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Please choose a question from the drop down list:
You can apply online, download and print an application form or request a form to be posted to you.
In order to receive payments, you must register your published books for PLR. You may register via the online service or application form. Statements are posted to registered applicants each January. If you have an online account you will receive an online statement each January. This gives details of the estimated national loans for your registered books, the payments due on each and how the payment will be made. Payments are made once a year each February, in accordance with your instructions. The minimum payment amount is £1 and the maximum £6,600.
The PLR computer divides the total number of grossed-up loans of registered books into the available funding. This provides a ‘rate per loan’. The calculation process takes account of money freed for redistribution by the operation of the minimum (£1) and maximum (£6,600) payment thresholds.
We collect loans data from a representative sample of library authorities across the UK. We also rotate the sample to ensure that authors of books of local and regional interest have a periodic chance of receiving payment.
I've just heard about PLR. Can I claim from the date my books were published? The PLR year runs from 1 July – 30 June each year. If you register your book(s) at any time during the PLR year, you will be credited with loans of your books for the whole PLR year. We are unable to make retrospective payments for earlier years since the whole PLR fund is distributed each year amongst our registered authors.
Are audio books eligible for PLR? Under the Digital Economy Act, passed in April 2010, PLR is to be extended to include public library loans of audio books and certain categories of ebooks. To introduce these changes the PLR legislation will have to be amended. We will advise authors when we are able to accept applications to register audio and ebooks. In the meantime registration is restricted to books which are ‘printed and bound’. We will aim to keep registered authors informed of any developments through PLR News.
Can I claim PLR in other countries? The UK PLR office pays for borrowings from UK libraries. To receive PLR from German, Dutch, Austrian and other European PLR Schemes please contact ALCS. To register for Irish PLR, please contact the Irish PLR office.
How do I know if i'm eligible? To qualify for PLR in a book you should be named on its title page or be entitled to a royalty payment from the publisher (but you do not have to own the copyright). When two or more contributors are involved they must divide the PLR between them. This is done on the basis of percentage shares which they must agree before applying for registration. Every contributor named on the title page of a book needs to be consulted when agreeing percentage shares and the agreed division should reflect contribution. Each eligible contributor may then submit a separate application. The following types of contributor must be taken into account:
Shares should be agreed between contributors prior to applying for PLR registration. Shares can be agreed either verbally or in writing (this includes e-mails). The percentage split should reflect individual contributions to a book, and the figures should be whole numbers (ie not 33.3%). If you cannot contact your co-author or illustrator, your publisher may be able to put you in touch. If not, the PLR office may be able to help with contact details.
Can I claim 100% if another contributor is deceased or doesn't want to register? No – you may only apply for a share which reflects your own contribution. If the other contributor is deceased or doesn’t want to register, you should leave aside a notional share to reflect their contribution. If you have lost touch with the other contributor, you should make reasonable efforts to contact them (eg via the publisher) to agree shares. If you still cannot contact them, you may register a share which reflects your contribution. However, if the other contributor subsequently applies for different shares, we will have to remove your share until an agreement is reached.
I am trying to trace an author, can you help? In accordance with data protection legislation we are not able to provide you with contact details. However, if we have an address on our records we would be happy to forward a letter on your behalf. You may also wish to try the copyright tracing service WATCH (Writers, Artists and Their Copyright Holders).
Do I need to apply for the 10 or 13 digit ISBN printed on my book? The ISBN system changed from 10 a digit number to 13 a digit number in January 2007. Our system has been adapted to cope with both versions of the ISBN so please don’t worry if your book was published with a 10 digit ISBN. You can still apply using 10 digit ISBNs – but they will be displayed on your confirmation prints and annual statements as the 13 digit equivalent. Loans data from our sample libraries can also be handled in either format – so the calculation of your loans figures and payments will not be affected.
Do I need to re-apply for books which I've already registered? There is no need to re-apply for titles which are already on the register. You only need to apply for each new ISBN which is published. Books which are registered may be viewed and printed when logged into your online account. If you do not have an online account, you may either apply for a login or contact us to request a full list of titles registered to be posted to you.
Why are some of my books missing from my annual Statement? Your Statement only shows titles which are eligible for the next payment round. Therefore only titles registered on or before 30 June will be listed. Any titles registered after this date will be shown on next year’s Statement.
Is PLR subject to Income Tax and VAT? Payments to UK residents will be made without deduction of tax. You should include details of the sums received as income in your tax returns. However, for non-UK residents, the PLR office is obliged to deduct tax before payment is made. Payments to non-UK residents will be subject to tax at the basic rate, under Section 536 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. Tax exemption can be applied for by contacting HM Revenue & Customs Centre for Non-Residents PLR is outside the scope of VAT and should not be declared on VAT return forms. In cases of difficulty your local VAT offices should be asked to refer to VAT Administration Directorate (VAH2) quoting reference TL1158/82.
How do I update my personal details? You can update your address and bank details in writing or via the online service. We can also accept changes of address (but not bank) over the telephone, subject to verification being provided. Please note that we are unable to accept changes to either address or bank details via email.
What information is confidential? In accordance with Data Protection legislation the Registrar confirms that the personal data which you provide will only be used for the purposes of administering PLR. If you have provided an email address, we may send you emails occasionally updating you on PLR developments. If you do not wish to receive these emails, you may contact us to opt out. No information is disclosed to a third party. However, the Inland Revenue is entitled to information about payments.
How can I correspond with PLR? You may contact us via the secure message area within your online account. Alternatively you may telephone PLR: +44(0)1642 604699 fax: +44(0)1642 615641or email Author Services. Our postal address is: Richard House, Sorbonne Close, Stockton-on-Tees TS17 6DA United Kingdom
I am having problems receiving emails from PLR We are aware that some people have not been receiving emails from us, in particular those with btinternet and aol email accounts. Emails might not be received, even if you add us to your safe senders list. We would recommend that you provide us with an alternative email address if possible.
How can I find out more about PLR? The News section of this site is updated regularly. Newsletters are included with the annual statements which are posted to registered applicants or made available online to those with online accounts each January. This includes information regarding the previous year’s PLR operation and its costs, and details of any recent or forthcoming rule changes. The most recent newsletter is available to view on our website. A fuller Annual Report is published by the Registrar. Copies are available from the PLR office and on our website.
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