I'm a non-US citizen and on L1 visa. I own a website, running adsense and doing pretty well. Someone in India has been working on it (since I'm not supposed to work on it as per US law and I'm also hard pressed for time) Now, I'm ready to pay taxes to US Government because currently I'm US resident. But does it legally allowed? I think persons on L1/H1 visas can own their business but can't work. Do I need to register my website as a business? It's almost 6 months I've been running adsense and I realized it after a long after discussion with my friend. What could be the implications? Thanks
I think it depends on where your webserver is located that is running your biz. If it is in the states, then yes, it is allowed.
How do you receive your payments? Is it via cheque or bank? What address do you have in your adsense account...I mean, I could have a canadian address and live/vacation in US for 6 months, (the money still going to my bank in canada)...so of course in that case I'm only to pay taxes to Revenues Canada...
Any other inputs friends? Since I'm filing taxes in both US(Job) and India(Business) - I guess I should pay taxes in India for adsense income but the money is deposited in my US bank account. Thanks
It looks like its time for you to get some professional tax advice. Anything you read in this forum is going to be guesses and there will be a lot of misinformation.
I agree with the last poster, you need to get tax advice not advice from "webmasters". I am no tax expert but in general (In the UK anyway) tax is due where money is earned not where it is banked.
Where your server is makes no difference to what tax you should pay and who to pay it to. It also makes no difference to what you are legally allowed to publish. Wherever you pay tax to in full time work is the same place you should pay tax to from AdSense earnings.
Or put you in jail for tax evasion. If it got Al Capone it can even get those oh-so-smart AdSense scammers out there who click on their own ads.
Wow jail? I'm lovin' it. I agree with one of previous posters. You'd better consult with a lawyer, make sure that you won't be jailed in the States or in India.