Hiring international independent contractors can be a simple solution for meeting your global staffing needs, but only if you thoroughly understand how to work with contractors in their host country in order to minimize the risk of employee misclassification.
Form W-8IMY - Certification of Foreign Intermediary, Foreign Flow-Through Entity, or Certain U.S. Branches for U.S. Tax Withholding is used for reporting payments to "flow- through entities" such as foreign partnerships or trusts.
Foreign independent contractors must submit IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E to certify their foreign status and claim any applicable tax treaty benefits. The US company may also need to file Form 1099-NEC if certain conditions are met, though this is more common for domestic contractors.
Foreign persons who provide Form W-8BEN, Form W-8BEN-E, Form W-8ECI, or Form W-8EXP or applicable documentary evidence are exempt from backup withholding and Form 1099 reporting.
Foreign vendors do not complete the Substitute Form W-9; foreign persons or entities must submit one of five available forms. The vendor must determine the one most appropriate to their United States tax status for reportable transactions.
Conversely, if the independent contractor is not a US person and did not perform any of their services within the US, you will not be required to issue Form 1099. Instead, the foreign contractor will have to complete and file Form W-8BEN.
1099s for US Contractors Abroad You will then use these forms to report your worldwide income on your US tax return. Foreign clients may not be required to send you a Form 1099. In that case, you will be responsible for tracking your own income so you can report it accurately on your US taxes.
Yes, US companies can hire foreign freelancers, which is another way to phrase the question Can a US company hire a foreign independent contractor? The key is ensuring that the relationship is correctly structured to avoid any legal pitfalls, particularly concerning tax obligations and employment classifications.