How to Get Paid by a US Company as a Remote Worker in India
You have (or nearly have) a remote offer from a US or UK company and live in India. Here are the three ways you can actually get paid — contractor, EOR employee, or your own company — what each means for your taxes and benefits, and what to ask the employer.
Updated July 8, 2026 • Verified current for 2026
Some links on this page may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our editorial picks are independent — we recommend what we'd use ourselves.
A US or UK company can pay you in India in three ways: as an independent contractor (you invoice the company and handle your own Indian taxes and registrations), as an Employer of Record employee (a provider like Deel or Remote employs you in India on the company’s behalf, running local payroll and statutory benefits), or through your own registered company. For a single hire, contractor or EOR are the usual routes. You’re generally taxed in India, not the US; a US client will typically ask you to complete IRS Form W-8BEN. Confirm your tax and GST position with a chartered accountant.
The Three Ways You Can Get Paid
1. Independent contractor
You invoice the company (usually in USD) and are self-employed in India. You handle your own Indian income tax, advance-tax obligations, and — depending on your turnover — GST registration. What it means for you: more take-home up front and the freedom to keep multiple clients, but no employer benefits or paid leave, and you carry all the admin. Set your rate to cover taxes and the benefits an employer would otherwise provide. Our guide on invoicing a US company as an international contractor covers the mechanics.
2. EOR employee
A provider such as Deel, Remote, or Multiplier employs you through its Indian entity on the company’s behalf. What it means for you: a proper Indian employment contract, payslips, statutory benefits, and income tax withheld at source — real employment with protections, without the US company needing an Indian entity. The tradeoff is that the employer pays the EOR fee and employer contributions, which can affect the gross salary offered. See what an EOR means for you.
3. Your own company
You can bill through your own registered Indian company. This mainly suits people already running a services business; for a single employment-like relationship it adds cost and admin that an EOR handles more simply.
The India-Specific Things to Sort Out
These are structural — the exact figures and how they apply to you change over time, so treat them as a checklist to confirm with a chartered accountant (CA), not as final numbers:
- Income tax. As a contractor you file as self-employed/business or professional income and may owe advance tax during the year. As an EOR employee, tax is withheld from your payroll.
- GST registration. India requires GST registration once your turnover crosses the applicable threshold; export-of-service rules affect how foreign-client income is treated. Confirm the current threshold and your obligation with a CA.
- Receiving foreign payments. Inbound payments through banks may need purpose codes and supporting documentation (your bank can advise); transfer services like Wise or Payoneer are common alternatives. Compare total cost — fees plus the exchange-rate spread.
For a deeper employer-side view of the contractor-vs-EOR decision in India, see our guide on EOR vs contractor in India.
What to Ask the Employer
- Which rail are they offering — contractor or EOR employee?
- If contractor, what’s the rate, and does it leave room for your Indian taxes and lack of benefits?
- If EOR, which provider, and what benefits and paid leave come with it?
- Currency and who absorbs conversion on each payment?
If you’d prefer the security of employment and they’ve offered contractor status, it’s a reasonable conversation — see how to ask your employer to hire you via an EOR. You can also point them to our one-page explainer on hiring in India.
Landing a remote role from India?
Guides on getting paid, taxes, and EOR for Indian remote workers — plus openings you can apply to. Free, weekly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a US company pay a remote worker in India?
Three common ways. As an independent contractor, you invoice the company directly and handle your own Indian taxes and registrations. As an Employer of Record (EOR) employee, a provider such as Deel or Remote employs you in India on the company's behalf, running local payroll, tax withholding, and statutory benefits while you work for the US company. Or, less commonly for one person, you bill through your own registered company. Which one applies changes your taxes, benefits, and job security, so confirm it before you sign.
Do I pay US tax if I work for a US company from India?
Generally you're taxed in India, where you're a tax resident, on income for work you perform in India — not in the US. A US company will usually ask you, as a non-US contractor, to complete IRS Form W-8BEN certifying your foreign status, and generally won't withhold US income tax on work done entirely outside the US. Your Indian income-tax and registration obligations still apply. Because the specifics depend on your residency and how you're engaged, confirm your position with a chartered accountant.
Do I need to register for GST to work as a contractor for a foreign company in India?
It depends on your turnover and the nature of your services. India requires GST registration once your turnover crosses the applicable threshold, and export-of-service rules can affect how your foreign-client income is treated. The exact threshold and how it applies to you change over time and by situation, so check the current figure and your obligation with a chartered accountant rather than relying on a general article.
How do I receive money from a US company in India?
Common routes are an international bank (SWIFT) wire into your Indian bank account, or a transfer service such as Wise or Payoneer. Inbound foreign payments through banks may require supporting documentation and purpose codes for your remittance — your bank can tell you what it needs. Compare the total cost (fees plus the exchange-rate spread) and agree with the company who absorbs it before your first payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a US company pay a remote worker in India?
Three common ways. As an independent contractor, you invoice the company directly and handle your own Indian taxes and registrations. As an Employer of Record (EOR) employee, a provider such as Deel or Remote employs you in India on the company's behalf, running local payroll, tax withholding, and statutory benefits while you work for the US company. Or, less commonly for one person, you bill through your own registered company. Which one applies changes your taxes, benefits, and job security, so confirm it before you sign.
Do I pay US tax if I work for a US company from India?
Generally you're taxed in India, where you're a tax resident, on income for work you perform in India — not in the US. A US company will usually ask you, as a non-US contractor, to complete IRS Form W-8BEN certifying your foreign status, and generally won't withhold US income tax on work done entirely outside the US. Your Indian income-tax and registration obligations still apply. Because the specifics depend on your residency and how you're engaged, confirm your position with a chartered accountant.
Do I need to register for GST to work as a contractor for a foreign company in India?
It depends on your turnover and the nature of your services. India requires GST registration once your turnover crosses the applicable threshold, and export-of-service rules can affect how your foreign-client income is treated. The exact threshold and how it applies to you change over time and by situation, so check the current figure and your obligation with a chartered accountant rather than relying on a general article.
How do I receive money from a US company in India?
Common routes are an international bank (SWIFT) wire into your Indian bank account, or a transfer service such as Wise or Payoneer. Inbound foreign payments through banks may require supporting documentation and purpose codes for your remittance — your bank can tell you what it needs. Compare the total cost (fees plus the exchange-rate spread) and agree with the company who absorbs it before your first payment.
Continue Reading
Contractor vs EOR Employee: Which Should You Ask For?
You can be paid by a foreign employer as an independent contractor or as an EOR employee. Here's the honest worker's-side tradeoff — take-home pay, benefits, taxes, and job security — and how to decide which to ask for.
How to Invoice a US Company as an International Contractor
A practical, structural guide to invoicing a US company from abroad: what a compliant invoice includes, the W-8BEN form, how to get paid, and how to keep clean records — without the tax-rate guesswork.
How to Ask Your Employer to Hire You via an EOR (With Email Template)
You want a real employment contract and benefits, but your future employer doesn't have an entity in your country. Here's how to ask them to hire you through an Employer of Record — and a copy-paste email that makes it easy for them to say yes.
Get matched remote openings, weekly
Live openings for your role, boards that accept your country, and what they pay. Every Tuesday, free.