Question: I live in the UK. I'm having trouble getting an ITIN, and CreateSpace is withholding 30% of my royalties for tax purposes. Can you tell me how to get an ITIN?

Answer: You can go to London and get the ITIN in person. This will be free because the acceptance agent will just check your ID in person.

An ITIN usually takes about 6 weeks, but can take up to 4 months. The good part is that you only have to apply once. 

Okay,  you have two choices. You can either supply an original ID (such as a passport), which will be returned to you by mail.

Or, you can send a notarized copy of your passport, if you don't want to send the original.

I suggest you read through the application very carefully, line by line, so you don't miss anything.

Then, make sure you include a very short letter with your name, address, phone number, e-mail,  and a short note saying that you are an author in the UK who is requesting the ITIN so you can sell your books in the United States. That will help, because a human being is going to process the application and the process goes faster if the IRS employee has a level of comfort.

If you send in an application,  a photocopied document is not sufficient. It must be certified/notarized, or you must send an original ID (which will be returned). I got my in-law's ITINs using a voter registration card and a birth certificate for both of them, but I sent in original documents (which were returned to me).

A passport is still the best bet, though. If you don't send the original, then you must send a notarized copy. You can see a sample of a filled out Form W-7 here. 

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