Tip and How to setup, guidelines & processes of how to get paid by Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (Amazon kdp)

 Getting Paid

Kindle Direct Publishing pays royalties every month, approximately 60 days after the end of the month in which the sale was reported (90 days for Expanded Distribution sales), through direct deposit, wire transfer, or check, as long as you meet the minimum threshold for payment. KDP issues payments for each Amazon marketplace in which you distribute your title.

Payment methods, thresholds, fees, and timing vary based on your selected payment method, your location, and the location of your bank.

Contents

Payment methods

Payment thresholds

Payment timing

Setting up a payment method

Adding a bank account

Missing payment issues

Withholding

Payment methods

KDP provides three possible payment methods based on your bank’s location: direct deposit, wire transfer, and check. If you’re familiar with these payment methods and their benefits, see which payment methods are available to you based on your bank location.

Direct deposit

Direct deposit—also known as electronic funds transfer (EFT)—is the direct transfer of money from one bank account to another without check or cash changing hands.

KDP encourages authors to use direct deposit because it usually has no minimum payment threshold, is the fastest, most secure way to receive your royalty payments, and is environmentally friendly.

While Amazon may support direct deposit payments to the country or region where your bank account is located, some local banks require additional documentation to release funds from international electronic payments and some of them may have a payment threshold associated. Contact your bank for specific requirements to release direct deposit payments.

Wire transfer

A wire transfer is a transfer of funds done electronically across a network of banks around the world.

Wire transfers have minimum payment thresholds and may be subject to fees associated with receiving wire payments or foreign exchange rates.

Check

You’ll be issued a paper check through the mail to the address you’ve entered in the Author/Publisher Information section of your account. Check payment is only offered when an electronic payment method is not available.

Checks have minimum payment thresholds, are subject to an 8 USD/8 CAD/8 GBP/8 EUR handling fee per check in countries where direct deposit is supported (US, CA, UK, and certain EU countries/regions), and take longer to receive than electronic methods.

Available methods based on location

When setting up your account, you choose how to receive payments for sales from each Amazon marketplace. Readers purchase your book in their local currency, but we pay your royalties in the default currency of your bank account's location, and the default currency can't be changed. You can use a bank account in another location to receive payments in that location's currency.

See available payment methods based on your bank location:

United States (US)

United Kingdom (UK)

European Union (EU)

Canada (CA)

Brazil (BR)

Japan (JP)

India (IN)

Mexico (MX)

Australia (AU)

New Zealand (NZ)

Other

Payment thresholds

Direct deposit does not have a minimum royalty threshold; wire and check payments do.

Prior to issuing payment through wire and check, you must accrue a minimum amount of earned royalties through the sale of your book. If your royalty earnings fall below the threshold for a wire or check payment, we will keep a running total and issue payment once the amount exceeds the minimum threshold. Payment occurs 60 days after the end of the month in which your royalties met the threshold (90 days for Expanded Distribution). See the payment schedule for a more detailed view of when you’ll receive payment.

Direct deposit

There is no minimum payment threshold with direct deposit. Royalties are paid in full no matter the amount accrued, if the the amount to be paid after conversion meets the minimum amount banks will allow us to send. Contact your bank to verify its minimum transfer amount.

Wire transfer

For wire transfers there is a minimum threshold in each marketplace after deducting the applicable tax withholding:

Marketplace Minimum threshold for wire payment

Amazon.com $100 USD

Amazon.co.uk £100

Amazon.es, .it, .fr, .nl, .de €100

Amazon.ca $100 CAD

Amazon.com.br $100 USD

Amazon.com.mx 1,000 MXN

Amazon.co.jp ¥ 10,000

Amazon.in $100 USD

Amazon.com.au $100 AUD

Check

For checks there is a minimum threshold in each marketplace after deducting the applicable tax withholding and check fees:

Marketplace Minimum threshold for check payment

Amazon.com $100 USD

Amazon.co.uk £100

Amazon.es, .it, .fr, .nl, .de €100

Amazon.ca $100 CAD

Amazon.com.br $100 USD

Amazon.com.mx $100 USD

Amazon.co.jp $100 USD

Amazon.in $100 USD

Amazon.com.au $100 USD

Payment timing

KDP pays royalties monthly, approximately 60 days after the end of the month in which the sale was reported (90 days for Expanded Distribution sales). If your royalty earnings fall below the threshold for check and wire payments in a given month, we will keep a running total and issue payment in the month the amount exceeds the minimum threshold.

Payment schedule

Month royalty threshold met When you'll receive royalty payment

January End of March

February End of April

March End of May

April End of June

May End of July

June End of August

July End of September

August End of October

September End of November

October End of December

November End of January

December End of February

Timing for the delivery of funds to your account or mailing address varies based on payment method chosen:

Direct deposit

Direct deposit payments can take 1–5 business days to appear in your bank account from the payment date. If your bank is located in India, direct deposit payments can take 7–10 business days from the payment date.

