Self-Publishing FAQ: When Does KDP Pay Royalties?

Let's talk about $$$!

When can you expect to get paid through Amazon’s KDP platform, and what happens if you don't elect to receive direct deposits? Here's the short story: It might take up to two months for you to get your first royalty check, but once they start rolling in, you can expect monthly distributions. All the other nitty-gritty pay details are down below.

See how Amazon KDP is changing lives one self-published book at a time. Stop by our webinar and meet REAL people who are making money online with no degree or experience whatsoever.

KDP Royalty Payment Schedule and Payment FAQs

All your Amazon KDP payment FAQs right here!

How Long Does It Usually Take to Receive Your First Royalty Payment from KDP?

KDP operates on a monthly payment system. Once your book starts generating sales, you'll receive your royalties approximately 60 days following the end of the month in which those sales occurred. For example, if your book sold during March, you could expect your first royalties to arrive by the end of May.

Here's the full year's schedule:

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

Waiting sucks, but it's not something you'll have to worry about forever. As you grow, you can start getting paid even during the months you weren't publishing anything new at all! Just like Fred, who didn't touch his publishing business for two years and was still raking in thousands a month:

What Payment Methods Does KDP Use to Pay Royalties?

You have three options for getting paid: Direct Deposit, Check, and Wire Payment.

Direct Deposit

This is definitely the most common payment method, and it’s also Amazon’s recommended payment method. All you have to do to set up direct deposit is provide your bank account information in the KDP account settings.

Advantages include:

• Speed: Faster payment compared to checks.
• Convenience: Automatic deposit to your bank account.
• Security: Payments are electronically transferred, reducing the risk of checks being lost or stolen.

Check

If you prefer not to use Direct Deposit, or if it's not available in your country, you can opt for receiving your KDP royalty payments by check. Keep in mind, though, that there are some drawbacks:

• Slower process: It can take several weeks for checks to be printed and delivered.
• Risk of loss: Checks can be lost or stolen in the mail.
• Bank fees: Your bank may charge a fee to process and deposit the check.

Wire Transfer

For some countries, KDP offers the option of receiving royalty payments via wire transfer. This electronic payment method involves transferring funds directly to your bank account from KDP.

Pros/Cons include:

• Faster than checks: Wire transfers are generally faster than receiving a check in the mail.
• Bank fees involved: Your bank may charge fees for receiving wire transfers.
• Minimum threshold: KDP requires a higher minimum payment threshold for wire transfers compared to Direct Deposit and checks.

What Are the Payment Thresholds for KDP Royalties?

KDP sets payment thresholds to determine when to release book royalties. These thresholds depend on your chosen payment method as well as the currency of your royalties.

For EFT Payments, the threshold varies depending on the currency.

• USD: $10
• EUR: €10
• GBP: £10
• JPY: ¥1,000

For check payments, the threshold is higher and currency-specific.

• USD: $100
• EUR: €100
• GBP: £100
• JPY: ¥10,000

Check your earnings quickly and understand payment rules with our Amazon KDP royalty calculator.

If your royalties do not meet these thresholds, your earnings will be carried over to the following month until the minimum is reached. You can read Amazon's full terms of service here.

Monitoring Royalty Payments

The KDP dashboard was built with pretty much everything you need to grow your self-publishing business, including sales and marketing reports.

Here's a brief overview of the different sections available on the dashboard:

• Historical: Provides a comprehensive summary of your books' sales, royalties, and any KDP Select promotions you ran. You can narrow down the data using various filters, such as marketplace, author, and title.
• Month-to-Date: Displays the current month's sales and KENP read data. This section allows you to monitor your books' performance, helping you identify trends and make informed decisions.
• Payments: Presents a detailed summary of your royalties earned and payment history. You can view the payment status (Pending, Paid, On Hold, or Adjustments) and review past payment history.

Troubleshooting Payment Issues

Payment issues don't happen too often, but here's what to do if you ever find Amazon is not paying your royalties:

Payment Discrepancies

If you notice any discrepancies in your KDP royalty payments, start by reviewing your sales reports within your KDP account to ensure all your sales have been recorded accurately. If you still find any discrepancies, follow these steps:

1. Gather relevant information: Prepare a summary of the sales discrepancy, including the book title, ASIN, affected marketplace(s), sales period, and any supporting documentation (such as screenshots).
2. Contact KDP support: Log in to your KDP account and click on the Help tab. Under "Contact Us," submit a new case, select the "My Books" option, and then "Royalties." Provide the information you gathered in step 1.
3. Monitor the case: You'll receive a case ID via email. KDP support usually responds within 2-3 business days. Keep track of your case, and don't be afraid to follow up if you don't hear back.

Updating Payment Information

If you need to update your payment information, follow these steps:

1. Sign in to KDP
2. Go to your account settings
3. Select payment settings
4. Edit your information
5. Save changes

Note: If you change your bank account to another country, KDP may require additional tax information.

Get Paid for Your Ideas!

What if a free Kindle Direct Publishing account was all you needed to unlock a better path?

One where you didn't have to worry about...

• Rising grocery costs
• Unexpected car troubles
• Family emergencies
• Mounting medical bills

Don't know where to start? No problem. We show everyday people how to find the most profitable ideas hiding in plain sight on Amazon's marketplace, where over 310 million people are looking to make their next purchase. Zero degree or experience required.

---> Catch us at the free webinar!