|
|
|
1.
|
How do I redeem my Earnings for cash?
|
| |
To redeem your Earnings, click the Redeem button on your Account Summary page. U.S. residents can redeem when they have a blance of at least $10, and non-U.S. residents can redeem when they have a balance of at least $100.
Top of page
|
|
2.
|
How long will it take for Epinions.com to send me a check?
|
| |
U.S. residents normally receive payment within 6 weeks of redeeming their Earnings. Due to the extra steps involved, redemption requests for non-U.S. residents will take longer to process. For more information on redeeming Earnings from outside the United States, please visit the Redeeming Your Earnings Help Page.
Top of page
|
|
4.
|
What should I do if I have lost my check?
|
| |
If you have lost your check, please contact community care. It will cost $5 in Earnings to have the check cancelled and the Earnings credits reissued to your account.
Top of page
|
|
5.
|
Why can't I redeem my Earnings if I am under 18?
|
| |
There are many legal restrictions in dealing with minors. While Epinions is not currently aware of any specific restrictions on paying minors for writing reviews, Epinions has not had the time or resources to research the question. For that reason, Epinions requires users who wish to redeem Earnings to be least 18 years of age. If minors join the Epinions community before their eighteenth birthdays, their Earnings will simply accrue until they can verify that they are 18 or over.
Top of page
|
|
6.
|
Why do Earnings expire?
|
| |
For accounting and tax reasons, Epinions cannot carry Earnings on its accounts indefinitely. For more information on the expiration of Earnings, please consult the Eroyalties section of the User Agreement.
Top of page
|
|
7.
|
Do I have to pay taxes on my Earnings from Epinions.com?
|
| |
Though Epinions does not issue U.S. residents a Form 1099 if they redeem less than $600 in a year, U.S. residents are still obligated to report your Earnings to the IRS. Please consult a tax professional for further information on how to report your earnings.
Top of page
|
|
8.
|
I am a U.S. resident. Why does Epinions.com require my Social Security number if I redeem more than $600 in a year?
|
| |
Within the U.S., companies are required by law to report any payments of $600 or more to an individual. If your payments total $600 or more in a calendar year, Epinions must file a Form 1099 with the IRS. You will also receive a copy of the Form 1099 for your own records.
Top of page
|
|
9.
|
I am a U.S. resident. Why can't I redeem less than $10.00 worth of Earnings at a time?
|
| |
Epinions would quickly be overwhelmed by individual requests for many small payments. To avoid this problem, Epinions will only redeem Earnings in amounts over $10.00.
Top of page
|
|
10.
|
I am not a US resident. Why can't I redeem less than $100.00 worth of Earnings at a time?
|
| |
The U.S. Treasury Department Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires that all copyright royalty payments issued to non-U.S. residents be subject to a 30% withholding tax. Epinions is obligated to withhold this tax for all payments of Review Earnings and Income Share bonuses. As a result, Epinions must carry out and report these payments to the IRS.
Some countries have favorable treaties with the U.S. that may reduce the withholding amount. To determine the proper amount to withhold, Epinions must research what withholding obligations apply to the user before issuing a check. Further, when Epinions pays non-U.S. residents, Epinions is required to retain W-8 forms that have been completed by the users. Epinions then pays the IRS the total amount of the withholdings, in conjunction with a Form 1042. Subsequently, Epinions must prepare and issue a Form 1042-S to the user at the close of the tax year.
As a result of these complexities, Epinions must spend substantially more time and resources processing an international payment than a U.S. payment. In lieu of passing these costs on to you, Epinions has set a minimum redemption amount of $100 to avoid being overwhelmed.
Top of page
|
Can't find the answer to your questions? Contact community care.
|
© 1999-2008 Shopping.com, Inc.