Wire transfer

Wire payments can take 5–10 days business days to appear in your bank account from the payment date.

Check

Check delivery timeframes vary depending on location. After the payment date, it can take up to 30 days for the check to reach the address you’ve entered in the Author/Publisher Information section of your account. Please allow this much time before reporting your check as lost, and be sure to confirm the address on file is correct.

Setting up a payment method

When you're setting up your account information, you can choose how you'd like to receive your payments for sales from each Amazon marketplace. If you’re unable to follow the steps below, it’s likely that the payment method you’re attempting to select is not supported in your bank’s location. Check payment is only offered when an electronic payment method is not available. See our list of available methods based on bank location.

Direct deposit and wire transfer

Go to your KDP account.

Complete two-step verification.

Under Getting Paid, click Add a bank account.

Choose your country or region of residence and click OK.

Enter your bank account information according to your country/region requirements and click Add.

Click Save.

To switch from check to direct deposit or wire transfer:

Go to your KDP account.

Complete two-step verification.

Under Getting Paid, click Add another bank account.

Choose your country or region of residence and click OK.

Enter your bank account information according to your country/region requirements and click Add.

Click Save.

Video: Update your payment method from check to EFT

If you update your payment method before the 19th of the month, we'll process payment to your new bank account in the current payment cycle. If you update your bank account after the 19th of the month, we'll process payment to your new bank account in the next payment cycle. You'll be paid in full for all of your sales, regardless of the amount, in your local currency approximately 60 days after the end of the month in which the royalties accrued (90 days for Expanded Distribution).

Check

Check payment is only offered when an electronic payment method is not available. If you reside in a country that supports payment by check:

Go to your KDP account.

Complete two-step verification.

Under Getting Paid, click Add a bank account.

Choose your country or region of residence and click OK. A message will appear saying that direct deposit and wire is not supported.

Click Save.

Adding a bank account

The name provided in Author/Publisher Information should be the legal name of the author. In the Getting Paid section under Tell us about your bank, this name should match the name associated with the bank account. Incorrect or mismatched information between your KDP account and bank information are the most common causes of payment holds. Prior to saving any changes within the Getting Paid section of your account, always double-check your information for accuracy.

Note: If you enter numbers or any non-Latin characters in the "account holder name", you will get a message asking to confirm the information provided. If accurate you can click "Yes" and continue editing your account, if not accurate you can click "No" and re-enter the account holder name.

To add a bank account:

Go to your KDP account.

Complete two-step verification.

Under Getting Paid, click Add a bank account.

Choose your country or region of residence and click OK.

Follow the steps below matching where your account is located:

United States (US)

United Kingdom (UK)

European Union (EU)

Canada (CA)

Brazil (BR)

Japan (JP)

India (IN)

Mexico (MX)

Australia (AU)

New Zealand (NZ)

Don't see your bank account’s location? We likely don't support direct deposit or wire transfer to your accounts in your bank’s location. See which payment methods are available to you based on your bank location.

United States bank accounts

In the Account holder name box, enter your name exactly as it appears on your bank account.

Choose the type of account: Checking or Savings.

Enter your Account number and verify in the second box.

Enter your bank's Routing number. This nine-digit code appears as the first set of numbers on the bottom of your checks. Your bank can also provide this number to you.

In the Name of bank box, enter your bank's name.

Click Add.

Scroll to the bottom and click Save to finish updating your payment preferences.

United Kingdom bank accounts

Choose your bank's currency: British Pounds or Euros.

In the Account holder name box, enter your name exactly as it appears on your bank account.

Choose the type of account: Checking or Savings.

Enter your bank's IBAN number.

Enter your bank's BIC/SWIFT code. This 8- or 11-character code is available by contacting your bank.

In the Name of bank box, enter your bank's name.

Click Add.

Scroll to the bottom and click Save to finish updating your payment preferences.

European Union bank accounts

In the Account holder name box, enter your name exactly as it appears on your bank account.

Choose the type of account: Checking or Savings.

Enter your bank's IBAN number.

Enter your bank's BIC/SWIFT code. This 8- or 11-character code is available by contacting your bank.

In the Name of bank box, enter your bank's name.

Click Add.

Scroll to the bottom and click Save to finish updating your payment preferences.

Canada bank accounts

In the Account holder name box, enter your name exactly as it appears on your bank account.

Choose the type of account: Checking or Savings.

Enter your Account number and verify in the second box.

Enter your bank's Bank code.

Enter your bank's Branch code.

In the Name of bank box, enter your bank's name.

Click Add.

Scroll to the bottom and click Save to finish updating your payment preferences.

Brazil bank accounts

Under BIC/SWIFT (Optional), choose one of these options:

I want to provide my BIC/SWIFT code: If you choose this option, you'll be paid by EFT for sales on Amazon.com.br and by wire transfer for all other marketplaces.

