Legal Question in Business Law in Russian Federation

Business over the Internet

Hello, Please help me with the following tax/business issue. My friend is living in Russia. He is working over the Internet for American based companies such as www.spedia.net. Americans pay him using PayPal service. My friend unable to cash out his money in Russia (PayPal does not operate in Russia) and he is asking me to cash out his money in the US and send it to him. For this service

he is willing to pay me 30%. He is paying taxes in Russia. My question is what kind of tax should I pay for my commission. Is any legal issues apply to this kind of income.

Thank you!


Asked on 12/02/03, 3:45 pm

3 Answers from Attorneys

Bryan Whipple Bryan R. R. Whipple, Attorney at Law

Re: Business over the Internet

Thirty percent seems unrealistically high for a totally above-board series of transactions. Are you sure you're not in danger of becoming involved in money laundering or some other illegal operation? There are less expensive ways to make legitimate cash earnings in the U.S. available to a U.S. citizen legally employed in Russia. Any U.S. bank with an office in Russia could provide international funds transfers for well under 30%.

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Answered on 12/02/03, 4:47 pm
Robert Miller Robert L. Miller & Associates, A Law Corporation

Re: Business over the Internet

Thank you for your posting.

I agree with Mr. Whipple that something seems suspicious with this transaction, but that doesn't answer your question. You are an independent contractor here, and should receive a 1099 for the amount you are paid at the end of each year. You would then have to pay taxes equal to the amount you were paid, in accordance to your tax bracket.

I should warn you that an increasingly common scam has developed where people access paypal accounts, send money, and then use third parties to send them overseas. Unfortunately, the persons overseas cannot be prosecuted (and it takes the paypal account holder sometime to find out their accounts have been accessed), but the person within the US withdrawing the funds are caught and prosecuted. Use caution.

I hope that this information helps, but if you want more information, have further questions, or feel that you need legal representation, please feel free to email me directly at [email protected]. It's my pleasure to assist you in any way that I can.

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Answered on 12/02/03, 5:24 pm
Michael Olden Law Offices of Michael A. Olden

Re: Business over the Internet

If I am not sure that it could be a federal offense to send money by mail. I don't understand your question. If you're going to catch it out margin way into cash. If so, isn't the only way to telegraph it to him in which is permissible. Even a great telegraph it to you think you're going to mail and that's where there may be a federal offense. The tax on your 30 percent, declare the money in the ordinary income tax. Don't declare the money, defraud the United States government, ahahahhhhhhh go to jail. But, even more 30 percent, wow. -- it seemed to alert you do something, what I'm not sure but isn't there a less expensive way of doing business that doesn't seem as potentially illegal.If you wish to call me I am in 925 -- 945 -- 6000.

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Answered on 12/02/03, 6:29 pm


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