profile to generate a new one. If you let it expire, a reduced treaty rate goes back to 30%.
Are other countries' taxes withheld too?
Yes. Sales on Amazon.com.br are subject to Brazilian withholding (15% for US persons), and sales on Amazon.in to 10% Singaporean withholding unless a treaty reduces it.
Can KDP tell me my treaty rate?
The Tax Profile shows the rate based on your answers, but Amazon cannot give tax advice. Check it against the IRS treaty tables or ask a tax adviser.

Related tools

Sources

Spotted a change on Amazon’s side? Send a correction. Plain-text version.