Author Topic: 3D studio does not pay out if your are not from USA? (Read 4797 times)

hofhoek · « **on:** January 17, 2012, 10:24 »

Hi, I just stupidly uploaded a few more of my images to 3D as I had some sales the last days. But..they will not pay me until I send them a IRS W-8 form. I will not do that because I will not give information to the US IRS as I pay taxes in the Netherlands. (I guess quite a lot more than in the US). Is there anyone who has found a solution to this problem other than sending them the tax form? I will delete all my images there when they will not pay me but they still owe me some money. I don't understand why they are the only stockagency with this ridiculous demand. Hope someone has some positive news on this.
Thanks

luissantos84 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2012, 20:26 »

sorry but I am not understanding.. FT, SS, DT, DP requested the W-8BEN..

I have sent it to 3D too and have 1 payment from them (but I had a cut on earnings once I haven´t provided the ITIN which I don´t have)

buyers paid 42$ for 8 sales, I got 29.4$ (70% comission (5 years locked in)) but got 22.88$ on paypal (which is 54%)

dirkr · « **Reply #2 on:** January 18, 2012, 04:05 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on January 17, 2012, 20:26

sorry but I am not understanding.. FT, SS, DT, DP requested the W-8BEN..

I have sent it to 3D too and have 1 payment from them (but I had a cut on earnings once I haven´t provided the ITIN which I don´t have)

buyers paid 42$ for 8 sales, I got 29.4$ (70% comission (5 years locked in)) but got 22.88$ on paypal (which is 54%)

That's exactly the problem.
All the other agencies in the US seem to be fine with an online W-8BEN form without the need for an ITIN.
That means I would have to accept a 30% tax deduction that is not justified because there is a tax treaty between the US and my country (Germany). There should be no deduction in my case.
There have been some discussions here about it and 3D insists that their way is right and all other agencies are wrong.
I am still waiting for them to implement a reasonable solution without me requiring to obtain an ITIN (which is costly, because you have to get notarized copies of your passport etc - just not worth it for the low amount of revenue they generate).

sharpshot · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2012, 04:23 »

+1, I would use them if it wasn't for the withholding tax problem that every other site I use has got around without making me apply for an ITIN number.

hofhoek · « **Reply #4 on:** January 18, 2012, 10:51 »

Do you think it is legal to keep my money like this?

luissantos84 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 18, 2012, 13:37 »

Quote from: hofhoek on January 18, 2012, 10:51

Do you think it is legal to keep my money like this?

I have talked many many times with them about this matter, they always say they are the only agency doing the right thing, all other are somehow illegal or just don´t care about it, I am now uploading to them but curious we have 7 days to submit the files after the upload date.. which means 30 seconds per picture, not sure if worth, I would expect more flexibility but nothing.. looks like we need them more than they need us, weird!

hofhoek · « **Reply #6 on:** January 18, 2012, 14:25 »

My last mistake will be it. No more uploading at 3D until they can change this tax thing into a web form you can fill like all the other agencies. The Netherlands have a tax agreement with the US so I shouldn't even have to pay any tax at all! And now I don't even get a percentage of the money I am intitled to. Strange ways..

mtkang · « **Reply #7 on:** January 18, 2012, 23:20 »

my country is not treaty with USA, so i just need to download the form and fill up and scan and upload it?

hofhoek · « **Reply #8 on:** January 19, 2012, 05:41 »

I just wish it was just that easy. You have to apply to the IRS in the Usa and ask for a ITN number. I guess you do that with this form. As I understand you are not given a ITN number very easily. But you can try if you want to. Good luck

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #9 on:** January 19, 2012, 07:14 »

As I understand it, if you fly anywhere in Europe then all your personal and travel details are passed to the CIA automatically.

It seems pointless to refuse to give them the tax info, since they've probably already got the same details some other way. For all you know, the mere fact of refusing to supply details to collect your money may mark you out as a "terror suspect" in the paranoid world of Homeland Security!