US of A Contracting

**expat** · 27 June 2008, 13:52

Originally posted by mick.sap View Post

Hi

Planning on moving to the US of A towards the end of this year once the current gig stops renewing me for awhile.

Anyone got any good sites like this - or any detail on how it all works..

I've googled around a bit but can't really find too much on the tax situation (ie do you go incorporated/ltd or not). Health Insurance looks to be a nightmare. Most of the tax stuff seems to be about creative (in the art sense) types or blokes who want to turn their garage wood carving business into a large multi-national corporation.

Anyone done it ? Whats the tricks ?

I'm currently a ltd coy, SAP Architect, Oracle Financials Architect, BPR Accountant Type.

Any good job sites out there - monster seems to be all permies....

Unless of course contract doesn't exist over there...

Thanks

Mick

Contacting there seems to be a bit downmarket compared to here. You're more a temp than a freelance, and you struggle to get paid as much as a permie (including benefits).

Are you a US citizen or green card holder? If not, how will you obtain a right to work there? If it is on a temporary work visa, that will be specific to an employer, so contracting is out.

**mick.sap** · 27 June 2008, 15:22

ball and chain is a USC. Just waiting for the US embassy to process all the bloody forms. Right painful experience. I will have an immigrant visa (hopefully).

It does all look at little downmarket. I was hoping to take a bit of time off and get around a bit over there - concern is that with taking permie work it will look bad it I skip out after six months. If you take the permie they give you 2 weeks holiday although I should be able to negotiate that.

Current mob are US based I might see if I can swing a contract with them over there.

I did find the country guides on this site - but they don't give you a whole lot.

Thx

**Devlin** · 27 June 2008, 20:49

I have relocated to the USA. Contracting isn't worth it, you can get the same as permie except you also get benefits such as health insurance that are vital here.

Oh yeah, it ain't called Permanent here either - it's "Full-time"

I have 25 days leave but which also includes sick leave.

**hugebrain** · 28 June 2008, 15:28

Originally posted by Devlin View Post

I have relocated to the USA. Contracting isn't worth it, you can get the same as permie except you also get benefits such as health insurance that are vital here.

If you do decide to go contracting, you have to call yourself a consultant. Yeuch. Rates were around $140/hr last time I was there, and I couldn't find anything similar as a "Full-time".

**Devlin** · 29 June 2008, 19:55

Originally posted by hugebrain View Post

If you do decide to go contracting, you have to call yourself a consultant. Yeuch. Rates were around $140/hr last time I was there, and I couldn't find anything similar as a "Full-time".

When was that? Even in NYC and the Bay Area currently you'd be lucky to get over $90/hr unless you have some really niche skill set.

**ddilling** · 2 July 2008, 21:01

Originally posted by mick.sap View Post

Hi

Planning on moving to the US of A towards the end of this year once the current gig stops renewing me for awhile.

Anyone got any good sites like this - or any detail on how it all works..

I've googled around a bit but can't really find too much on the tax situation (ie do you go incorporated/ltd or not). Health Insurance looks to be a nightmare. Most of the tax stuff seems to be about creative (in the art sense) types or blokes who want to turn their garage wood carving business into a large multi-national corporation.

Anyone done it ? Whats the tricks ?

I'm currently a ltd coy, SAP Architect, Oracle Financials Architect, BPR Accountant Type.

Any good job sites out there - monster seems to be all permies....

Unless of course contract doesn't exist over there...

Thanks

Mick

See www.dice.com

Best way is "Corp 2 Corp", you want an "S" type corporation to be able to pay yourself dividends that are not subject to social security (NI) tax. Same basic them as Limited Company here.

Contracts tend to pay less but are usually much longer term than here - several years is not uncommon, although the initial term might be less than that.

In general, I find that the cost of living and taxes are so much lower there than here, even with the reduced rates your take home pay can be pretty competitive.

**max** · 2 July 2008, 22:10

Originally posted by mick.sap View Post

Hi

Planning on moving to the US of A towards the end of this year once the current gig stops renewing me for awhile.

Anyone got any good sites like this - or any detail on how it all works..

I've googled around a bit but can't really find too much on the tax situation (ie do you go incorporated/ltd or not). Health Insurance looks to be a nightmare. Most of the tax stuff seems to be about creative (in the art sense) types or blokes who want to turn their garage wood carving business into a large multi-national corporation.

Anyone done it ? Whats the tricks ?

I'm currently a ltd coy, SAP Architect, Oracle Financials Architect, BPR Accountant Type.

Any good job sites out there - monster seems to be all permies....

Unless of course contract doesn't exist over there...

Thanks

Mick

Don't they have some crazy tax system, where by once you sign up, you have to continue doing returns for worldwide income forever, even if you leave?

**ddilling** · 2 July 2008, 22:21

Originally posted by max View Post

Don't they have some crazy tax system, where by once you sign up, you have to continue doing returns for worldwide income forever, even if you leave?

only citizens & residents - so yes, citizens have to file tax returns even if non-resident.

**Peter Loew** · 3 July 2008, 05:52

Originally posted by ddilling View Post

See www.dice.com

Best way is "Corp 2 Corp", you want an "S" type corporation to be able to pay yourself dividends that are not subject to social security (NI) tax. Same basic them as Limited Company here.

Contracts tend to pay less but are usually much longer term than here - several years is not uncommon, although the initial term might be less than that.

In general, I find that the cost of living and taxes are so much lower there than here, even with the reduced rates your take home pay can be pretty competitive.

That's very useful to know, thanks.

Two questions:

1) Could you continue to trade through your UK Ltd?
2) Is it possible to get a work permit for the purpose of contracting in NYC?

P

US of A Contracting