Working for a US/UK Company from India: The Ultimate Guide to Remote Jobs

It is the modern Indian dream: Earn in Dollars (or Pounds), Spend in Rupees.

With the normalization of remote work, geographical borders are dissolving. A software engineer in Bangalore no longer needs to move to Silicon Valley to work for a US startup. A content writer in Pune can work directly for a London marketing agency.

The financial arbitrage is life-changing. A salary of $60,000 might be considered "entry-level" or low in San Francisco, but when converted, it’s roughly ₹50 Lakhs per annum—a senior-level salary in India.

However, landing these "global remote" roles is not as simple as applying on LinkedIn. There are complex layers of tax compliance, time zone management, and cultural nuance. You aren't just an employee; legally, you are often a business.

This guide is your roadmap to crossing the digital border. We will cover where to find these jobs, how to get paid legally, and the reality of working the "graveyard shift."

Part 1: How to Get Hired (The Search Strategy)

US and UK companies rarely post "India Remote" jobs on Naukri.com. You have to look where they hang out.

1. The Specialized Job Boards

Don't use generic boards. Use remote-first platforms. * We Work Remotely / RemoteOK: The gold standards for global listings. Filter by "Anywhere in the World" (avoid "US Only" or "Western Hemisphere Only"). * Wellfound (formerly AngelList): The best place for startup jobs. Many early-stage US startups hire remote engineers and designers from India to extend their runway. * HackerNews (Who is Hiring): On the first weekday of every month, Y Combinator's HackerNews has a "Who is Hiring" thread. Ctrl+F for "Remote" and "India".

2. The "Async" Pitch

When applying, address the elephant in the room: Time Zones. * The Fear: US employers fear you will be asleep when they need you. * The Fix: Pitch yourself as an "Asynchronous Worker." * Script: "I am comfortable working with a 4-hour overlap with EST. I use the rest of my day for deep work, so when your team wakes up, the tasks are already done."

Part 2: The Legal Structure (Contractor vs. PEO)

You likely won't be an "employee" in the traditional sense. You will likely fall into one of two buckets.

1. The Independent Contractor (Most Common)

• The Setup: legally, you are a freelancer or a sole proprietor. You invoice them monthly.
• The Paperwork: You will likely sign a W-8BEN Form (for US clients). This declares that you are a non-US citizen performing work outside the US, so they don't deduct US taxes.
• The Money: They wire you the full amount (e.g., $5,000). YOU are responsible for paying Indian income tax on this.

2. Employer of Record (EOR) / PEO

• The Setup: The US company uses a third-party service like Deel, Remote.com, or Oyster HR.
• How it works: Deel has an Indian entity. Deel hires you legally in India on behalf of the US company.
• The Benefit: You get a standard Indian offer letter, PF, Health Insurance, and Form 16. It feels exactly like a normal job.

Part 3: The Money (Receiving Payments & Taxes)

Getting paid internationally has friction.

1. Receiving Money

Don't use a standard bank transfer (SWIFT) if you can avoid it; the fees and exchange rates are terrible. * Wise (formerly TransferWise): The industry favorite. It gives you a "virtual" US bank account details to share with your employer. The exchange rate is mid-market (very good). * Payoneer/PayPal: Popular but often have higher transaction fees.

2. Paying Taxes (The GST Question)

• Income Tax: Yes, you must pay tax in India on your foreign income. It is taxed according to your slab.
• GST (Goods and Services Tax): This is tricky.
  • If you earn over ₹20 Lakhs/year as a contractor, you MUST register for GST.
  • The Good News: Export of services (working for a foreign client) is usually considered "Zero-Rated Supply." This means you file a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) and pay 0% GST, but you still have to file the returns. Consult a CA immediately.

Part 4: The Lifestyle Reality (The Graveyard Shift)

Earning dollars is great, but can you survive the lifestyle?

• The "Overlap" Hours: Most US companies (EST/PST) will want a 3-4 hour overlap.
  • East Coast (NY): Overlap might mean working 2 PM to 11 PM IST.
  • West Coast (SF): Overlap might mean working 6 PM to 3 AM IST.
• The Social Cost: You might be working when your friends are partying or sleeping. It can be isolating.
• The "Always On" Culture: Because of the time difference, you might get Slack notifications at 4 AM. You need strict boundaries (Turn off notifications while sleeping) or you will burn out in 3 months.

Conclusion: High Risk, High Reward

Working for a western company is the fastest way to double or triple your income without changing your location. But it requires you to be more than an employee; you must be your own tax manager, your own HR, and your own timekeeper.

If you are disciplined enough to manage the logistics, the freedom and financial rewards are unmatched.

To start finding companies that hire globally, check the "Remote-First" filter on JobPe Companies.

For more guides on navigating the global gig economy, https://jobpe.com.