Pricing & Royalty
Can I earn money when I self-publish my book with Media City Publishers?
Will I make money when my book is sold online through Media City Publishers?
Will I be paid a royalty even if I live outside the United States?
How is the price of my book determined?
What are the distribution costs in self-publishing?
How does Media City Publishers calculate royalty payments?
Can I receive a volume discount on a large book purchase?
When is the price of my book set?
Can I change the price of my book later?
What payment form will I receive my royalties in?
When am I paid royalties? When do quarters start and end?
How long does it take to receive payment?
Can my royalty check be split between a co-author and myself?
Can I arrange for someone else to receive my royalty payments?
What is the difference between a channel or retail sale and an Media City Publishers sale?
Am I paid royalty on books I purchase?
I’ve noticed my book being sold as “used” on websites but I have not received payment; why haven’t I been paid?
Why is my book listed at a different price on certain sites?
How do I know that I am being paid fairly for my book sales?
When is my EFT information updated?
Where do I see my sales?
What information is available in the online sales and royalty reports?
How long does it take for a sale to be listed in my online “Sales Activity Report”?
Why does it take so long for Media City Publishers to post sales from Ingram and other retail bookstores?
A bookstore ordered copies of my book at the end of last month, but those sales aren’t appearing on my monthly statement. Why?
Will I still see a royalty statement if there were no sales in a quarter?
Can you provide me with the names of customers who bought my book?
General Tax Information
What tax information can Media City Publishers provide for me?
When does Media City Publishers mail the 1099-MISC or 1042-S?
Why didn’t I get a 1099-MISC this year?
If I was paid under $10.00 in royalties, do I have to report it on my income tax?
Why is the income stated on my 1099-MISC or 1042-S form not equal to the sum of my royalty payments for the calendar year?
When will Media City Publishers post Quarter 4 royalties so I can complete my income tax return?
Tax Form Submisison
I submitted a Form W-9 or a Form W-8BEN in the past. Why am I being asked for it again?
I opted-out of submitting my tax information. Why does Media City Publishers continue to request my tax information?
If my company should receive the royalties instead of me, as the author, what do I need to do?
My company’s W-9 was accidentally added to my individual account (or vice versa). How can I correct this?
International Authors
I am an international author, what do I need to do regarding the tax forms and ID numbers?
How do I know if my country has a tax treaty with the United States that allows me to claim a lower rate of withholding?
What if I don’t have an ITIN?
What if I don’t have an EIN?
How do I file Form W-7 with the IRS (to obtain an ITIN)?
1099-MISC
What is a 1099-MISC form?
Who will receive a 1099-MISC form?
What if there is an error on the 1099-MISC form? Is it too late to make changes?
The amount on my 1099-MISC form doesn’t match my checks; what is wrong?
One of my checks was not received during the tax year. May I request a corrected 1099-MISC?
Why isn’t there a “Recipient’s Identification Number” on my 1099-MISC form?
The “Recipient’s Identification Number” on my 1099-MISC form is incorrect; what do I do?
The “Recipient’s name” on my 1099-MISC form is incorrect; what do I do?
The “Recipient address” on my 1099-MISC form is incorrect; what do I do?
I cannot locate my 1099-MISC form; how can I request a copy?
Where can I find more information about my tax forms?
Booksellers Return Program
What does the Booksellers Return Program do for me?
If my book is stocked, will I retain royalties for unsold copies that are returned?
When will my book be listed as returnable?
Can I buy more than one year of the Booksellers Return Program?
How do the bookstores know where to return the books?
What happens to the books when they are returned?
Can Media City Publishers ensure booksellers will stock my books?
What is Ingram?
Can I earn money when I self-publish my book with Media City Publishers?
Yes, you will have the opportunity to earn money from book sales when you self-publish a book with Media City Publishers. We do not license exclusive rights to publish your book from you, nor do we give you an advance against royalties like a traditional publisher. However you will earn royalties from each book sale; these royalties are taxable income for you. Please read other FAQs below to determine how book pricing and royalty calculations are determined.
