Quote from: KiwiRob on May 31, 2009, 07:24

Quote from: Karimala on May 29, 2009, 16:00
I'm actually surprised more people weren't banned.  The level of outrage over something SS has no control over, plus the ensuing misinformation that was being spread, was pretty ridiculous and very unprofessional on the part of some of the contributors.  Thank goodness calmer heads prevailed over here at Microstockgroup where accurate information can be shared. 

SS do have control over it, Jon could move the company offshore like all his competition, then the problem would go away. This issus is probably the reason why the majority of MS agencies aren't located in the US. You have to feel for those who live in non treaty countries, loosing 30% of bugger all really would make one question the worth of joing SS.

From what i gather, and to the best of my knowledge of the information available, and conceding that i may be incorrect.... SS have confirmed in their forum that they are not considering the option of opening an offshore office. However, please check SS official policy with regard to this - I cannot make claims about the factual accuracy of this information.

One aspect of this thing is much bigger than shutterstock.  If the US tax department makes it difficult to do international business over the internet, and if the only way to do so is to provide private information... then this debate is going to grow beyond photography forums.

This was never just about losing personal income. For many it has a significant ethical and political dimension. 

Thanks Jerry... im looking forward to having my first real explore...
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I'm glad it was spot on then.

Pretty fascinating. I don't know much about the sanskrit syllables except that Kali had 50 odd around her neck (as skulls who knows why). And that the Hindus think everything originates from these sounds.   sounds like  string theory to me.  One time the newspaper 'the hindu' published this headline: 'string theory has been disproved.'  And that was it. One line.  I think they were having a little joke.
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Stop making me smile so hard - my head's about to crack open.

It's really nice to see familiar faces. And thanks for the warm welcome everyone...

They say Om Tat Sat here. I have no idea what it means, but it's nice and it sounds right.

Lucy x

Im really hopeful about what Im reading on the SS thread about this issue.

They said they are working on ways to delay the withholding until we're all able to get the paperwork ready. And, as mentioned before, they're investigating the issue of US v non-US downloads...

So hopefully it won't hit non-treaty countries so hard... (and the rest of us who 'possibly' cant get this dang number, but what to do)

Wow, i wonder if you stacked up all the paperwork that us photographers will have to do to get an ITIN, i wonder if it would reach to the moon? I mean, if you do that with pennies on a chessboard apparently it will reach 3.4 light years high. Or something like that, i forget.

Another great thing is how much information there is out there about how to go about this thing... (bravi forums)

: ) x

ps. i didn't lose my rag, but i do feel a worrying absence of a marble somewhere... x
pps.  do IRS accept an application without a full set of notarised and apostilled marbles?

Quote from: Whitechild on May 29, 2009, 11:13
Lucy, are you banned only from their forum, or your account is totally canceled?

Hi whitechild!

No, they didnt cancel my account... Im just banned from posting in the forums.   I can still read the threads though, and i can still read PMs that people send me. But when i send a pm  - the content is changed to SHUTTERSTOCK-BANNED.

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Hey Yuliang,

i believe if you write to [email protected] they can help you opt out.

But maybe it is wise to wait and see..... ss are still investigating some aspects of this... and we should see how it all unfolds

Lucy x

Quote from: RT on May 29, 2009, 09:50
The way I've always understood this US tax thing is that they are required to withhold the 30% ONLY from sales originating in the US, i.e. if a European buyer buys an image from me on Getty the tax isn't withheld but if the buyer is from the US it is. Without reading through the hundreds of pages on the SS forum does anybody know if this has been addressed or whether the US tax law has changed?

Hi,

I've read every page of the threads on the topic.  SS are now investigating this matter further, and have promised to get back to everyone on this.

Keep monitoring the thread because hopefully there will be an update soon.

Unfortunately, i have also been banned from their forum.

lucy x

Hi all people here 

I'm new and i'd just like to introduce myself...

My name is Lucy, and I'm currently living in the southern tip of India, on the coast of the Arabian Sea.
Which sounds nice, but in reality means that it's now raining a lot.

So forums are great 

Im also secretly hoping there are people here from my old forum... because I miss them all a lot and it's only been a day .... 

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