Contracting in Australia

[beeker]

I'm hoping that as it's the 'back of beyond' most overseas contractors will give it a miss. I can't turn down the free accomodation and transport (family friends), I can always use it as a base and see how the cookie crumbles.

Thanks for your advice re: Sydney/Melbourne, taken on board and I'll investigate it should I get stuck in Perth. Hopefully be able to work all over Oz but start out in Perth.

Everywhere has computers!

[Lucy]

The tax office site might be helpful: http://www.ato.gov.au/

I have dual citizenship so, it's probably different for me, but for what it's worth, I needed a Tax File Number, and Australian Business Number and a Limited Co. and there is a similar tax to VAT it's called GST, and there were some similar laws to IR35 called 80:20, which is about not earning more than 80% of your income from less than 20% of your clients. That was a while ago now, and I know loads of contractors who have been on one site for more than a year so I could be talking rubbish. again.

Umbrellas do operate but they were really expensive, and there is also compulsary superannuation (pension).

[gadgetman]

I've emailed these guys too. So you need these as well as an umbrella/ltd?

I'm going out for at least two years so I need the most tax efficient route. I was hoping there might be someone with recent experience on here but perhaps not.

Have a look at http://www.ayersmanagement.com/sitemap.htm

I've worked through them using an umbrella and a Ltd. I'm a few years out of date now.

[gadgetman]

This is the sort of stuff I'm after, thanks.

The tax office site might be helpful: http://www.ato.gov.au/

I have dual citizenship so, it's probably different for me, but for what it's worth, I needed a Tax File Number, and Australian Business Number and a Limited Co. and there is a similar tax to VAT it's called GST, and there were some similar laws to IR35 called 80:20, which is about not earning more than 80% of your income from less than 20% of your clients. That was a while ago now, and I know loads of contractors who have been on one site for more than a year so I could be talking rubbish. again.

Umbrellas do operate but they were really expensive, and there is also compulsary superannuation (pension).

[beeker]

excellent information!

Gadgetman - have you gone for a 147 Visa i.e. sponsored visa or have you not got that far yet. As you are thining of going for more then 1 year the Working Holiday visa that I was planning on getting wouldn't be long enough - just curious as to how you are planning it to see if I have missed anything as I'd like to stay longer than a year too!

[rootsnall]

I've emailed these guys too. So you need these as well as an umbrella/ltd?

I'm going out for at least two years so I need the most tax efficient route. I was hoping there might be someone with recent experience on here but perhaps not.

Ayers in my day were an accountancy firm offering umbrella or Ltd Co contracting options. They have branched out into other things such as securing visas, I'd do this direct if you can or at least investigate thoroughly yourself. The Oz consulate in Londinium used to have all you needed to do it on a DIY basis and I sorted it out a lot quicker than through a 3rd party. A working holiday visa should take a matter of days if you are going out on that but you might regret it later when it limits your options on arrival. The most tax efficient route for a non permanent resident of Oz was to use a tax free daily allowance to cut back your taxable income quite a lot, not sure if this is still in place but outfits like Ayers will tell you.

[Lucy]

www.brainbox.com.au

is a forum a bit like this one, but there are a bit more serious...

[oracleslave]

www.brainbox.com.au

is a forum a bit like this one, but there are a bit more serious...

they're

[Lucy]

they're

was in a hurry, busy fighting with the cat.

[beeker]

found this:

http://www.hays.com.au/overseas/starting.aspx

Might be of use to anyone browsing this thread.

Looks like i'm going to have to make a decision whether or not to go with a years working visa and see if i can prove myself worth a permenant sponsorship or wait the 7-10 months+ that a proper visa may take and turn up ready to rock so to speak.

havering towards the year working visa so I can get myself abroad asap!