I just discovered that Amazon has begun withholding income taxes from my commission paymets to the tune of 30%.

They began this with no warning to me two weeks ago, and  based this on an “online tax interview,” which they listed as my having “completed,” though I had never seen the damned thing before, let alone “completed” it.

Further, I am not an Amazon employee.  I am an independent contractor paid by commission on ads I run on this site, which payments are effectively no different than the book royalties I receive from publishers.

Yes, I understand I owe taxes on my income, and I pay them when I declare that income at the time I file taxes.  

However, thanks to the deductions and exemptions I am legally able to declare at filing, I never end up paying Federal income taxes of 30% of gross income, and so I see no reason I should be forced to effectively loan the US government money interest free until I can eventually get my own money refunded to me.

I think this is all outrageous, but I’m no tax lawyer, and I have no idea how to fight it.

Thanks, GOP/Dem Ruling Party Leviathan!  We need you to govern!  Spend more!  Borrow more!  Tax more!