Will I make money when my book is sold online through Media City Publishers?
Yes. When your book is sold through Media City Publishers, another retailer, or a wholesaler you will receive a royalty for that sale.
Will I be paid a royalty even if I live outside the United States?
Yes, you will be paid a royalty even if you live outside the United States or are not a U.S. citizen. However, we are required to withhold 30 percent of your royalty earnings. This percentage will be withheld unless you apply for a foreign tax number by submitting a W-8BEN. With a foreign tax ID, we’re no longer required to withhold taxes. Any money that was previously collected can be reclaimed with your taxes at the end of the year, but we cannot repay it. For more information, or to download a W-8BEN, visit www.irs.gov.
How is the price of my book determined?
The price of your print book is determined by several factors including: your book’s production cost, based on the cover cost and page count; distribution costs, such as order fulfillment and customer support; and your royalty percentage. Together, these are used to determine the Suggested Retail Price (“SRP”) or list price for your book. For information on how e-book prices are determined, please see the the FAQs on that topic.
What are the distribution costs in self-publishing with Media City?
The distribution costs are those costs involved in making your book available for purchase through the various wholesale and retail channels. These costs include maintaining your book in the Media City Publishers bookstore, keeping your book and author information current, order fulfillment, customer support and any other processes to ensure that your book is available to others.
How does Media City Publishers calculate royalty payments?
Royalties are based on the net payments we actually receive from the sale of printed or electronic (e-book) copies of your book, minus any shipping and handling charges or sales and use taxes. Since retail and wholesale customers purchase at a discount, the royalty amount you receive depends on what types of customer bought your book, the channel through which they purchased, and any discount they received.
Here are two examples of common sales transactions.
The cover price (list price) for your book is $17.95. Your Media City Publishers royalty rate is 50 percent.
Wholesale Example:
A retailer places an order for your book through Ingram Book Company, a wholesaler. Ingram, in turn, purchases your book from Media City Publishers at a discount. Your royalty on this sale is calculated as follows:
$17.95 (SRP “Suggested Retail Price”)
– $9.87 (55% Wholesale Discount)
= $8.08 (Net after Wholesale Discount)
– $4.97 (COGS “Cost of Goods Sold”)
= $3.11 (Net after COGS)
x 50% (Royalty Rate)
= $1.56 (Royalty Earned from a retail sale)
Web Sale Example:
Another scenario occurs when a consumer comes to the Media City Publishers bookstore and purchases your book directly. Your royalty on this sale of the same book is calculated as follows:
$17.95 (SRP “Suggested Retail Price”)
– $4.97 (COGS “Cost of Goods Sold”)
= $12.98 (Net after COGS)
x 50% (Royalty Rate)
= $6.49 (Royalty Earned from a web sale)
Please be aware that the largest retailers, including Barnes & Noble and Amazon, place orders for print copies of Media City Publishers titles through Ingram, so those orders will appear as wholesale sales on your royalty statement.
Can I receive a volume discount on a large book purchase?
Yes. As an Media City author, you are able to purchase copies of your book for a discount off the list price. You’ll receive a larger discount as you order a greater number of copies. The discounts also vary depending on the book format.
Paperback
Discounts:Book Quantity
Discount*
1-24
30%
25-49
35%
50-99
40%
100-249
45%
250-499
50%
500-999
55%
1,000-1,999
60%
2,000+
Call for a Quote
Hardcover / Color
Book Discounts:
Book Quantity
Discount*
1-24
20%
25-49
30%
50-99
35%
100-249
40%
250-499
45%
500+
50%
* Orders must be for a single title, of the same print format and shipped to single address; we cannot accommodate mix and match orders. All volume discount orders must be prepaid, and shipping charges are not included. Author purchases do not generate royalties and are non-returnable. These purchases do not include author event discount purchases.
When is the price of my book set?
The price of your book is set just prior to manuscript and cover approval, because the final page count, cover and book size help determine the price.
Can I change the price of my book later?
Media City Publishers will attempt to accommodate your requested price, provided that the new price is within the allowable range established by Media City, and that you notify us of your request prior to submitting a final approval.
