Google begins collecting tax information for AdSense

November 30th is deadline before they withhold payments

[Jenstar]

They have sent out emails detailing the tax information they need, and you are now prompted to submit your tax information upon your next AdSense login.

We now have one question regarding US presence and the use of a US-based webhost.

Generally, using an unrelated third-party United States (U.S.) web hosting service to host your web pages, renting web servers that are located in the U.S. from an unrelated third party, or having your payment sent to a U.S. Post Office Box or mail forwarding address, do not of themselves constitute U.S. Activities.

It is nice that this is finally cleared up for non-US publishers whose only US presence is where they host their website.

[Jenstar]

They also have added a new page, all on the tax issue:
[google.com...]

It answers plenty of questions that have been raised in the forum.

[bheybugarin]

Im from Philippines.

Can I use?
IRS Form W-8 BEN
Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding

or

Certification of No U.S. Activities

My domain name is registered in enom (US) and Im using a hosting server in US via reseller. I develop and maintain my site in Philippines.

[edited by: bheybugarin at 5:03 am (utc) on Nov. 14, 2003]

[Jenstar]

With the many different form options, only you know which option is the best one for you.

You do have until November 30th to submit your tax information. If you haven't submitted by the 30th, they will withhold your payments until you submit your information.

It is also notable that all new publishers will not receive any payments until they have submitted tax information as well.

[mack]

Yep I also received the email and logged in.

Being from the UK it was fairly painless.

Mack.

[Jenstar]

Another heads up, Google has updated their AdSense FAQ today (November 13, 2003) even though it still says "Last updated: October 16, 2003" on the bottom.

They have removed the tax information that was formerly listed under the payments section, and there is now a greatly expanded "Tax Information" section:

[google.com...]