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I did contract work for an American company from the EU for 6 months. I set up a one man company (with unlimited liability ...) and just sent invoices to the A

I did contract work for an American company from the EU for 6 months. I set up a one man company (with unlimited liability ...) and just sent invoices to the American company and they paid to my bank. Then I paid the taxes myself locally. [Edit: My company was not based in the US.] It is very doable if you got a lead.

tough 3y ago
Yep, you just basically need to set up a US LLC or whatever via firstbase/stripe atlas and other alternatives. The costs will vary but mostly is the accountant, should be more than worth the cost tho. There's also deel/remote which can handle this for the companies not having to require you to become a contractor, but they take their cut so YMMV, also your hiring company would need to -hire- their services
- Kwpolska 3y ago
  I think the OP meant a sole-tradership in their country. Businesses from different countries can trade, and it's easier to deal with one tax and legal system instead of two.
- rightbyte 3y ago
  I set up the company where I live, not in the US. I can't imagine the trouble to setup an American company and bank account without living there. It was total liability too, otherwise I would have needed a board and accountant. But since the company had no assets (other than the invoice money for some days) or debt it was low risk.
  - iExploder 3y ago
    this makes sense, however I'm thinking having setup a local US llc might be better for optics
    - khuey 3y ago
      Setting up a US company is going to make your life far far harder than it needs to be from a tax perspective.
    - nolok 3y ago
      Optics of your customer ? Maybe but not really, unless you're planning to lie or be vague about where you are located. Optics of your local tax office ? Definitely not, they're going to view you as trying to skip around local taxes.
    - pavlov 3y ago
      Since you’re not resident in the US anyway, it probably won’t make any difference to the company hiring you. Most companies routinely pay foreign invoices. Basically, if you’re not in the US, they know they’ll have a hard time suing you. The LLC won’t help obscure that. If you go the US LLC route, make sure you understand the tax implications. Preparing your American tax return may be very expensive. (When I lived in NYC as a European expat, the paperwork for my private tax return cost several thousand dollars each year. American tax advisers who have experience handling foreign professionals know their price.)
    - nivertech 3y ago
      ... or it mighty be worse
stevekemp 3y ago
Same here. I set myself up as a sole-trader, and issued invoices on a monthly basis. Locally, in Finland, I declared my income and paid the taxes and made other withholdings as appropriate, but the whole thing wasn't a big deal.
epolanski 3y ago
Same thing a guy I know that works a float does. He simply sends an invoice.
brudgers 3y ago
It is very doable if you got a lead. And highly improbable without n > 0 leads.

tough 3y ago

Yep, you just basically need to set up a US LLC or whatever via firstbase/stripe atlas and other alternatives. The costs will vary but mostly is the accountant, should be more than worth the cost tho. There's also deel/remote which can handle this for the companies not having to require you to become a contractor, but they take their cut so YMMV, also your hiring company would need to -hire- their services

Kwpolska 3y ago
I think the OP meant a sole-tradership in their country. Businesses from different countries can trade, and it's easier to deal with one tax and legal system instead of two.
rightbyte 3y ago
I set up the company where I live, not in the US. I can't imagine the trouble to setup an American company and bank account without living there. It was total liability too, otherwise I would have needed a board and accountant. But since the company had no assets (other than the invoice money for some days) or debt it was low risk.
- iExploder 3y ago
  this makes sense, however I'm thinking having setup a local US llc might be better for optics
  - khuey 3y ago
    Setting up a US company is going to make your life far far harder than it needs to be from a tax perspective.
  - nolok 3y ago
    Optics of your customer ? Maybe but not really, unless you're planning to lie or be vague about where you are located. Optics of your local tax office ? Definitely not, they're going to view you as trying to skip around local taxes.
  - pavlov 3y ago
    Since you’re not resident in the US anyway, it probably won’t make any difference to the company hiring you. Most companies routinely pay foreign invoices. Basically, if you’re not in the US, they know they’ll have a hard time suing you. The LLC won’t help obscure that. If you go the US LLC route, make sure you understand the tax implications. Preparing your American tax return may be very expensive. (When I lived in NYC as a European expat, the paperwork for my private tax return cost several thousand dollars each year. American tax advisers who have experience handling foreign professionals know their price.)
  - nivertech 3y ago
    ... or it mighty be worse

stevekemp 3y ago

Same here. I set myself up as a sole-trader, and issued invoices on a monthly basis. Locally, in Finland, I declared my income and paid the taxes and made other withholdings as appropriate, but the whole thing wasn't a big deal.

epolanski 3y ago

Same thing a guy I know that works a float does. He simply sends an invoice.

brudgers 3y ago

It is very doable if you got a lead. And highly improbable without n > 0 leads.