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Amazon recently announced that it will cease paying affiliate reward to its California associates. As a startup very reliant on affiliate fees, is there any way to get around this?

Background: We registered as an LLC outside of the state and just moved to Cali.

2nd question: Even if I am in California, would Amazon have any way of knowing if all my cards/addresses supplied to them are still back home?

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If the legal entity is not based in California you shouldn't have a problem should you? – Susan Jones Aug 1 '11 at 2:39

3 Answers

Amazon will not let you be an affiliate because you are a CA resident. Please see Re-incorporation Won’t Save Amazon Affiliate from Termination.

Disclaimer: This information does not constitute legal advice and does not establish an attorney-client relationship.

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Updated post with a question – babonk Aug 1 '11 at 5:47
I have no idea of what Amazon is capable of knowing. When I advise clients, I generally recommend that they not lie. – Dana Shultz Aug 5 '11 at 18:15

At the moment I think you are stuck. I believe that Amazon has cut off all business with its California affiliates because California is claiming that they constitute a business situs in the state. California says that Amazon must collect sales tax on sales within the state because Amazon has a situs in the state. Amazon is trying to get enough signatures to qualify a proposition for the November ballot that would prevent the state from collecting the tax.

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Update post with a question, also where can I get more info on this proposition? – babonk Aug 1 '11 at 5:47

I am a NC resident and face the same problem. It seems that Amazon ceased their Associate program in several states that are demanding state tax be collected. I also looked into using an agent to incorporate a business in another state but apparently that isn't a valid work around. It seems I am still not eligible for their program simply because I'm a resident of NC.

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How do they know you are still a resident? – babonk Sep 1 '11 at 19:03

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