Working remotely for a US firm?

9 comments

1. Do you have PR/citizenship or a work visa?
   Work visa is a little more complicated.

2. Does the company have a presence in Japan? Otherwise, the company would most likely be unwilling to fulfill their tax obligations with Japan. There’s a difference about having remote workers in the US (even in other states) and abroad.

3. It’s easy.
   I work remotely for UK and it’s amazing. 
   Work for so little and earn so much $$$$

   You have to be on Kokumin Hoken and pay taxes your self. I use blue sheet and get tons of deduction.

   I also get paid via wise like you.

4. I am almost in the same boat as you. Struggled to get into the Japanese Tech companies hiring international people, despite ticking most of their requirements and being a resident here. I just locked into a Silicon Valley firm that’s okay’d me for remote work with some minimum travel to present at conventions etc. Money is way better (*and much needed after being broke for over yea*r), than what the local companies are offering for the same role. Just take the chance OP and the rest will work out. I have Wise and Sony Bank and will go to my ward office to work out about self paying for NHI and pensions etc.

5. Lots of people are doing this, it’s great because you have flexibility and money is usually good.
   The biggest caveats that prevent many people to make the jump are: job security and visa. If you have a PR or spouse visa, no problem. Getting a loan might be more difficult, but if you already have one, then you are good to go.
   Depending on how much you earn, you might be better off creating a 合同会社 at some point to reduce taxes.

6. Any recommendation where to find remote software engineer jobs, just Linkedin?

7. No reason not to. You do have to be aware of time zone differences–I’ve had cases where “our global weekly conference call is at 2 am Japan time”. If you do this route, I would do either a kojin jigyo or a godo gaisha, depending on your long term plans. Either allow you to register as “in business”, with different advantages to each.

8. Save and plan ahead for your NHI, pension and local tax which will be deferred until the following year. Also, you may be expected to pay estimated income tax to the NTA.

   And since it sounds like you’re also an American, if you’re enrolled in the pension you should get a form from the pension office verifying your enrollment. This will save you from having to pay self-employment taxes to the US (if you want). The FTC/FEIE only applies to US income tax; not SE taxes (social security, medicare). At 15.3%, this can be quite high, but you may wish to keep paying it, especially if you don’t yet have 30 years of substantial contributions.

9. I have income from the states from a rental property.

   So not sure what your visa is but you can get the self sponsored work visa. But you have to show proof of income.

   Fees add up and I just got a Schwab Visa card which has will refund any Japanese atm fees. I don’t use wise because they charge a fee to do a bank transfer. It is low but fees build up over time. I just withdraw in yen and deposit into my Japanese bank account at the same atm. But yes USD is better than yen and will go much farther for the moment.

   As you will be paying into USA social security you will be exempt from paying into the national pension. While you work for a USA based company.

   Yes you will have to pay for NHI but you will have to report income so that they know how much to charge you next year.

   Depending on where you reside in the USA you will still have to pay taxes there. I’m not certain if you are exempt from paying certain taxes here. Some states like Washington don’t have income taxes which is where my residential address is at the moment.