Does the US tax non-US citizens working outside the US for US companies?

May 17, 2009 2:22 PM

I am not a citizen or resident of the US, but I've been offered the opportunity to do some freelance work for a US-based company. The work will be done entirely in my country, without ever visiting the US, but as far as I can tell they will be paying me directly from their home office in the US (not via a subsidiary in my country). Under these circumstances, would the IRS be expecting some sort of filing from me relating to this when the next US tax deadline comes around?
posted by anonymous to work & money (4 comments total)

No.
posted by avex at 2:50 PM on May 17 [1 favorite]

The company should get you to fill out a W8 form, which is basically a declaration that you're not from the US, so no tax should be withheld.
posted by scruss at 3:20 PM on May 17

You might want to ask your prospective client if or how they will report your income to your local tax authority.
posted by justcorbly at 3:26 PM on May 17

I worked as a contractor for US company while based in the UK and I just paid tax in the UK. You should also ask whether Foreign Sourced Income Statement is relevant to you - basically, it's statement that you aren't eligible for taxation in the US.
posted by poissonrouge at 10:11 PM on May 17