Unfortunately, you cannot change the price of your book after you approve it for publication, unless you purchase a resubmission, and request corrections that affect the page count.
What payment form will I receive my royalties in?
Your royalties from book sales are paid on a quarterly basis (four times a year). For check payments, royalties are paid when your royalty earnings reach $75.00 or more. Authors requesting electronic funds transfer (EFT) will receive payments electronically.
When am I paid royalties? When do quarters start and end?
First Quarter: January 1 to March 31 (checks are mailed in late May)
Second Quarter: April 1 to June 30 (checks mailed in late August)
Third Quarter: July 1 to September 30 (checks mailed in late November)
Fourth Quarter: October 1 to December 31 (checks mailed in late February)
You are only paid for the books sold and shipped in the given time frame. If a book was purchased online on March 30, but the book was not actually printed and shipped until April 2, then you would be paid in the second quarter, not the first, since the book did not ship until the second quarter. E-book purchases are recorded when the sale is made.
Please note that you will only generate royalties from the original book sale. For instance, if a book is resold in any kind of second-hand store, you will not earn a royalty on that sale. Also, for retailers, you earn a royalty when the book is sold to a retailer who purchases your book for their store, not when a consumer actually purchases the book from the retailer.
How long does it take to receive payment?
It takes about two months after the quarter closes until the royalty payments are sent to you. First Quarter checks are mailed in late May, Second Quarter checks are mailed in late August, Third Quarter checks are mailed in late November, and Fourth Quarter checks are mailed in late February. (See specifics in the FAQ above.)
The two-month time frame is necessary because we do not receive final sales reporting information until 30 days after the close of the quarter. We then need additional time to verify, compile and send out the information to you.
Can my royalty check be split between a co-author and myself?
No, because of tax restrictions we cannot offer a split royalty payment between individuals. Of course, when the payment comes to you, you choose to split the amount with another party.
Can I arrange for someone else to receive my royalty payments?
Yes, but only by transferring all rights of your agreement with Media City Publishers to that person. That person will also hold the copyright for the book. If you would like to arrange this, please contact your publishing consultant.
What is the difference between a channel or retail sale and an Media City Publishers sale?
When a book is sold through the Media City Publishers bookstore, it is considered an Media City Publishers sale. A retail, or channel sale, occurs when the book is sold through any retailer other than Media City Publishers (like Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com). The list price for your book must be the same for both Media City Publishers and retail sales, but you will earn a different royalty amount depending on the type of sale.
Am I paid royalty on books I purchase?
Royalty payments on books you purchase depend on how you place the order. If you place an order for copies of your book through an e-mail to Media City Publishers and receive your author discount, then no, you will not receive a royalty payment for that order. However, if you order directly through the Media City website or another retailer, then yes, you will receive a royalty payment for that purchase.
I’ve noticed my book being sold as “used” on websites but I have not received payment; why haven’t I been paid?
If a retailer or third party is in fact selling a used copy of the book, you would have already been paid a royalty for the original sale.
Why is my book listed at a different price on certain sites?
When you publish with Media City Publishers, your book is circulated to various retail channels through Ingram, our book distributor. Most retailers adhere to the suggested retail price. However, some retailers may choose to list the book higher or lower than the suggested retail price, which is completely within their rights. Regardless of what price a retailer sells your book for, you will receive the retail royalty to which you are entitled.
How do I know that I am being paid fairly for my book sales?
You will be provided with a royalty statement showing book sales and royalty payment details each quarter. The statements are compiled and cross-examined by multiple parties to ensure an accurate record of your royalty payments.
Both our printer and distributor employ independent auditing firms to verify the book sales data. Additionally, a globally recognized accounting firm conducts yearly audits of our finances to ensure accuracy.
However, if you feel there has been an error in your royalty payment report, you can contact your publishing consultant to look into the matter more thoroughly.
When is my EFT information updated?
We update new or modified EFT information on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31. To ensure your royalty funds are transferred to your preferred account, please make sure your account information is accurate prior to these dates. Changes made after these dates will be reflected on the following pay cycle.
