Table of Contents
Introduction
Are you exploring opportunities in remote work worldwide, especially how to work remotely for U.S. companies while living in India? The good news is that international firms regularly hire Indian professionals, opening the door to global remote jobs and cross-border careers.
As remote work worldwide continues to grow in 2025–26, more companies are embracing flexible hiring, allowing talent from India, the UK, and beyond to collaborate with U.S. organizations. This shift is not just a trend—it’s shaping the future of international careers.
In this complete 2025–26 guide, you’ll discover everything you need to know about remote work worldwide: how to find opportunities, get paid securely, and remain compliant with global work regulations.
For broader context on global remote work trends, see our guide on remote work worldwide.
Pick Your Work Model
Independent Contractor
Direct contract with a U.S. company. You manage taxes, invoices, and benefits.
Employer of Record (EOR)
Company hires you through providers like Deel or Remote. You’re a local employee; EOR runs payroll & benefits.
Indian Subsidiary
If the U.S. company has an India entity, you join as a domestic employee.
Tip: Contractors have flexibility and higher take-home per hour, while EOR offers stability and benefits.
“When considering taxes, anyone who wants to know how to work remotely for U.S. companies from India should understand DTAA.”
Where to Find U.S. Remote Jobs
Job Platforms: We Work Remotely, RemoteOK, FlexJobs, LinkedIn (use “Remote” filter).
Marketplaces: Upwork, Toptal, Contra, Braintrust.
Startups: Wellfound (AngelList), YC jobs, company career pages.
Communities: r/remotejobs, IndieHackers, Discord/Slack groups.
Documents & Portfolio Checklist
U.S.-style one-page resume highlighting impact and metrics.
Portfolio/GitHub/Case studies with outcomes and links.
Government ID/KYC for payment providers.
References and verified testimonials.
Subject: Senior React Developer | Accelerated XYZ Release Cycle by 35% Hi <Name>, Saw your opening for a React engineer. I recently cut build times by 35% and lifted conversion by 12% at <Client>. Portfolio: <link> | GitHub: <link> Happy to do a paid trial this week. Best, <You>
Contracts, Compliance & Taxes
Agreement: Scope, deliverables, IP ownership, confidentiality, notice period, jurisdiction, payment terms (NET 15/30).
Forms: Many clients request W-8BEN (non-U.S. status).
Indian Taxes: As a tax resident of India, declare all worldwide income. Consult a CA for the correct regime and deductions.
GST: Services to foreign clients may qualify as exports. Ask a CA about registration, LUT, and invoices.
For official rules, visit the IRS website.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Speak to a qualified professional for your case.
Payments, Currency & Invoicing
Channels: Wise, Payoneer, Deel, PayPal, or international wire.
Currency: Quote in USD and confirm who pays transfer fees and FX margin.
Cadence: Milestone, weekly, or monthly. Add late-fee clauses where appropriate.
Invoice: Unique number, your details, client details, service description, hours/rate, currency, due date, and bank/payment link.
Time-Zone & Collaboration Playbook
Define core overlap hours (e.g., IST 6:30–10:30 pm for U.S. ET mornings).
Use async updates like daily notes, ticket status, and recorded Looms.
Set SLAs for response times and handoffs to avoid blockers.
Tools Stack for Remote Work
Comms: Slack, Zoom, Google Meet
PM: Jira, Asana, Trello, Linear, Notion
Dev/Design: GitHub/GitLab, Figma
Time/Tracking (if needed): Toggl, Hubstaff
Security: 2FA, password managers, VPN as per company policy
Resume, Portfolio & Outreach Tips
Lead with outcomes: “Reduced cloud costs by 28%,” “Lifted MQLs by 40%.”
Mirror the job ad keywords to pass ATS.
Share public contributions: open-source code, case studies, or blog posts.
Typical Rates & Negotiation
Rates vary by role, seniority, and urgency. As broad guidance:
| Role | Rate (USD/hr) |
|---|---|
| Senior developers/data/DevOps | $35–$90 |
| Design/Marketing/Content | $15–$50 |
| VA/Support/Operations | $8–$25 |
Negotiate value, not just hours: price retainers, outcomes, or per-project fees. Anchor in USD and include annual review clauses.
FAQs
Do I need a U.S. work visa?
No—if you work from India.
How do I get paid?
Wise, Payoneer, Deel, PayPal, or wire.
Will I pay tax in the U.S.?
Generally no; you file in India. Fill W-8BEN if requested.
Full-time with benefits?
Possible via an EOR.
How to handle GST?
Ask a CA about export of services and LUT.
How to ensure on-time payments?
Net-term clauses, late fees, and milestone billing.
Best time to interview?
Late IST evenings for U.S. mornings.
What about IP/NDAs?
Use standard IP assignment and confidentiality clauses.
What if the offer says “U.S. only”?
Ask if they use EOR/contractors; some are flexible.
Can remote lead to relocation?
In some cases, a separate work visa may be required later.
{
“@context”: “https://schema.org”,
“@type”: “FAQPage”,
“mainEntity”: [
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Do I need a U.S. work visa?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “No—if you work from India.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How do I get paid?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Wise, Payoneer, Deel, PayPal, or wire.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Will I pay tax in the U.S.?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Generally no; you file in India. Fill W-8BEN if requested.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Full-time with benefits?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Possible via an EOR.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How to handle GST?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Ask a CA about export of services and LUT.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How to ensure on-time payments?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Net-term clauses, late fees, and milestone billing.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Best time to interview?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Late IST evenings for U.S. mornings.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What about IP/NDAs?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Use standard IP assignment and confidentiality clauses.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What if the offer says “U.S. only”?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Ask if they use EOR/contractors; some are flexible.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Can remote lead to relocation?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “In some cases, a separate work visa may be required later.”
}
}
]
}
