[H-GEN] Working for a USA company from my Australian home.

[David Seikel]

I have been contracting as a sole trader for several over seas
companies for a while now, but I face the prospect of soon becoming an
actual employee for a USA company, while still residing in Australia as
an Australian citizen.  All work will be performed from my home via the
Internet.  The USA company has no presence in Australia, and is not
registered as an Australian company.  This sort of thing is probably
rare enough that I'm likely to get blank stares from the authorities if
I ask them for help.  On the other hand, if it happens at all, it is
likely to happen to other computer professionals.  So I'm asking here
for any tidbits of knowledge that might help.

Australian companies are bound by law to provide certain things like
superannuation and WorkCover for their employees.  USA companies are
likely bound by law to provide similar sorts of things for their
employees.  On the other hand, the USA companies are not bound by
Australian law, and it may be true that I am not bound by USA law.  As
a sole trader, I have specifically structured things to reduce my
government mandated paper work down to just income tax.  I'm wondering
how this will change if I become an employee.

I would hope that so long as every government gets the taxes that are
due to them, everything else would not matter.  Governments like to
screw with people though, so that ideal may not be true.  Anybody have
any clue on how this will work?

I know that USA companies like to offer several types of health
insurance / health care as part of the employment package.  I have no
interest in such things, nor does a lack of super, WorkCare, or
insurance bother me.  I like to simplify my dealings with governments,
pay my taxes and look after myself.
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