The Global Internal Revenue Service Of The USA

The Americans strike again! This time, they strike at everyone!

"Tax Information Incomplete" My Ass!

Quoting from Amazon, again:

The U.S. IRS requires Amazon to collect 30% from royalty payments issued to non-U.S. entities. The tax withholding will automatically be deducted from your royalties when they are paid.

The same is true for the other big, and previously useful, eBooks website Smashwords:

If you reside outside the US, your Smashwords earnings are subject to a 30% tax withholding, mandated by the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

So, it appears that the attack on the Internet and our informational liberties is still ongoing, even if we do not actually live in the USA. Simply because the USA is currently a host to some of the biggest online companies. I have a feeling that this will rapidly change.

Now, I must bother to move my eBooks over to somewhere, that does not collect taxes for a country I do not reside in, nor am a citizen of. I have been searching around for a website that is relatively popular, yet is not USA based. Interestingly enough, the Kobo website, which appears to be based in Japan, looks promising! Got to love those Japanese, eh!

As a post script, I will mention that certain countries are able to get certain tax reductions, towards the 20% and 10% rates. So, if you feel stuck with a USA based website, then at least, you can bother and have your taxes reduced.