Please note: You must reference a U.S.-based bank routing in order to take advantage of EFT.
Where do I see my sales?
We’ll help you track sales and royalty information in online reports in your account dashboard on the Media City Publishers website.
What information is available in the online sales and royalty reports?
In the Sales & Royalties tab of your Media City Publishers account dashboard, you will be able to view a variety of information regarding sales of book(s) and royalties earned.
We update these reports for you as frequently and as accurately as we can. However, please note that because external retailers operate on their own schedule, it can take time for them to report their sales information to us. This means your online report cannot be updated in real time for each sale.
- Sales Reports: In the sales activity reports, we provide you with information regarding your book sales to give you an estimate of how and where your book is selling.
- Click the “View Your Sales Activity (Jan. 1, 2014 – Present)” link to access sales data from Jan. 1, 2014, forward. You can sort this sales data based on title, format, retailer, date, etc. You can also filter the sales data to create further customized reports. These reports can be exported as Excel or PDF files for your personal records.
- Click “View Your Pre-2014 Sales Activity” button to access sales data prior to Dec. 31, 2013.
- Royalty Reports: In the “Royalty Report,” you can find your book sales for each quarter.
How long does it take for a sale to be listed in my online “Sales Activity Report”?
The information in the “Sales Report” is updated throughout the quarter to give you an idea of how and where your book is selling. We deliver sales information to you as soon as we can, however this data cannot be updated in real time and may not reflect finalized information.
The time it takes a sale to be listed in your sales report is determined by the type of sale:
| Sale type | Time until listed |
| Media City Publishers Bookstore | 72 hours |
| Consumer sales (i.e., call-in purchases through Media City Publishers) | 72 hours |
| Retail sales (e.g., Amazon.com) | Four weeks or more |
Please note: External retailers — Apple, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. — operate under their own schedules, and Media City Publishers cannot control the frequency with which they report sales information.
Why does it take so long for Media City Publishers to post sales from Ingram or other retail bookstores?
All companies have a month-end close process to collect and validate financial information, and Media City Publishers is no exception. At the close of each month, Media City Publishers must collect sales and printing information from each of our business partners. We reconcile book orders and book sales with printing information to ensure that every single copy that is printed is accounted for. Then, we consolidate sales from many different sources into a single monthly statement for each author.
The process of collecting, consolidating, closing and posting sales information from our partners can take more than four weeks. It is important to remember that the sales statements are not final, however, because information posts to them as it is received. This process may take time, but we think it is essential to provide you with information that is 100 percent accurate and to account for each and every sale.
Although we strive to post sales statements as quickly as possible, four times per year it takes us six weeks to post statements due to our royalty payout schedule. During these quarterly payment periods, our staff is busy preparing quarterly statements and arranging individual royalty payments.
A bookstore ordered copies of my book at the end of last month, but those sales aren’t appearing on my monthly statement. Why?
There are two reasons this might occur. First, like many publishers, Media City Publishers records a sale and pays royalties only after books are physically shipped. We may have an order in process at the end of a month, but if the books haven’t shipped that month, then the sale will not be recorded until the following month.
What’s more likely, however, is that the bookstore ordered either through the largest wholesaler, Ingram Book Company, or directly through its printing arm, Lightning Source, Inc. (LSI). Ingram and LSI are on a 4/4/5 accounting cycle. This means that they operate on a four-week, four-week, five-week financial calendar rather than a monthly calendar. The financial month-end close always occurs on a Friday and therefore is not always at the calendar end of the month. LSI reports monthly sales to Media City Publishers according to the Ingram financial calendar, and Media City Publishers in turn reports those sales to authors in the sales statement. Any sales in a calendar month that occur after the financial month end will not appear on your statement until the following calendar month.
Will I still see a royalty statement if there were no sales in a quarter?
Once the statement for a quarter in which you have made no sales has been finalized, you will see the reporting period for that quarter available in the dropdown report menu with $0.00 indicated in parenthesis. If you choose to run that report, you will see a message that says “No sales reported for the period selected.”
