First Employee
“I hired a full-time virtual assistant living in another country, do I have to issue them a 1099 or withhold standard U.S. payroll taxes?”
Hiring a full-time virtual assistant in another country can raise different tax and payroll questions than hiring a U.S.-based worker, and the answer often depends on where the person performs the work, how the relationship is structured, and whether they are treated as an employee or an independent contractor. Cross-border payments can also involve foreign documentation, local labor rules, and U.S. reporting considerations that vary based on the facts. In many cases, the main issue is whether the arrangement fits contractor treatment or creates payroll obligations, rather than simply whether a 1099 applies. Sitting down with a CPA for thirty minutes is usually enough to draw a clean line on this.
In your 90-minute session, the KGOB advisor handling it will:
- Read your exact situation and tell you, in plain English, what’s actually going on.
- Lay out your options and the trade-offs — no jargon, no judgment.
- Give you a clear next step you can act on, whether that’s with us or on your own.
“Should I pay someone as a 1099 contractor or an employee for tax purposes?”
“How do I know if I should hire someone as a contractor or employee for taxes?”
“I am hiring my first worker, should they be 1099 or W-2 for tax reasons?”
“What changes on my taxes if I use a 1099 contractor instead of an employee?”
This page is a prompt to start a conversation, not tax or legal advice, and states no tax-law specifics as fact. A consult session does not by itself create an ongoing engagement. We do not promise specific outcomes or savings. Kohari Gonzalez Oneyear & Brown PLLC — Charlotte, NC.
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