4 drawbacks of hiring independent contractors Contractors have their own autonomy. They manage their hours, work on their own time, and have a say over how they'd like to work on their projects. As a result, you have less control over their work than you would with a full-time employee at your company.
Yes, a non-U.S. citizen can be an independent contractor for a U.S. company. This is a key point in understanding how can a US company hire a foreign independent contractor.
One key disadvantage of hiring an independent contractor is the potential for loss of control over the job process. In contrast to employees, independent contractors run their own businesses and therefore have greater autonomy in how they accomplish their work.
Disadvantages of Contract Employment Lack of Job Security. Inconsistent Income. Limited Career Progression. Administrative Burden. Isolation and Lack of Team Integration. Legal and Regulatory Challenges. Impact on Work-Life Balance.
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.
However, the IRS doesn't require a company to withhold taxes or report any income from an international contractor if the contractor is not a U.S. citizen and the services provided are outside the U.S. filing forms 1099 is required if: The contractor is located internationally but is a U.S. citizen.
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.
Form 1099 is used to report payments made to an independent contractor. Expat business owners may need to file Form 1099 when working with contractors abroad. Failing to file Form 1099 as required could result in penalties.
Once you've hired and accurately classified a worker as an international contractor, you'll need to set up payments to the contractor. You will not be responsible for issuing form 1099 to track the source income of foreign workers.
Foreign remote contract workers don't require visas because they are based outside of the US. While these workers may have to come into the country occasionally to fulfill their contractual obligations, they shouldn't have any issues entering as long as they can provide proof that their stay will be temporary.