Can you provide me with the names of customers who bought my book?
Consumer privacy rules and Media City Publishers business policy do not allow us to provide this information to you or to anyone else. While we and our retail partners protect the identities of individual customers, we do provide you with as many details as we can in your “Sales Report.”
General Tax Information
Media City Publishers will mail a Form1099-MISC to each U.S. author who earned more than $10.00 during the calendar year. The income and withholding represent royalties from Quarter 4 of the previous year through Quarter 3 of the Form 1099-MISC year. The form will be mailed by Jan. 31, and should be delivered to the author in February. This form is required by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to report royalty income and withholding. If the author was not paid any monies during the calendar year, then he or she will not receive a Form 1099-MISC. The IRS requires Media City Publishers to have the form mailed/postmarked by Jan. 31, not delivered by Jan 31.
International authors will receive a Form 1042-S instead of a Form 1099-MISC for the royalties earned and the amount withheld during the calendar year. The Form 1042-S will be mailed by March 15.
The IRS requires Media City Publishers to have a Form W-9 or Form W-8BEN on file for each author who may earn royalties. The tax form must include the individual or company’s U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number (SSN, EIN, or ITIN). If the author refuses to provide the form or the digital equivalency, Media City Publishers will begin withholding taxes at the rate of 28% for U.S. citizens (or resident aliens) or 30% for nonresident aliens living outside the U.S. in accordance with U.S. tax law.
What tax information can Media City Publishers provide for me?
Media City Publishers will provide a Form 1099-MISC or Form 1042-S stating royalties earned during a calendar year and the amount of withholding, to assist you in accurately reporting your royalty income. For further information please consult your professional tax consultant.
When does Media City Publishers mail the 1099-MISC or 1042-S?
By law Media City Publishers is required to mail the previous year’s Form 1099-MISC by Jan. 31 of the current year. For non-U.S. persons, the previous year’s Form 1042-S will be mailed by March 15 of the current year.
Why didn’t I get a 1099-MISC this year?
If you were paid less than $10.00 in the previous calendar year, you will not receive a 1099-MISC.
If I was paid under $10.00 in royalties, do I have to report it on my income tax?
For any questions on reporting your income to the IRS, please consult your professional tax consultant.
Why is the income stated on my 1099-MISC or 1042-S form not equal to the sum of my royalty payments for the calendar year?
The tax form reports the total royalties income earned over the calendar year and taxes withheld. “Royalties income earned” is the amount of your checks before withholding. Your payments equal the difference between your total income on the form and any taxes withheld.
When will Media City Publishers post Quarter 4 royalties so I can complete my income tax return?
Quarter 4 royalties will not be paid to you until the following calendar year; therefore, Quarter 4 royalties will be included on the Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S you receive the following year. Please refer to the Form 1099-MISC or 1042-S you may receive from Media City Publishers to learn the amount of money that has been reported as royalty income (and withholding) for tax filing purposes. Form 1099-MISC will be mailed by Jan. 31of the current year, and Form 1042-S will be mailed by March 15.
Tax Form Submission
I submitted a Form W-9 or a Form W-8BEN in the past. Why am I being asked for it again?
If you receive a request from Media City Publishers to submit your tax information, then we do not have your Form W-9 or W-8BEN in our system, and we need you to resubmit the appropriate form. We may not be able to assign a received tax form to your account due to an issue with matching your tax form with your author account, the tax form may include an incomplete address, or it could be another reason.
I opted-out of submitting my tax information. Why does Media City Publishers continue to request my tax information?
The IRS requires that we have a complete tax Form W-9 or W-8BEN on file even if an author has opted-out of submitting tax information. We are required to request the tax form annually.
If my company should receive the royalties instead of me, as the author, what do I need to do?
First, an account for your company must be created in our system. To have an account created for the company, speak to customer support about a reassignment of rights. Second, a Form W-9 needs to be filled out for the company using the company EIN for the tax ID. Third, the company’s W-9 must be submitted either online through the company’s Media City Publishers account, or by mail (be sure to reference the company’s Media City Publishers account number).
