Amazon Associates Tax Information - Who is the beneficial owner?

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I am trying to submit my tax information for the Amazon Associates program. One of the first things that I am asked is what the "Type of beneficial owner" is. I can choose "Individual" or "Corporation" and then either enter my personal information or the information of my company. Should I choose "Individual" or "Corporation"?

Background information: I'm a Swedish citizen and I live on Malta. I run a "limited" Malta company where all the payments from Amazon will go. The Malta company is fully owned by a Gibraltar holding company, and I fully own the Gibraltar company.

It's driving me crazy trying to figure out this, so I would really appreciate any advice.

Thank you.
#main internet marketing discussion forum #amazon #associates #beneficial #information #owner #tax
  • I would say corporation and then see if it works. Probably "corporation" because you are definitely not taking the payment as an "individual"... I'm not a lawyer so don't quote me on that. But logically I think that is it
  • Use Corporate, since the amount is sent to your corporate account. This is good thing since you get all the benefits which are not applicable for individual. Check with your CA how thing work in your country


  • That's easy....you list the Malta corporation on the amazon application.


    This way, the checks are made out to the Malta corporation, and the Malta corporation can cash them.
  • Thank you for the suggestions. I would like to list the company, however in my experience the term "beneficial owner" means the "owner behind it all", the one who in the end "benefits", which would be me personally (although I am not entirely familiar with the term). Are you guys completely sure that it is correct to list my company as the beneficial owner?

    By the way, I asked Amazon customer service which would be the right choice, and they seemed unsure and in the end said "we do not help with tax issues". Also when I google online everyone seems confused. All definitions of "beneficial owner" are also close to impossible to understand and the IRS does not provide any information. I do not want to submit the wrong choice and end up with tax problems with the IRS in the future.
    • [1] reply
    • YES.

      Beneficial owner is a strange choice of words, but for tax purposes it can mean nothing other than the entity receiving payment. If payment is made to your Malta corporation, the tax authorities require that it is the one to report the income.

      Amazon needs to know who that is simply because they are ALSO required to report monies paid out by individual tax id. It's the taxing authorities' way to "audit" what you (or corporate entity receiving/reporting revenue) report as income for tax purposes.

      It only follows that the 2 need to match in order for the authorities to be able to reconcile the amounts.
  • You should choose:
    I've tried and get successfully
    • [1] reply
    • Why should I choose individual and what do you mean by "success"? You mean you got a payout? Did you have a company?
      • [1] reply
  • Anyone else? I am just as confused as before, and I have to submit it today as Amazon has tax information deadlines the 15:th each month.
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    Amazon Associates Tax Information - Who is the beneficial owner?

    I am trying to submit my tax information for the Amazon Associates program. One of the first things that I am asked is what the "Type of beneficial owner" is. I can choose "Individual" or "Corporation" and then either enter my personal information or the information of my company. Should I choose "Individual" or "Corporation"? Background information: I'm a Swedish citizen and I live on Malta. I run a "limited" Malta company where all the payments from Amazon will go. The Malta company is fully owned by a Gibraltar holding company, and I fully own the Gibraltar company.