Working with International Freelance Clients: Taxes, Currencies and Contracts
Working with clients abroad opens up a far bigger market — but raises real questions around VAT, payments, and contracts that many freelancers discover too late. Here's how to get organized before your first international client.
Why go international
A market limited to a single country mechanically caps your pool of potential clients and your leverage on rates. Freelancers who take on international clients often access higher budgets (English-speaking markets in particular) and spread their business across several economic zones, reducing dependence on any single local market.
6 things to sort out before your first foreign client
Cross-border VAT (EU clients)
For B2B, invoicing works through reverse charge: you invoice without tax (mandatory mention), and the client declares VAT in their own country. Always verify the client's EU VAT number on the VIES system before issuing the invoice — an invalid number can leave you liable for domestic VAT retroactively.
VAT for clients outside the EU
For a client established outside the European Union, the service is generally outside the scope of your domestic VAT. No VAT to charge, but the invoice must state that explicitly (e.g. 'VAT not applicable, export of services' or the equivalent local mention for cross-border B2B services).
Currencies and payment methods
Invoicing directly in the client's currency (USD, GBP) saves them the conversion hassle but exposes you to exchange rate risk. Wise and Stripe are the go-to tools for freelancers collecting international payments, with fees well below a traditional bank transfer.
Time zone differences
A 6-9 hour gap with a client (North America, Asia) makes synchronous exchanges rare and valuable. Set a narrow shared window for live check-ins, and push everything else to structured async — a clear written brief often beats a call awkwardly squeezed into the schedule.
International contracts
English is the default, even with a non-native English speaking client. Always specify governing law and jurisdiction for disputes — without that clause, a contractual disagreement becomes complex and costly to resolve across borders.
Brief language and clarity
A brief written in a clear shared language, with technical vocabulary spelled out, reduces translation-related misunderstandings. Avoid idioms or ambiguous phrasing that don't carry across cultures.
A brief that crosses time zones
Briefly collects your clients' briefs asynchronously, in whatever language you need. No more late-night discovery calls just to kick off an international project.
Try it free →The first brief: your best remote scoping tool
With a client abroad, a structured written brief matters even more than usual: it compensates for the lack of spontaneous back-and-forth a shared time zone usually allows. A clear brief, in simple and unambiguous language, cuts down the round-trips needed to scope a project — precious when every exchange can take 24 hours because of the time difference.
The same applies to the resulting quote: a scope defined in writing, in a clear currency, with payment terms spelled out, avoids costly misunderstandings once the project is already underway.
A brief that crosses time zones
Briefly collects your clients' briefs asynchronously, in whatever language you need. No more late-night discovery calls just to kick off an international project.
Try it free →Related reading
Frequently asked questions
Do you charge VAT to a client based in another EU country?
For B2B within the EU, VAT works through reverse charge: you invoice without VAT and the client declares it in their own country, provided they give you a valid VAT number. Check it on the VIES system first.
What is the best way to get paid by a client abroad?
For clients outside your currency zone, Wise and Stripe remain the go-to tools, with fees well below a traditional bank transfer. Within the same currency zone, a plain bank transfer is usually simplest.
What language should you use for a contract with a foreign client?
English is the standard, even with a non-native English speaking client. Always specify governing law and jurisdiction for disputes.
How do you handle time zone differences with a client abroad?
Set a narrow shared window for live check-ins, and push everything else to structured async — a written brief, detailed comments.
A brief that crosses time zones
Briefly collects your clients' briefs asynchronously, in whatever language you need. No more late-night discovery calls just to kick off an international project.
Try it free →