My company’s W-9 was accidentally added to my individual account (or vice versa). How can I correct this?
If your company’s W-9 was added to your individual account, please correct by submitting your individual W-9 and referencing your individual Media City Publishers account. Also, make sure that your company’s W-9 is connected to your company’s account. If your individual W-9 was added to your company’s account, please correct by submitting your company W-9 and referencing your company Media City Publishers account.
International Authors
I am an international author, what do I need to do regarding the tax forms and ID numbers?
You will need to submit a Form W-8BEN to Media City Publishers. When filling out the form, please remember to include your IRS issued U.S. taxpayer identification number (ITIN for individuals, EIN for companies), your author account number, your country of citizenship, and claim to a lower tax treaty rate (if applicable). Even if you don’t have a U.S. taxpayer identification number yet, you should still submit an initial Form W-8BEN to establish that you are not a U.S. person. Submit the Form W-8BEN once you have a U.S. taxpayer identification number in order to claim a reduced rate or exemption from withholding if your country has an income tax treaty with the United States.
How do I know if my country has a tax treaty with the United States that allows me to claim a lower rate of withholding?
If applicable, you may claim a reduced rate of withholding as a resident of a foreign country with which the United States has an income tax treaty. See the Tax Treaty Tables within Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Publication 515 (see the helpful links below), “Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities”, under “Copyrights” for your country’s tax treaty rate. Submit Form W-8BEN when requested by Media City Publishers whether or not you are claiming a reduced rate of withholding.
What if I don’t have an ITIN?
If you do not have a Social Security Number (SSN) and are not eligible to get one, you must obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to claim your country’s reduced tax treaty rate (if applicable). To apply for an ITIN, file Form W-7, “Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number” (see helpful links below) with the IRS. It usually takes 4-6 weeks to receive an ITIN from the IRS.
What if I don’t have an EIN?
Companies may apply for a U.S. Employer Identification Number (EIN) by filing a Form SS-4 with the IRS.
How do I file Form W-7 with the IRS (to obtain an ITIN)?
The W-7 tax form needs to be submitted by you, the author, to the IRS directly. This form is not processed or submitted by Media City Publishers. Media City Publishers can supply you with a support letter that will need to be submitted with Form W-7. Once this process is completed, the IRS will supply you with an ITIN. The ITIN will need to be included on the W-8BEN form that can be completed online through your secure author account or sent to Media City Publishers directly. If you require a W-7 support letter, please make the request with customer support and be sure to include your author account number, legal name, and mailing address.
1099-MISC
What is a 1099-MISC form?
Form 1099-MISC is used to report royalty income and backup withholding. The form is for each person who earned at least $10 in royalties during the past calendar year.
Who will receive a 1099-MISC form?
Authors who have been paid at least $10 in royalties during the past calendar year will receive a 1099-MISC form. Form 1099-MISC applies to U.S. residents and U.S. resident aliens ONLY and is not sent to nonresident aliens or foreign persons. Nonresident aliens and foreign persons receive Form 1042-S.
What if there is an error on the 1099-MISC form? Is it too late to make changes?
1099-MISC forms are not due to be filed with the IRS until March 31, so we still have time to make changes if necessary. Even after that, we can still file corrected forms with the IRS, so do not panic if something might be wrong.
The amount on my 1099-MISC form doesn’t match my checks; what is wrong?
The amount of royalties reported on the 1099 is the gross amount of royalties paid before any backup withholding. The royalty amount should match the amount of royalties on your statements from Q4 of the previous year to Q3 of the 1099 year, plus any iPad or offset distribution royalties wherever applicable. Subtracting the withholding (box 4) from the royalty income (box 2) should equal the total monies paid to you during the 1099 year. If after careful analysis, you still believe there is an error, please contact Media City Publishers customer support.
One of my checks was not received during the tax year. May I request a corrected 1099-MISC?
If the check was sent to the address on-file during the tax year, the 1099-MISC must include the income (and withholding if applicable) associated with the payment. If the check has still not been received, please contact customer support and request a re-cut.
