For selling on Amazon.com

Ask Me Anything Series 1: [For Filipino Sellers]

Welcome to our Ask Me Anything Series where you ask the questions and we answer. In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions about selling on Amazon from the Philippines, read on to learn how you can succeed as an Amazon selling partner.
I have a trademark registered in the Philippines, will I have to register for a US trademark?
Trademark is based on the country you are selling in, so a Filipino trademark is not recognized in the USA. The Philippines trademark is not recognized on Amazon because you're selling to the US, hence you'll need a US trademark.

Amazon IP Accelerator helps businesses more quickly obtain intellectual property (IP) rights and brand protection in Amazon's stores. You can use this to access trusted IP law firms which provide high quality trademark registration services at competitive rates.
In a Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaign, does the ranking of your product listing affect the bidding process, or is it purely based on the bid amount?
From an advertising perspective, when it comes to PPC campaigns, it is purely based on the amount you have bid, so the highest bidder will be awarded the ad position. The ranking of your product does not have an effect on this outcome.

However, if you want to rank on page one on Amazon, factors such as using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and ensuring you have high quality and optimized listings with clear photos are factors that will help you rank organically.
I am a private labeller manufacturing products from the Philippines and looking to export them to the US. Do I need to provide documents from the manufacturer?
If you are doing a private label, meaning you manufacture in the Philippines and put your own brand on the product, what you need to do first is to get the invoice from your manufacturer to prove that they are legitimate.

In addition to that, you will also need a US trademark to ptotect your brand and your goods. You can use the Amazon IP Accelerator to access trusted IP law firms to help provide you with high quality trademark registration services at competitive rates.
From what I understand, US citizens have to pay taxes to the US government. As a Filipino citizen based in the Philippines and selling on Amazon.com, do I have to pay taxes as well?
You are encouraged to consult with a tax advisor if you have questions about the law and regulations concerning tax payment. We recommend that you consult your tax and regulatory advisors before making decisions about how you will sell on Amazon marketplaces.

However, here are some general insights. If you are not an American citizen, meaning you are a foreigner or a foreign based entity, you will only need to report tax back to your own country. So in the Philippnes, you will have to report the amount of revenue generated on Amazon.com back to your own country's tax authorities, and you do not need to report back to the US tax authority unless you make more than a million dollars.
Should I also open a US bank account because some of the merchants or vendors in the US do not accept bank cards from the Philippines?
You may receive your sales proceeds to a bank account issued by a Payment Service Provider (PSP) that participates in Amazon's Payment Service Provider program. The requirements above apply both when you choose to receive direct disbursement and when you receive disbursements through the Amazon Currency Converter for Sellers program.
If I want to be a reseller selling Filipino branded products, is that possible?
If you want to sell Filipino branded products like a reseller or wholesaler, you can do so. However, you will have to seek permission in the form of an authorization letter from the brand from which you are reselling items from.
At the moment, my Amazon account is tied to my Phillipines bank account. However, I need to change it to a new bank account. How do I do so to avoid being suspended?
To improve our ability to identify and prevent bad actors so that we can continue to protect customers and Sellers against fraud and abuse, we limit the types of accounts we accept for the disbursement of Amazon store sales proceeds. To avoid any potential distribution on your Amazon account, you will need to open a case with seller support to let them know you want to change your bank details, before you make the changes, and they will assist you with this matter.
Do you still have questions about selling on Amazon from the Philippines? Not to worry, drop us a message on our page and we will do our best to answer them.
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