Student Visa, work as Independent Contractor for US company?

[winter-tshirt]

Hello all,

I looked and did not see a thread asking/answering these specific questions.

I am an American and have received my student visa to start school in September in Tampere. My last day of work in my current position is August 8th, however there are a few projects which they want me to complete. I would be hired on as part time, and could potentially paid as a contractor if necessary.

If there are too many, really any at all, requirements for my company to set up/maintain/pay anything special at all then it is not likely to work. They like me, but the bureaucracy will kill it.

What is my best option here? Have them re-hire me as a temp employee? This was the plan until the issue of taxes came up.
Or, would being paid as independent contractor who is responsible for paying his own taxes to Finland be an easier setup?

Essentially, it looks like the only plan that will make this work, would be to make it as smooth as possible for my company to pay me like I was still living in the US while still adhering to Finnish laws.

The work I will be doing is all computer based.

Any thoughts?

[rinso]

As a student you are allowed to work 25 hours per week. So I guess it will not be a problem.
(if you work much more you'll have to worry about your study results)
When it is computer based and the pay goes to an US account (tax pay in US) there is no interference with the Finnish system.

[winter-tshirt]

So even though I am working in Finland I am not liable for Finnish taxes?

Is this because I am a student, or because I am not a permanent resident?

Thanks!

[rinso]

So even though I am working in Finland I am not liable for Finnish taxes?

If you want to pay Finnish tax, you can always do so.
But I was referring to a system where the money never entered the Finnish system.
(foreign employer, foreign banks, foreign tax) So all paperwork is done outside Finland.
Since the work is done by internet, the actual location of your computer is irrelevant.

[Rip]

For your own income you should pay taxes here. Maybe you don't get caught easily if the money never enters the local system (it would be then also hard to use that as a reason to get non-student residence permit, if you'd be interested), but your supposed to pay anyway. If you have company that is incorporated in US then I assume it would pay according to US rules while you'd be liable here only for salary and/or dividends that you collect for yourself from the company.