Why isn’t there a “Recipient’s Identification Number” on my 1099-MISC form?
The “Recipient’s Identification Number” is the box that should include your U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). U.S. persons should submit a Form W-9 to Media City Publishers to report their Social Security Number (or EIN for a business). If we receive the update before the IRS filing deadline, March 31, we can guarantee that the updated form with the new identification number will be submitted to the IRS. We encourage online submission of the Form W-9 through your secure author account.
Please note: authors may incur a penalty from the IRS for failing to report their TIN or for providing an invalid TIN.
The “Recipient’s Identification Number” on my 1099-MISC form is incorrect; what do I do?
Submit a Form W-9 to provide Media City Publishers with your corrected Social Security Number (or EIN for a business). If we receive the update before the IRS filing deadline, March 31, we can guarantee that the updated form with the new identification number will be submitted to the IRS. We encourage online submission of the Form W-9 through your secure author account.
The “Recipient’s name” on my 1099-MISC form is incorrect; what do I do?
The recipient name on your Form 1099-MISC is the person or entity who earned royalties income during the tax year. In most cases, the name must remain unchanged.
However, if you were the recipient of the royalty income during the year and there is a spelling error with the last name, then we may be able to issue a correction before filing with the IRS on March 31. To request a 1099-MISC name correction, contact Media City Publishers customer support.
The “Recipient address” on my 1099-MISC form is incorrect; what do I do?
The IRS does not match addresses. If you have received the form, then there is no need to request a new form with an updated address. If you would like to update your address for future mailings, please contact Media City Publishers customer support.
I cannot locate my 1099-MISC form; how can I request a copy?
Please contact Media City Publishers customer support and request a copy of your 1099-MISC form. Be sure to indicate the tax year. The copy can be e-mailed with the Taxpayer Identification Number masked, or sent by the post if necessary.
Where can I find more information about my tax forms?
Check out these helpful links:
- Backup withholding for U.S. Citizens or Resident Aliens
- Withholding for Foreign Persons
- Publication 515: Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities (tax treaty tables)
- Form W-7: Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
- Form W-7 Instructions
- Form SS-4: Application for Employer Identification Number
- Form SS-4 Instructions
Booksellers Return Program
What does the Booksellers Return Program do for me?
The Booksellers Return Program ensures retailers that they can return unsold copies of your book for a complete refund. Your book will be designated as “Returnable” in Ingram’s ipage ordering system for retailers and libraries. (Ingram is the world’s largest wholesaler and distributor of books.)
Media City Publishers has developed the Booksellers Return Program to help your book meet industry retail standards for stocking and be provided the opportunity to be more competitive in the marketplace.
If my book is stocked, will I retain royalties for unsold copies that are returned?
Yes, you will not be charged back for royalties earned on the sales to the store if your books are returned.
When will my book be listed as returnable?
Your book will be designated as returnable on Ingram’s ipage within two to seven weeks. It can then take 30 to 60 days for returnability status to appear within individual retailers’ systems. Confirmation of your title’s listing in ipage is available upon your request.
Can I buy more than one year of Booksellers Return Program?
A one-year renewal is available for purchase at the same time or just prior to the program’s expiration. Authors who purchase the renewal will be notified 60 to 90 days before the expiration date and given the opportunity to renew.
How do the bookstores know where to return the unsold books?
Booksellers return unsold books to the wholesaler from whom they made the purchase.
What happens to the books when they are returned?
Books are sent from the store retailer to Ingram and then recycled into cardboard or paper products.
Can Media City Publishers ensure booksellers will stock my books?
By making your books returnable, the Booksellers Return Program helps your book reach common retailer standards for stocking, but does not guarantee that it will be ordered or stocked. Bookstores are businesses; it is the prerogative of bookstore owners and managers as to what books to order and display on their shelves.
What is Ingram?
Ingram Content Group is the world’s largest wholesale distributor of books. Media City Publishers uses Ingram Content Group for the distribution of all titles.