How to Receive Payments from the US as a European Freelancer (Easily & Compliantly)

Working with US-based clients presents significant opportunities for European freelancers: access to higher rates, invaluable global references, and the potential for long-term contracts. However, a major hurdle in these collaborations is often the payment process itself – ensuring you get paid without delays, excessive fees, or creating complicated paperwork for your client.

The good news? With the right strategy, you can receive US payments as if you had a local American bank account, with the flexibility to transfer funds directly to your EUR account via SEPA, Wise, or Revolut.

Common Challenges When Getting Paid from the US

  1. Exorbitant Fees: Traditional SWIFT transfers from US banks can incur significant costs, typically ranging from €20 to €50, and often take up to a week to clear.
  2. Compliance & Tax Form Burden: US clients frequently request W-8BEN or other IRS forms, adding administrative complexity for foreign freelancers.
  3. Currency Conversion Losses: Fluctuations and unfavorable exchange rates during USD to EUR conversion can noticeably diminish your hard-earned income.
  4. Client Reluctance: The perceived complexity of international payments can sometimes deter US companies from engaging with overseas freelancers.

Remotify's Solution: Streamlining US Payments

Remotify revolutionizes this process by allowing your US client to pay you as if they were making a payment to a local US business. This eliminates the need for additional tax forms, avoids costly foreign wire transfers, and ensures prompt receipt of funds.

Here’s How Our Process Works:

  1. B2B Invoice Issuance: We generate a compliant, US-friendly invoice addressed to your client.
  2. Local US Banking Channel: Your client makes their payment directly to our US bank account via ACH or a standard domestic transfer – a method that is both fast and typically low-cost for them.
  3. Effortless Fund Conversion & Transfer: Once received, your payment is converted, and we promptly send it to your EUR account via SEPA. Alternatively, we can transfer the funds to your Wise or Revolut account, based on your preference.
  4. Full Regulatory Compliance: We handle all necessary Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) checks, ensuring that both you and your client maintain complete and legal payment records.

Why Choose This Method Over Direct International Transfers?

  • Zero SWIFT Fees for Your Client: Payments from a US bank to another US bank are either free or incur minimal charges for your client, making the transaction smoother and more appealing.
  • No IRS Form Requirements: Since the payment is a B2B transaction to a US entity (Remotify), your client is not obligated to classify it as a foreign contractor payment, significantly reducing their administrative burden.
  • Accelerated Payouts: Experience significantly faster access to your funds; you can typically receive your payment within 1-2 business days after your client initiates the transfer.
  • Diverse Payout Options: Benefit from flexible payout methods, including SEPA, Wise, Revolut, and other supported channels, giving you control over how you receive your earnings.

Real-World Example:

Consider a talented designer based in Spain who lands a project with an innovative startup in California:

  • Without Remotify: The client would initiate a SWIFT transfer, incurring around $40 in fees, waiting up to 5 days for the funds to clear, and requiring the designer to submit a W-8BEN form.
  • With Remotify: The client simply sends a free domestic ACH transfer. The payment arrives in the designer’s SEPA account within a swift 48 hours, with no additional forms or bureaucratic headaches.

Conclusion

Receiving payments from the United States as a European freelancer doesn’t have to be a source of frustration or expense. By leveraging Remotify, you empower your US clients with a straightforward, local payment channel, while ensuring you receive your earnings directly into your EUR account efficiently and compliantly.

💡 Ready to simplify your international payments? Sign up today and start experiencing the ease of receiving US payments like a local.

FAQs

1. What’s the best way to receive payments from US clients as a European freelancer?
The easiest and most cost-effective way is to use a service like Remotify, which lets your US client pay locally in USD while you receive your funds in EUR via SEPA, Wise, or Revolut — without SWIFT fees or long processing times.

2. Why are SWIFT transfers so expensive for freelancers in Europe?
SWIFT transfers often involve intermediary banks, currency conversion fees, and international transaction charges. These costs can range from €20–€50 per transfer and take several business days to process, making them less ideal for freelancers.

3. Do I need to fill out IRS tax forms like W-8BEN to get paid from US clients?
Not when using Remotify. Since the payment is made to a US-based business (Remotify) instead of directly to a foreign contractor, your client doesn’t need to request IRS forms such as W-8BEN — saving time and reducing admin hassles.

4. How long does it take to receive payment from US clients using Remotify?
Typically, you’ll receive your funds within 1–2 business days after your client’s payment is initiated through ACH or domestic bank transfer.

5. Can I receive my US payments directly into my Wise or Revolut account?
Yes. Remotify supports multiple payout methods including SEPA, Wise, and Revolut, giving you flexibility in how and where you receive your income.

6. Is it legal and compliant to receive US payments through Remotify?
Absolutely. Remotify handles all AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements, ensuring full compliance for both you and your client.

7. How does Remotify make it easier for US clients to pay European freelancers?
Your US clients can pay locally in USD via ACH, just like paying any other US business. This removes international payment barriers, eliminates fees, and simplifies their accounting and tax reporting.

8. What’s the main advantage of using Remotify instead of a direct international transfer?
You avoid SWIFT fees, tax form complications, and long waiting times — while giving your client a simple, domestic payment experience that encourages faster and smoother collaboration.

