IMO there is probably no US tax liablity (except SE) even if earned from US sourceladislav wrote:Last year my legal residency was in Kuwait but I moved to the Philippines later on and was working for Chinese and Russian companies online. I also worked for one California company. The last one issued a W-9 form. But it was for some $2500. I declared my residency as Kuwaiti and even my visa stipulated that. I also declared my Ca income and filed a non resident tax form with California tax board.
Now, if you are a US citizen/resident and you make money off a US source but live overseas, this may not be considered foreign earned income.
Winston had better consult an expat tax accountant
IF
you have a US tax ID,
AND IF
you are an individual earning wages and self-employment income.
The $91,500 exclusion does not help with dividends, or with Schedule C earnings made using capital (like trading).
I think the US source thing WILL screw you
IF you do NOT have a US tax ID
OR are a foreign corporation (including an offshore corp) earning from US source.
Then it's 30 percent off the top.
It gets more complicated if you get cute and try to game it with an offshore corp or other entity. IRS has very smart guys. Yes Winston should consult someone. Or just retain a CPA who does expat taxes and pay up.
I have guesstimated the math and don't think it pays to try an offshore structure of any kind until AGI hits $100,000.