Amazon KDP Application: Account Setup Process KDP Interior

Okay so you wanna set up your KDP account, right? I literally just helped my sister do this last week while watching The Last of Us (great show btw), and honestly it’s way simpler than people make it sound but there are a few spots where everyone gets stuck.

Table of Contents

Getting Started With The Actual Application

First thing – you need an Amazon account. Like a regular customer account. If you already buy stuff on Amazon, just use that one. People overthink this and create separate accounts thinking they need a “business” Amazon account or whatever, but nah. Just log into your regular Amazon and then go to kdp.amazon.com.

Click the “Sign up” button and it’ll ask you to sign in with your existing Amazon credentials. Boom, you’re halfway there already.

The Personal Information Section

This is where it gets real because now Amazon wants to know who you actually are. They need:

Your legal name (the one on your tax documents)
Your address
Phone number
Email (probably already filled in from your Amazon account)

Here’s the thing – use your REAL information. I know a guy who tried using a pen name in the legal name field thinking he was being clever, and his account got stuck in verification hell for like three weeks. Your pen name comes later when you’re uploading books. This part? This is IRS stuff, tax stuff, payment stuff. Be boring and accurate here.

Country Selection Matters More Than You Think

When it asks for your country, that determines which tax interview you’re gonna get. If you’re in the US, you’ll do a W-9. Outside the US? You’re doing a W-8BEN. Can’t change this later without contacting support, so double-check you selected the right one.

The Tax Information Part (Don’t Skip This)

Okay so funny story – my first KDP account back in 2016, I skipped the tax interview thinking I’d “come back to it later” and Amazon just… held my royalties. For months. Until I completed it. Don’t be like 2016 me.

Click through to the tax interview. It’s gonna ask if you’re an individual or a business. Most people starting out? You’re an individual. Even if you have an LLC, you might still file as an individual depending on how your business is structured, but that’s between you and your accountant.

For US People (W-9)

You’ll need your Social Security Number or EIN if you have a business. Type it in carefully – I’ve seen people transpose numbers and then wonder why their payments are delayed.

The form asks if you’re subject to backup withholding. Unless you’ve been notified by the IRS that you are, just check “no.” Most people have never even heard of backup withholding.

For Non-US People (W-8BEN)

This one’s trickier. You’re filling this out so Amazon doesn’t withhold 30% of your royalties for US tax purposes. You’ll need:

Your full legal name
Your country of citizenship
Your foreign tax identifying number (like your tax ID from your country)
Your permanent address

There’s a section about tax treaty benefits. Most countries have a tax treaty with the US that reduces withholding to 0% or some lower percentage. Check the box that says you’re claiming treaty benefits and select your country. My client from the UK last month almost missed this and would’ve lost a chunk of his royalties.

Oh and another thing – the form expires every three years, so you’ll have to redo it eventually. Amazon will email you when it’s coming up for renewal.

Payment Information Setup

This is where you tell Amazon how to pay you. You’ve got options depending on where you live:

Direct deposit (US bank accounts – this is the fastest)
Wire transfer (international, but watch out for fees)
Check (slow and also has fees, wouldn’t recommend)

For direct deposit, you need your bank’s routing number and your account number. It’s on your checks or you can log into your online banking to find it. Double and triple check these numbers because one wrong digit means your money goes into the void.

International folks – you’ll need your SWIFT code and IBAN. Your bank can give you these. Wire transfer fees can be like $15-45 per payment, so keep that in mind. Some people wait until they hit a higher threshold before requesting payment to minimize fee impact.

Setting Your Payment Threshold

Amazon pays when you hit certain thresholds. For direct deposit it’s $10 minimum, wire transfer is $100, checks are $100. You can set it higher if you want – like I have mine set to $500 because I don’t need the money immediately and I’d rather get fewer, bigger payments than constant small ones.

Marketplace Selection Thing

Wait I forgot to mention – when you’re setting up, Amazon asks which marketplaces you want to publish to. You’ll see options like:

Amazon.com (US)
Amazon.co.uk (UK)
Amazon.de (Germany)
Amazon.fr (France)
And a bunch more

Just check all of them. Seriously. There’s no downside. Your books can be available globally and you get paid in USD anyway (converted if needed). I see beginners only select their own country thinking they need to “focus” but that’s just leaving money on the table.

The Identity Verification Step

This is gonna sound weird but Amazon might ask you to verify your identity with a phone call or text. They’ll send a code, you enter it, done. Some accounts get flagged for additional verification where you need to upload a government ID and maybe a bank statement.

If this happens to you, don’t panic. It’s random and it’s just Amazon being cautious about fraud. Take a clear photo of your driver’s license or passport, upload it through the link they provide, and usually within 24-48 hours you’re approved.

My dog started barking during my verification call the first time and I thought for sure they’d think it was suspicious but nope, totally fine.

Account Type – Individual vs Business

You can set up as an individual or as a business. Here’s my take after setting up both types:

Individual Account: Easier to set up, uses your SSN, payments go to your personal bank account. Perfect for starting out. Most of my first 50 books were published under an individual account.

Business Account: Requires an EIN, business name, sometimes articles of incorporation. More professional if you’re running this as a real business. I switched after year two when my accountant told me I should’ve had an LLC ages ago.

You can always start individual and upgrade later. That’s actually what I recommend because why complicate things before you even publish your first book?

Common Hiccups I See All The Time

Mismatched information between your tax form and payment info. Like if your tax interview says “John Smith” but your bank account is under “John A. Smith” – Amazon’s system sometimes flags that. Keep everything consistent.

Using a P.O. Box as your address. Amazon wants a physical address for verification purposes. You can use a P.O. Box for correspondence later, but initial setup needs a real street address.

Not completing everything in one sitting. The application times out if you leave it too long. I usually tell people to gather all their info first – SSN/EIN, bank details, ID if needed – then sit down and knock it out in one go. Takes maybe 20 minutes tops.

After You Hit Submit

Your account usually gets approved within 24 hours, sometimes immediately. You’ll get an email confirmation. Then you can start uploading books, setting up your author profile, all that fun stuff.

Some accounts go into review and take a few days. If it’s been more than 72 hours, contact KDP support through the help section. They’re actually pretty responsive, despite what people say.

The dashboard is gonna look overwhelming at first with all the options and menus, but you’ll figure it out. The main things you need are in the “Bookshelf” section where you upload and manage your books.

Oh and save your login info somewhere secure. I use a password manager because I’ve got like three different KDP accounts for various projects and keeping track was a nightmare before I got organized about it.