9. Do I need a US bank account to receive payments from US clients?
No. With Remotify, your client pays into a US-based local account, and the funds are automatically converted and transferred to your EUR account. You get paid like a local — without opening a US bank account.

10. Can Remotify help with ongoing payments for long-term US freelance contracts?
Yes. Remotify is ideal for recurring payments and long-term projects, ensuring consistent, fast, and compliant transactions between you and your US clients.

  1. Exorbitant Fees: Traditional SWIFT transfers from US banks can incur significant costs, typically ranging from €20 to €50, and often take up to a week to clear.
  2. Compliance & Tax Form Burden: US clients frequently request W-8BEN or other IRS forms, adding administrative complexity for foreign freelancers.
  3. Currency Conversion Losses: Fluctuations and unfavorable exchange rates during USD to EUR conversion can noticeably diminish your hard-earned income.
  4. Client Reluctance: The perceived complexity of international payments can sometimes deter US companies from engaging with overseas freelancers.

Remotify revolutionizes this process by allowing your US client to pay you as if they were making a payment to a local US business. This eliminates the need for additional tax forms, avoids costly foreign wire transfers, and ensures prompt receipt of funds.

  1. B2B Invoice Issuance: We generate a compliant, US-friendly invoice addressed to your client.
  2. Local US Banking Channel: Your client makes their payment directly to our US bank account via ACH or a standard domestic transfer – a method that is both fast and typically low-cost for them.
  3. Effortless Fund Conversion & Transfer: Once received, your payment is converted, and we promptly send it to your EUR account via SEPA. Alternatively, we can transfer the funds to your Wise or Revolut account, based on your preference.
  4. Full Regulatory Compliance: We handle all necessary Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) checks, ensuring that both you and your client maintain complete and legal payment records.

  • Zero SWIFT Fees for Your Client: Payments from a US bank to another US bank are either free or incur minimal charges for your client, making the transaction smoother and more appealing.
  • No IRS Form Requirements: Since the payment is a B2B transaction to a US entity (Remotify), your client is not obligated to classify it as a foreign contractor payment, significantly reducing their administrative burden.
  • Accelerated Payouts: Experience significantly faster access to your funds; you can typically receive your payment within 1-2 business days after your client initiates the transfer.
  • Diverse Payout Options: Benefit from flexible payout methods, including SEPA, Wise, Revolut, and other supported channels, giving you control over how you receive your earnings.

Consider a talented designer based in Spain who lands a project with an innovative startup in California:

  • Without Remotify: The client would initiate a SWIFT transfer, incurring around $40 in fees, waiting up to 5 days for the funds to clear, and requiring the designer to submit a W-8BEN form.
  • With Remotify: The client simply sends a free domestic ACH transfer. The payment arrives in the designer’s SEPA account within a swift 48 hours, with no additional forms or bureaucratic headaches.

Receiving payments from the United States as a European freelancer doesn’t have to be a source of frustration or expense. By leveraging Remotify, you empower your US clients with a straightforward, local payment channel, while ensuring you receive your earnings directly into your EUR account efficiently and compliantly.

💡 Ready to simplify your international payments? Sign up today and start experiencing the ease of receiving US payments like a local.

1. What’s the best way to receive payments from US clients as a European freelancer?
The easiest and most cost-effective way is to use a service like Remotify, which lets your US client pay locally in USD while you receive your funds in EUR via SEPA, Wise, or Revolut — without SWIFT fees or long processing times.

2. Why are SWIFT transfers so expensive for freelancers in Europe?
SWIFT transfers often involve intermediary banks, currency conversion fees, and international transaction charges. These costs can range from €20–€50 per transfer and take several business days to process, making them less ideal for freelancers.

3. Do I need to fill out IRS tax forms like W-8BEN to get paid from US clients?
Not when using Remotify. Since the payment is made to a US-based business (Remotify) instead of directly to a foreign contractor, your client doesn’t need to request IRS forms such as W-8BEN — saving time and reducing admin hassles.

4. How long does it take to receive payment from US clients using Remotify?
Typically, you’ll receive your funds within 1–2 business days after your client’s payment is initiated through ACH or domestic bank transfer.

5. Can I receive my US payments directly into my Wise or Revolut account?
Yes. Remotify supports multiple payout methods including SEPA, Wise, and Revolut, giving you flexibility in how and where you receive your income.

6. Is it legal and compliant to receive US payments through Remotify?
Absolutely. Remotify handles all AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements, ensuring full compliance for both you and your client.

7. How does Remotify make it easier for US clients to pay European freelancers?
Your US clients can pay locally in USD via ACH, just like paying any other US business. This removes international payment barriers, eliminates fees, and simplifies their accounting and tax reporting.

8. What’s the main advantage of using Remotify instead of a direct international transfer?
You avoid SWIFT fees, tax form complications, and long waiting times — while giving your client a simple, domestic payment experience that encourages faster and smoother collaboration.

9. Do I need a US bank account to receive payments from US clients?
No. With Remotify, your client pays into a US-based local account, and the funds are automatically converted and transferred to your EUR account. You get paid like a local — without opening a US bank account.

10. Can Remotify help with ongoing payments for long-term US freelance contracts?
Yes. Remotify is ideal for recurring payments and long-term projects, ensuring consistent, fast, and compliant transactions between you and your US clients.