Africa

Description

Africa is growing in popularity with international contractors and recruiters due to some major projects in Telecommunications, Oil & Gas, and IT. We organize business visas, work permits, local payroll, and tax compliance for freelancers, recruitment agents, and international companies providing services in Africa. Additionally, Africa has a fascinating culture, relaxed lifestyle, great food, and a wide range of regional traveling options. If you are thinking of doing an expat assignment in Africa – you’ve come to the right place!

Foreign contractors will need support to work in Africa as the Work Permit and Taxation Systems for contracting are quite complex. It is important to use experienced local providers for Immigration, Payroll, and Taxation to be sure of compliance and reliability. We have partners that will be able to assist you with: Contractors Tax and Work Visas for Freelancers to ensure that you comply with local regulations and maximize your net income.

Our assessed and qualified suppliers will ensure tax and work permit compliance but also that you’re retaining the highest possible net % return on your gross billing as is legally possible. Our services in Africa include:

  • Tax, Payroll and Employment Solutions for Contractors
  • Sponsored Work Permits and Business Visas for Contract / Freelance Workers
  • Salary Packaging
  • Self-Employed / Personal Companies
  • Immigration Lawyers
  • Expatriate Tax specialists
  • Insurance (Private Health / Travel / Professional Indemnity)
  • Bank Account Opening

Recruiter Case Study:

A London-based recruitment consultant had located the perfect candidate for his client, the Africa office of a German investment bank. However, the candidate was a foreign national who needed a Work Permit. They needed a local entity to sponsor the work permit, run the local payroll and make sure the contractor was fully compliant. A colleague referred the agency to www.contractortaxation.com and our local partner was able to step into the breach to arrange an Africa Business Visa before the end of the week and then process the Africa Work Permit with the consultant already onsite for training. This meant the assignment was able to start on time and the recruiter went on to place 3 more consultants into the project.

Immigration is one of the primary concerns for anybody hoping to start working in Africa. Permanent employees will find it easy to get their Africa work permit because they’ll receive “sponsorship” for their entire stay from their prospective employer. The African work permit is dependent on this sponsorship because it confirms that you’ll be earning money during your stay in the country. Contracting in Africa is more difficult because the work permit is tied to one employer, so you have to change it to suit each new contract. Thankfully, umbrella companies provide a convenient and effective solution to this issue.

How Can Umbrella Companies Help You Get an Africa Work Permit?

As your permanent employer, umbrella companies are able to sponsor you for your Africa work permit provided they’re on the register of approved sponsors. Many different companies offer this service because it makes contracting in Africa infinitely simpler and saves you the hassle of continuous paperwork. Instead of changing your work permit every time you get a new contract, you can just work how you ordinarily would under the same permit. They protect you from the bureaucratic “rain” of legal compliance with the African immigration authorities. They can even deal with the African Embassy directly.

Through their service, you may be able to use a business visa to get started quickly and then transition to a work visa in Africa. It depends on your specific Africa visa requirements. Be aware you may have to register for a residence permit in Africa.

Can Umbrella Companies Also Assist You with Africa Taxation?

Some umbrella companies are specialists in the African tax system. They constantly stay up to date with the legislation and ensure that you get to keep the biggest proportion of your earnings possible. The PAYE system is ideal for most workers because you don’t have to complete any paperwork (aside from submitting your timesheets to the umbrella company) or worry about your taxes in any way (you’ll receive documentation for your records, though). You have a team of experts ensuring that you’re paid promptly and the various requirements for tax in Africa are met.

How We Help You with Contracting in Africa

We work closely with numerous umbrella companies in Africa and we have a thorough knowledge of the different services they provide – especially regarding immigration to Africa. If you’re a business analyst, IT project manager, software developer, tester, a telecommunications contractor, or oil and gas worker, we can help you get sponsorship for your work permit and keep more of your earnings by setting you up with an umbrella company. We’ll also answer any questions you have about African visas or the country’s tax law, and we’ll contact the experts directly to guarantee 100 percent accurate advice. This all comes at no charge whatsoever to you and you’re not obligated to take on the services of any company. We’re just here to make your move as stress-free as possible.

Description

Independent contracting in Africa isn’t straightforward. You’ve got immigration issues, tax difficulties, and mountains of complex admin work. Even worse, missteps can cost you serious money, or even land you in legal trouble.

Before you consider taking a contract in Africa, you should be aware of what you’re getting into – and how you can make it simpler.

Difficulties of contracting in Africa

Generally, you need to have an employer sponsor in order to secure the appropriate work permit and work visa for Africa.

If you’re working independently, it can be difficult to find clients willing to sponsor you. Moreover, even if your client can do this, you’ll need a new sponsor each time you decide to take on a new contract. Of course, every new sponsor will mean more paperwork.

Also, are you deeply familiar with the intricacies of the tax system in Africa, as well as your own country’s laws on overseas earnings? If so, good on you!

However, if you’re like the rest of us, figuring out (much less reducing) your tax liability in Africa and your home country can seem like full-time work in itself.

How Umbrella Companies in Africa work

Most freelance workers aren’t mystical superheroes who successfully tackle these issues all on their own. There are companies who specialize in helping workers make the most out of their contracts.

They’re called Umbrella Companies (or, contractor management companies).

How do they work?

Basically, an Umbrella Company acts as your full-time employer, even though you maintain your independence as a contractor. They collect and filter payments from your clients, filtering out the necessary social security and fees. You send them your timesheets, and they send you payments.

Sponsorships

Because they act as your “employer,’ they can sponsor you and provide a single work permit for multiple contracts.

Taxation

Even better, most are experts in Africa and expat tax law, meaning they’ll also help you optimize your earnings.

Although the Umbrella Company is technically your “employer,” you’re essentially freeing yourself to work even more independently. You still dictate your contracts, your hours, your schedule. The Umbrella Company simply filters out the time-consuming admin and immigration issues, allowing you to focus on your new contract.

How we help with Umbrella Companies in Africa

There’s a huge variety of Umbrella Companies out there; they all have different specialties and advantages. How do you find the right one for your circumstances?

We work closely with Umbrella Companies all throughout Africa and match contractors with the right company for them. If you’ve already secured a contract in Africa, we can help you find your best match (for free). Or, we can simply give you feedback on your situation (for free).

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By clicking submit, Campbell will introduce you by email to the best matched Umbrella Partners for your contract. It's the fastest way for Umbrella Companies to provide a detailed quote, scope of service and a projection of your net earnings. There will be no charge to you for this referral service. If you have any questions or need to talk at any stage, we're here to help.

Solutions Expert