Working from Aus for a UK company?

[nic0218 56]

Hi there,

 

If this has been covered in a previous thread, apologies!

 

We have got our PR visas and were planning on going out to QLD in 2012 and looking for work. However, my hubby's company have started discussing the option of employing him remotely in AUS. (He's a web designer).

 

Does anyone have experience of working for a UK company whilst in AUS? Did you get paid into a UK bank account -pay UK taxes or did you have it transferred into Aussie bank account and pay full taxes that end.

 

We are going to consult an Aussie accountant when we go to validate our visas in Feb, but any advice from people in a similar situation would be gratefully received!!

[Guest]

Not really able to comment much but would be interested to hear if people can shed any light.

 

One thing to consider, with the exchange rate as it is, is it really financially viable to do this long term?

[Joob joobs 394]

I'd be interested in hearing what people think on this too. My o/h works in IT and his company have suggested the same thing.

[Xtonite 264]

I was VERY lucky in that when I resigned from my company in the UK prior to migrating they asked me to work as a contractor for the from Australia. I work in IT and they like the idea of offering their customers extended technical support hours.

 

All I had to do was get a tax file number (like everyone else) and an Australian Business Number which was simple to do online.

 

Now I email my company in the UK an invoice each month in Australian Dollars, a few days later the money is in my Australian Bank account. I'm not sure what it is the accountants do over there as, of course, the amount of Steling they need to pay me changes each month - I can ask the accountant if you want to know more.

 

I take all my invoices and receipts to the accountants at the end of the tax year (which is the begining of July in Australia btw!) and then the Australian Tax Office bills me every 3 months for last years tax.

 

As far as I'm concerned it's all pretty straight forward.

 

Let me know if you need to know more.

Geoff

[nic0218 56]

Thanks Geoff, that's a brilliant answer and really helpful. My husband is currently pitching this idea to his boss to become a night-shift graphic & Web designer!!

[Alan Collett 3,465]

There is more than one way of this being administered.

 

Geoff's method is good where the individual has a permanent residency visa. You need to watch the personal services company anti avoidance tax provisions though:

http://www.ato.gov.au/businesses/pathway.aspx?sid=42&pc=001/003/092

 

An alternative (which works for subclass 457 employer sponsored visaholders) is for an Australian payroll to be set up and administered in Australia. An Australian branch or subsidiary company need not be registered for this purpose, but often is where income from Australian customers is being derived.

 

Best regards.