Getting paid by Apple

For those that aren't aware. The payment process is about as complex as the application submission process. It's all handled through iTunes Connect, what I jokingly refer to as the "backside" of the iTunes everyone usually see. The whole thing has the Apple look and feel but it has a sense of music artist royalties to it.

Here is the dirty tricks you might not be aware of:

1. Apple doesn't payout until you hit a threshold of $250 in a particular iTunes store. There are at least seven stores: Japan, Canada, United States, Europe, United Kingdom, Rest of World, Australia. Contrast this to Google AdSense that pays out at $100 worldwide.

iPhone doesn't have much traction in Japan and other than EU and US I wouldn't expect to get paid in other regions. Your applications are basically going for free in those countries unless your in the top 100 applications and your volumes are huge.

2. Apple pays NET45. So you won't see a dime until a month and a half after you've hit these limits.

3. The Japan government will take 20% off the top of payouts if you don't have the equivalent of an IRS 1099 filed with the Japanese government.