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.
Updated July 8, 2026 • Verified current for 2026
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To invoice a US company as an international contractor, send a clear document that includes your details, the client’s details, a unique invoice number, dates, itemized work with rates, the total and currency, and your payment details. The US company will usually ask you to complete IRS Form W-8BEN first, which certifies your foreign status and is generally why they don’t withhold US income tax on work you perform outside the US. You still owe tax in your own country under your local rules — confirm those with a local professional.
What a Compliant Invoice Includes
An invoice doesn’t need to be fancy — it needs to be complete and consistent so both sides can reconcile it. Include:
Every invoice should have
- 1 Your name or business name and address
Match whatever is on your contract and W-8BEN.
- 2 The client's legal company name and address
Ask for the correct billing entity, not just a person's name.
- 3 A unique invoice number
Sequential is easiest — INV-001, INV-002 — for your own records.
- 4 Issue date and payment due date
State the terms, e.g. 'due within 15 days of receipt.'
- 5 Itemized work
Description, quantity or hours, and rate for each line.
- 6 Total amount and currency
Be explicit — 'USD 2,000' — so there's no ambiguity.
- 7 Your payment details
Bank or transfer-service details for the method you agreed.
- 8 Local tax lines if applicable
If you're registered for GST/VAT, show your number and the tax as your country requires.
The W-8BEN, Briefly
US companies paying a foreign contractor almost always request a completed Form W-8BEN (or W-8BEN-E if you invoice through a registered business). Per the IRS, it’s the “Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding and Reporting” — you give it to the payer, not the IRS, and it certifies that you’re a non-US person. That’s generally why a US client doesn’t withhold US income tax on work you perform entirely outside the United States. Fill it in accurately, keep a copy, and update it if your details change. It says nothing about your obligations at home — those are separate.
How You Actually Get Paid
Once the invoice is sent, payment usually arrives one of a few ways:
- International bank (SWIFT) wire — universally accepted, but typically the most expensive: bank fees plus a marked-up exchange rate. Good for large or infrequent payments.
- Transfer services — Deel and similar contractor platforms, or consumer services like Wise, Payoneer, and PayPal, often give lower fees and better exchange rates for routine payments, with clearer visibility into the real cost.
Agree the method and who absorbs the transfer cost before the first invoice — otherwise fees and exchange spreads quietly reduce what lands in your account. Our guide on the best ways to receive international payments compares the options in more depth.
Keep Clean Records
For each engagement, keep the signed contract, your W-8BEN copy, every invoice, and proof of each payment received (who paid, when, how much, in what currency). This is what protects you if your local tax authority ever asks, and it makes your annual filing far easier. Where and how much local tax you owe depends on your country’s rules and your registration status — see self-employment taxes for remote contractors and confirm the specifics with a local tax professional.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What do I put on an invoice to a US company?
A clear invoice includes: your name and address (or business name), the client's company name and address, a unique invoice number, the issue date and payment due date, an itemized description of the work with quantities or hours and rates, the total amount and currency, and your payment details. If you're registered for a local tax like GST or VAT, show your registration number and the tax line as your country requires. Keep the format consistent so both sides can reconcile easily.
Do I need to charge US sales tax when invoicing a US company?
Generally no. As a non-US contractor performing services from outside the US, you are not collecting US sales tax. What may apply is a tax in your own country — such as GST or VAT — depending on your registration status and local rules. Confirm your local obligations with a tax professional; don't assume either country's rules based on the other.
What is a W-8BEN and do I need one to invoice a US client?
Form W-8BEN is an IRS form on which a foreign individual certifies their foreign status to a US payer; the entity version is W-8BEN-E. US companies commonly ask non-US contractors to complete it before the first payment. It goes to the client, not to the IRS, and it documents that you're a non-US person — which is generally why the client doesn't withhold US income tax on work you perform entirely outside the US. Your own local taxes still apply.
How do I actually get paid after invoicing a US company?
Common routes are an international bank (SWIFT) wire, or a transfer service such as Wise, Payoneer, or PayPal. Bank wires are universally accepted but usually cost more in fees and a marked-up exchange rate; transfer services often give lower fees and better rates for routine payments. Agree the method and who absorbs the transfer cost before you send the first invoice, and keep records of every payment received.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I put on an invoice to a US company?
A clear invoice includes: your name and address (or business name), the client's company name and address, a unique invoice number, the issue date and payment due date, an itemized description of the work with quantities or hours and rates, the total amount and currency, and your payment details. If you're registered for a local tax like GST or VAT, show your registration number and the tax line as your country requires. Keep the format consistent so both sides can reconcile easily.
Do I need to charge US sales tax when invoicing a US company?
Generally no. As a non-US contractor performing services from outside the US, you are not collecting US sales tax. What may apply is a tax in your own country — such as GST or VAT — depending on your registration status and local rules. Confirm your local obligations with a tax professional; don't assume either country's rules based on the other.
What is a W-8BEN and do I need one to invoice a US client?
Form W-8BEN is an IRS form on which a foreign individual certifies their foreign status to a US payer; the entity version is W-8BEN-E. US companies commonly ask non-US contractors to complete it before the first payment. It goes to the client, not to the IRS, and it documents that you're a non-US person — which is generally why the client doesn't withhold US income tax on work you perform entirely outside the US. Your own local taxes still apply.
How do I actually get paid after invoicing a US company?
Common routes are an international bank (SWIFT) wire, or a transfer service such as Wise, Payoneer, or PayPal. Bank wires are universally accepted but usually cost more in fees and a marked-up exchange rate; transfer services often give lower fees and better rates for routine payments. Agree the method and who absorbs the transfer cost before you send the first invoice, and keep records of every payment received.
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