This is the area where remote workers most often get an unpleasant letter, and where general advice runs out fastest.
The default rule
Tax follows residency, and residency usually follows where you physically are for most of the year. Working for a foreign company does not make your income foreign for tax purposes.
Two things that catch people
- Spending months in another country can create tax residency there too
- Treaty relief is usually claimed, not automatic
Get local advice once
A single session with an accountant in your own country, at the start, costs less than fixing two years of filings. This article is orientation, not advice — the rules differ by country and change often.
Common questions
Do I pay tax where my employer is based?
Usually not. Tax generally follows your residency, not the employer's location.
What is a double taxation treaty?
An agreement between two countries preventing the same income being taxed twice. Relief usually has to be claimed.