I don't want to provide my BIC/SWIFT code: If you choose this option, you'll be paid by EFT for sales on Amazon.com.br and by check for all other marketplaces.

Enter your BIC/SWIFT code if you choose to provide it.

In the Account holder name box, enter your name exactly as it appears on your bank account.

For Type of account, choose Checking. We don't support payments to savings accounts.

Enter or choose your Name of bank, and the Bank code field will autopopulate.

Enter the first 4 numbers of your bank's Branch code without dashes or spaces. Branch codes are 4- or 5-digit codes on checks and bank cards, usually next to the account number.

Enter your Account number without dashes or spaces and verify in the second box. Account numbers are usually the second set of numbers on checks and bank cards.

Click Add.

Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Save to finish updating your payment preferences.

Japan bank accounts

In the Account holder name box, enter your name exactly as it appears on your bank account.

Choose the type of account: Checking or Savings.

Enter your Account number and verify in the second box.

In the Name of bank box, enter your bank's name.

Enter your bank's Bank code.

Enter your bank's Branch code.

Click Add.

Scroll to the bottom and click Save to finish updating your payment preferences.

India bank accounts

In the Account holder name box, enter your name exactly as it appears on your bank account.

Choose the type of account: Checking or Savings.

Enter your Account number and verify in the second box.

Enter your bank's IFSC code.

In the Name of bank box, enter your bank's name.

Click Add.

Scroll to the bottom and click Save to finish updating your payment preferences.

Mexico bank accounts

In the Account holder name box, enter your name exactly as it appears on your bank account.

Choose the type of account: Checking or Savings.

Enter your Account number (CLABE).

Enter your bank's BIC/SWIFT code. This 8- or 11-character code is available by contacting your bank.

In the Name of bank box, enter your bank's name.

Click Add.

Scroll to the bottom and click Save to finish updating your payment preferences.

Australia bank accounts

In the Account holder name box, enter your name exactly as it appears on your bank account.

Choose the type of account: Checking or Savings.

Enter your Account number and verify in the second box.

Enter your bank's Routing number. This is your six-digit Bank Code (XXYYYY, XX = Bank Prefix, YYYY = Bank Branch). Your bank can also provide this number to you.

Enter your bank's BIC/SWIFT code. This 8- or 11-character code is available by contacting your bank.

In the Name of bank box, enter your bank's name.

Click Add.

Scroll to the bottom and click Save to finish updating your payment preferences.

New Zealand bank accounts

In the Account holder name box, enter your name exactly as it appears on your bank account.

Choose the type of account: Checking or Savings.

Enter your Account number and verify in the second box.

Enter your bank's BIC/SWIFT code. This 8- or 11-character code is available by contacting your bank.

In the Name of bank box, enter your bank's name.

Click Add.

Scroll to the bottom and click Save to finish updating your payment preferences.

Missing payment issues

Incorrect or mismatched information between your KDP account and bank information are the most common causes of payment holds. If the information you enter in your KDP account doesn't exactly match the information your bank has on file for you, the bank will reject an electronic transfer of funds. If you use a pen name in the account holder name of the Getting Paid section that does not match your information on file with your bank, the bank will reject the payment.

Payment not received for all marketplaces

We pay royalties separately for each marketplace. The top reasons why publishers receive payments only for some marketplaces are:

Not all the marketplaces have accrued royalties.

Not all the marketplaces have met the necessary threshold to process the payment (if the method is check or wire).

When converting local royalty earnings to a different country, the amount to be paid after conversion didn't meet the minimum amount banks will allow us to send (if the method is direct deposit or wire).

Report shows an EFT/WIRE payment, but payment doesn't appear in bank account

Direct deposit payments can take 1–5 business days to show on your bank account from the payment date. In the case of wire payments, it can take 5–10 days. If in your Payments Report you see the amounts showing as "Paid," but the payment still does not appear in your account, please contact your financial institution for verification. If your bank is located in India, direct deposit payments can take 7–10 business days past the payment date before they show in your bank account.

Check has not arrived

Check delivery timeframes vary depending on location. After the payment date it can take up to 30 days for the check to reach the address in your KDP account. Please allow this much time before reporting your check as lost, and be sure to confirm the address on file is correct.

Withholding

If you're a US publisher, royalty payments for sales on the BR store are subject to Brazilian withholding taxation of 15%. Also, royalty payments for sales on the IN store are subject to 10% Singaporean tax withholding. If you're not a US publisher, royalties for Amazon.com (US) are subject to tax withholding depending on the country or region where you pay taxes. For Amazon.com.br (BR), you'll be subject to withholding only if you report your taxes in certain countries and regions. Learn more about tax withholding.

The tax withholding will be applied to the gross amount of your payment before it gets processed. For example, if you accrued $143.00 in the US Kindle Store and you have 30% tax withholding on your account, we will process a payment for $100.10 ($143.00 – 30% = $100.10