Certificate of Withheld Interest

[Steve Rudd]

Hello

I looked for a thread on this one, but couldn't find it. Apologies if I am asking a question that's been asked a million times before. Lulu recently sent me (in the mail, not electronically) all the way from North Carolina, an incomprehensible tax certificate saying that as an enemy alien non-combatant or something, the IRS, whoever they might be, are witholding a mighty $1.51 in Federal Taxes, which no doubt the USA will spend on suppressing democracy in South-East Asia.

Anyway, my question is, once I had thanked the quaint little British postman for this, and waved him on his way (he replied with a cheery `Gawd bless yer, Guv'nor!'), what do I actually do with this thing. I don't want to show it to my accountant because he will think I've gone multi-national and automatically add two zeroes to his bill (at the end, sadly, not in front)

I asked my wife what I should do with it, and she did make one suggestion, but I can't afford private colorectal surgery. I thought of framing it and hanging it in the loo... but on the other hand, it might be important in some way. Hence my question.

[Ken Anderson]

Always take your Wife's advice Steve.

Alternatively frame it and stick it on the wall of the Loo.

Then when you are in there pondering the ways of the world you can sit quietly knowing you contributed to good old Uncle Sam!

I've got a few of those now and unfortunately they add up to a considerable sum but rather than dance through the hoops of the US Revenue I've written off the money. Shame really as I'm about to splash out on a new kitchen.  

[ErinW]

Hi Steve,

In addition to Ken's advice, you might want to review these articles on royalty withholding and what this means for foreign entities:

http://connect.lulu.com/t5/Creator-Revenues-FAQ/When-does-a-royalty-become-subject-to-withholding/ta...

http://connect.lulu.com/t5/Creator-Revenues-FAQ/What-is-the-royalty-withholding-rate-for-Foreign-Ent...

http://connect.lulu.com/t5/Creator-Revenues-FAQ/How-do-I-get-a-W-9-or-a-W-8BEN-on-file-at-Lulu/ta-p/...

http://connect.lulu.com/t5/Creator-Revenues-FAQ/What-is-a-Foreign-Entity/ta-p/31824

Hope this helps, and thanks for the laugh!

[johannastirling]

Yes, an odd document. Repeated 3 times. And doesn't say what time period it refers to. The postage probably used up most of what they'd taken from me!

[Steve Rudd]

The small print on the back of the certificate is hilarious, it's full of all that "party of the first part invites you to the third party and bring a bottle" sort of language you get in legal documents, I am sure somewhere it probably says "if you lose a leg, we guarantee under the policy to help you look for it" or something.

I agree. Very puzzling. I don't know how much $1.51 is in real money, but I bet it would have bought Kitty a tin of cat food. Where's Justin Assange when you need him? I demand to know what the CIA spent my $1.51 on!