REMOTE WORKERS & NOMADS

Work from anywhere, without becoming a resident of everywhere

The freedom to work from anywhere comes with a quiet catch: spend enough days somewhere and its tax authority can treat you as a resident. The thresholds are just day counts, and they are easy to trip without noticing.

Inside the US: the state 183-day rule

Most income-tax states can tax you as a statutory resident if you keep a place to live there and spend more than 183 days in the state, regardless of where you are "from." A remote worker who camps out in a high-tax state for most of the year can become taxable there on their full income. The count is often unforgiving: New York, for example, counts any part of a day as a full day. See snowbirds and state movers for the full mechanics.

In Europe: the Schengen 90/180 limit

If you are a visa-exempt traveler, you may spend no more than 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the Schengen area. Both entry and exit days count, and days across every Schengen country add up together. Overstaying is an immigration problem, not just a tax one, and the new EES border system now counts your days automatically. Check your Schengen days here.

Per-country residency: usually 183 days

Many countries treat you as a tax resident once you spend 183 days there in a year, though the exact rule and the definition of a "day" vary widely, and some use additional tests (a permanent home, center of vital interests, and so on). If you are spending serious time in one country, assume the 183-day line is live and get advice before you cross it.

How SpyglassBeacon helps

Beacon keeps a running, timestamped count of your days per state and per country automatically, and warns you before you approach a limit. Instead of guessing whether this month tipped you over a line, you know, and you have the record to prove it.

Related: State movers · Schengen calculator · SPT calculator