Remote work taxes explained
How tax residency, foreign income, and digital nomad visas interact when you work remotely from another country, and how Jonzy estimates take-home pay.
Key takeaways
- Tax residency is not the same as a tourist visa, 183-day rules vary by country.
- US citizens file worldwide income; the FEIE excludes up to $132,900 for 2026.
- Zero-tax destinations (UAE) do not eliminate US filing obligations, no US–UAE treaty.
Countries tax differently: some only tax local work, others worldwide income after you become resident. Your home country may still claim a share, especially the US, which taxes citizens on worldwide income regardless of where they live.
Residency vs tourism
Staying 183+ days often triggers tax residency discussions, but rules vary. A nomad visa may include explicit tax treatment, or silence that requires professional advice. The IRS bona fide residence test and physical-presence test govern US relief.
What Jonzy models
We apply catalog tax brackets and common remote-worker assumptions to estimate net monthly income per city. Real treaties, deductions, and employer withholding change outcomes, the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion is a key variable for Americans.
When to hire help
Cross-border tax gets expensive to fix retroactively. If you are moving long-term or earning above six figures, budget for an adviser before you pick a city for tax reasons alone, especially in zero-tax jurisdictions like the UAE with no US treaty.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay taxes if I work remotely from another country?
Usually somewhere, yes. Most countries make you tax resident after 183 days of presence, taxing worldwide income; your home country may keep taxing you too, with treaties and foreign tax credits preventing most double taxation. The visa you hold does not decide your tax, presence and residence rules do.
What is the 183-day rule?
The most common tax-residence trigger: spend more than 183 days in a country within a year (definitions vary) and you generally become tax resident there, owing tax on worldwide income, not just local earnings. Some countries add ties-based tests on top.
How does the US Foreign Earned Income Exclusion work?
US citizens abroad can exclude roughly $120,000+ of foreign-earned income from US tax by meeting the physical presence test (330 full days abroad in 12 months) or the bona fide residence test. It excludes earned income only, and you must still file.