- Egyptian pounds by direct deposit
- The gap in the table: Amazon.in
- Your bank may want paperwork first
- When the royalty reaches you
- The fifteen rate in the IRS treaty table
- If you don't have a tax number: the ITIN route
- Money outside KDP: other routes for Egyptian freelancers
- Scams that use KDP's name
- So, does KDP work from Egypt?
- Frequently asked questions
Yes, Egyptian authors can be paid through Amazon KDP. According to KDP's payment options page, Egyptian bank accounts receive direct deposit in Egyptian pounds for most Amazon stores. The catch is tax: the IRS treaty table lists Egypt at fifteen for royalties, so the KDP tax questionnaire matters, and some local banks ask for extra documents.
Amazon KDP Egypt is a search from authors who want to publish in Arabic or English and be paid into a local bank account. The short version is that KDP lists Egypt for direct deposit in Egyptian pounds. What's different here is the tax side and one gap in the table. I've read KDP's help pages and the IRS treaty table to get the details. I'm not a tax adviser, so please check your own case with an accountant.
Egyptian pounds by direct deposit
KDP's payment options page has a dedicated Egypt row. For Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com.au, Amazon.co.jp, Amazon.com.mx and the European stores, the direct deposit currency shown is EGP. Check and wire transfer show as not applicable for those stores.
One exception is Amazon.com.br. For that store, the Egypt row lists a wire payment in US dollars instead of direct deposit. If you plan to sell to Brazilian readers, keep that in mind, because wire payments have a minimum payment and may carry receiving fees.
The gap in the table: Amazon.in
Look carefully at the Egypt table and you'll see that Amazon.in isn't listed, while it's listed for countries such as India and Nigeria. KDP doesn't explain why. I wouldn't read too much into it, but if you're counting on sales from Indian readers, check your account's payment settings and the Payments Report before you rely on that store.
| What I checked | What KDP and the IRS say for Egypt |
|---|---|
| Main payment route | Direct deposit in EGP for most Amazon stores |
| Amazon.com.br | Wire in US dollars |
| Amazon.in | Not listed in the Egypt table |
| Bank delay | 1-5 business days after the payment date |
| Bank paperwork | Some local banks need extra documents |
| IRS treaty table | 15 for copyright royalties |
| PayPal | Not an available payment option |
Your bank may want paperwork first
KDP is clear that sending the money is only half of it. Its page says Amazon may support direct deposit to Egypt, but some Egyptian banks want extra paperwork before they credit a foreign electronic payment, and a few set a threshold of their own. KDP tells authors to ask their bank what it requires.
In practice that means phoning or visiting your bank before the first royalty arrives. Ask what documents it needs for a foreign electronic payment, whether it applies its own minimum and what fees apply. KDP can't answer those questions for you.
When the royalty reaches you
KDP pays royalties every month, approximately 60 days after the end of the month in which the sale was reported, as long as any threshold is met. Direct deposit payments can then take 1-5 business days to show on your bank account. KDP says that if your Payments Report shows the payment as paid but you haven't received it, you should contact your bank.
Direct deposit has no minimum payment threshold, which is KDP's main reason for recommending it over wire or cheque.
The fifteen rate in the IRS treaty table
Because KDP is run from the United States, KDP's tax withholding page says royalty payments for eBook sales on Amazon.com and print book sales on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.jp, Amazon.com.au and Amazon.ca are subject to 30% US tax withholding for non-US persons. A treaty can lower that.
The IRS treaty table lists Egypt at 15 in the Copyrights column under Royalties, citing Article 13. That's a reduced rate, not zero. The IRS adds that its table isn't a complete guide to every eligibility rule, so a tax professional should confirm the position for you.
To claim a treaty rate, KDP says you have to provide a tax identification number. If you have a US one, you must enter it. If not, you may enter the income tax number issued by your country's tax authority. Your W-8 form lapses at the end of the third calendar year following the year you sign it, and the rate falls back to 30% if it does.
If you don't have a tax number: the ITIN route
Some authors don't have an income tax number to enter. KDP's ITIN help page says that if your country of permanent residence doesn't issue a Tax ID number but has an active treaty with the United States, you may apply for a US Individual Taxpayer Identification Number by filing Form W-7.
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KDP also says you may be eligible for an ITIN support letter from Amazon. The conditions it lists are that your country has an active treaty with the US, you've completed the KDP Tax Profile and you've received a US payment from KDP. If you meet them, you can contact KDP, and if approved the letter comes by post. Ask a tax adviser whether this fits your situation.
Money outside KDP: other routes for Egyptian freelancers
KDP says PayPal and Amazon Payments aren't available options, so book royalties go only to a bank account. For freelance work or other online income, you can read my guides on Wise for people in Egypt and PayPal in Egypt. If you're comparing countries, KDP payments for South African authors show a very different banking step.
Scams that use KDP's name
Don't pay anyone who promises to "free up" royalties or speed up a payment. Log in only through the official KDP site, read your Payments Report there and keep your bank details to yourself.
So, does KDP work from Egypt?
Yes, it does. Egyptian authors get direct deposit in pounds for most stores, with Brazil as the wire exception. Plan for two jobs before your first payment: speak to your bank about foreign payment paperwork, and complete the KDP tax questionnaire with the right number so the treaty rate can apply.
Frequently asked questions
Does Amazon KDP pay Egyptian bank accounts?
According to KDP's payment options page, yes. Egypt is listed with direct deposit in EGP for most Amazon stores. Amazon.com.br royalties are paid by wire in US dollars.
Is Amazon.in listed for Egypt?
No. KDP's Egypt table lists other stores such as Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.ca and Amazon.com.au but doesn't list Amazon.in. KDP gives no reason, so check your account's payment settings.
Will my Egyptian bank accept KDP payments?
KDP says some local banks require additional documentation to release funds from international electronic payments, and some have a payment threshold. Contact your bank for its requirements.
What is the treaty rate for Egypt?
The IRS treaty table lists Egypt at 15 in the Copyrights royalties column under Article 13. To claim it, KDP says you must provide a tax identification number.
What if I don't have a tax number?
KDP says that if your country doesn't issue a Tax ID number but has an active treaty with the US, you may apply for a US ITIN with Form W-7, and may be eligible for an ITIN support letter from Amazon.
How long does KDP take to pay?
Royalties are paid about 60 days after the end of the month of the sale. Direct deposit then takes 1-5 business days to show in your bank account.
