Internet-based Methods for Paying International Employees - By: Tomer Bar Zeev

A number of organizations bring international workers to the States for limited periods of time for employment. Some examples include au pair agencies, summer camps, and more. It often pays to hire international workers. But how do you pay them?

Many international workers do not have US bank accounts, so traditional paychecks may not be the most cost-effective form of payment. The workers may have trouble cashing the checks, or pay steep commissions at a check-cashing venue. Paying in cash is also problematic, as it is difficult to report, and if you have a number of employees, and in a wide range of places, it is simply not practical.

So how do you pay international workers? There are a number of electronic funds transfer (EFT) services available that are faster, more convenient and less expensive than the traditional methods of checks and wire transfers. The introduction of innovative payment methods has meant that distributors can receive their money more quickly and keep more of it. For example, online payments offer more flexibility and are more cost-effective for workers who do not have US bank accounts.

These methods generally offer an online account or "wallet" where money can be deposited and spent. Should the worker have a number of online expenses, particularly from suppliers who offer the same payment service, online payments can be the right choice. But more often than not, that is not the case. The workers want to use the money NOW or send it back home.

An innovative method now being offered by leading direct selling organizations are payments direct to co-branded prepaid debit cards such as MasterCard and Visa. The cards are extremely popular with brand-loyal workers, allow easy cash-outs from ATMs or spending any where that accepts the debit cards, and do not require a US bank account or credit check. The client organization transfers the funds to the card accounts, and the money is then instantly accessible online, at shops and restaurants or at ATMs. Furthermore, if issued by a US bank, the card accounts are FDIC insured and often offer protections against unauthorized purchases.

One effective solution is prepaid debit or gift cards. You have a receipt for the purchase of the card or for loading an existing card with more funds, so from a tax perspective, you have documentation. The workers get to keep more of their money, since they don't need to pay check-cashing fees. And they can use the card and spend their money as soon as the funds are loaded to the card.

About the Author

An expert in online payment methods, Tomer Bar-Zeev is currently the VP Marketing for Payoneer, which allows organizations to payout to individuals around the world, efficiently and securely direct to prepaid MasterCard cards. For more information on Payoneer visit http://www.payoneer.com

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