Maximizing Efficiency and Minimizing Risks: A Quick Guide to Paying Offshore Contractors (2023 Update)

I have an S-Corp in Virgina, USA.

I need to pay a person (independent contractor) in Egypt $2,000 for some work they peformed in Egypt for me.

The Egyptian person has a Citibank personal account.

What is the best way to pay the person for their services that will give me a tax deduction?

(a) paper check made out to the contractor name, which he will cash/deposit at his Citibank (b) western union him the money to his name (c) third-pary programmer payment service like guru.com

Do I need to file a 1099 since the amount was over $600? How does all this work??

Obviously, I would like to claim this as a business deduction.

Reply to
jamesd
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As a US-based S-Corp, you can pay an independent contractor in Egypt by using a wire transfer or an international payment service. Here are some options to consider:

Wire transfer: You can wire the payment directly to the contractor's Citibank account. You'll need the contractor's bank account details, including the account number, routing number, and SWIFT code.

International payment service: You can use an international payment service like TransferWise, Payoneer, or PayPal to transfer funds to the contractor's Citibank account. These services offer competitive exchange rates and low fees.

Third-party payment service: You can use a third-party payment service like Guru.com or Upwork to pay the contractor. These services provide payment protection and escrow services, but they may charge higher fees than other options.

In terms of tax deductions, you should be able to deduct the $2,000 payment to the contractor as a business expense on your US tax return. However, you'll need to ensure that you have proper documentation, such as a contract or invoice, to support the payment and show that it was a legitimate business expense.

You may also need to file a Form 1099-MISC to report the payment to the contractor if the payment exceeds $600 in a tax year. The contractor will need to provide you with their US tax identification number (TIN) or a W-8BEN form to claim a tax treaty exemption if one is available.

Keep in mind that tax laws can be complex and vary based on the specific details of your situation. I recommend consulting with a tax professional or an accountant to ensure that you are meeting all tax reporting and payment requirements.

Reply to
Smart Bean

"jamesd" wrote

It doesn't matter what form the payment takes (check, wire transfer, etc.) as long as you can prove the expense happened and that it was a legitimate business expense. You, hopefully, should have some bill, invoice, receipt, or contract that spells out what it is you are paying for. That amount of money should be identifiable in your accounting records (as a check, draft, wire transfer, credit card charge, etc).

Reply to
Paul Thomas, CPA

Thanks for the speedy reply, it is greatly appreciated.

Reply to
jamesd

Thanks for the speedy reply, it is greatly appreciated.

Reply to
jamesd

I forgot to ask, do I need to do a 1099 for him since I paid him more than $600?

Reply to
jamesd

"jamesd" wrote

No.

Reply to
Paul Thomas, CPA

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