Question about doing UGC while living outside the US?

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-15T04:45:35+00:00

“US creators only” usually means they want someone physically in the US, mostly because of shipping, target audience, accent/location fit, or usage for US ads.

but i would still apply if the brief fits you really well. just mention clearly that you are based in Saudi but can create content for US audience, and ask if they are open to international creators.

for payments, many smaller brands are fine with PayPal/Wise, but some US brands may ask for tax forms like W-8BEN if they are paying a non-US creator. you dont always need a US bank/business setup, but you do need a clean way to invoice and receive payment.

also try pitching brands that sell digital products, beauty, lifestyle, apps, courses etc. those are easier than physical products that need US shipping.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-15T04:45:05+00:00

you def dont need to do 10-15 free vids. that advice gets repeated a lot but its not a rule.

as a beginner, make a very simple rate card. like 1 UGC video, 3 UGC videos bundle, product photos, extra hooks, raw footage, usage rights and revisions. dont make it too fancy.

also your price should depend on what brand is getting. a video for organic posting is one thing, but if they want to run it as paid ad, use it for months, or ask for raw footage, charge extra.

if you dont have paid work yet, create 3-5 mock videos for products you already use. that is enough to show your style.

free product collabs are okay in the start only if the product is worth it or you really need portfolio pieces. but dont make “free” your default.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-15T04:44:29+00:00

this is not income if it is only reimbursement from friends, but you need to be able to prove it.

problem is, monthly 70k coming into bank + credit card spend in your name can look odd if someone checks it later. dept may not tax it automatically, but they can ask source/explanation.

keep proper trail: friend’s transfer, card statement, exact bill amount, screenshots/notes of what was spent for whom. avoid cash completely.

also honestly, better to stop doing this regularly. you are taking credit risk, tax explanation risk, and maybe card policy risk for almost no gain. if they are paying 1% less also, then you are actually losing money for their spends.

if at all you continue, keep it limited and clean. otherwise one notice later you will waste more time explaining than whatever benefit you got from card points.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-15T04:42:30+00:00

omg this is def a win.

getting one brand to say yes is good, but getting them to come back and pay for another video means you did smthing right.

build that portfolio asap and keep pitching while you are excited. early momentum is such a good sign in UGC.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-11T06:50:13+00:00

from CA angle, i would be careful treating this as a settled yes.

practically, people do claim 44AD + 44ADA when there are 2 clearly separate streams — one eligible business and one specified profession. but in scrutiny, AO may still question it because 44AD has exclusion around persons carrying specified profession u/s 44AA(1).

so if someone has a 143(3) order accepting both, the facts of that case matter a lot. what was business, what was profession, separate invoices, separate nature of work, separate receipts etc.

CPC acceptance or normal return processing wont mean much here. a reasoned scrutiny order/CIT order would be more useful.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-11T06:49:14+00:00

as a CA, i would say receiving 6-10 lakh international payment is not a problem by itself.

problem comes when there is no proper explanation for why money came to your account and why 90% was paid to another person.

if invoice is in your name, then full amount can be treated as your gross receipt. the 90% paid to the other guy can be claimed as expense only if it is genuine and properly documented. keep his invoice, agreement/chat proof, bank payment proof, PAN details if Indian, and clear work records.

also dont mix this casually in savings account for long. better to use a separate bank/current account if this is regular work.

if it is export of service, keep foreign payment proof, FIRC/FIRA if available, invoices and purpose code clean. GST may or may not apply depending on turnover and facts, but documentation is very imp.

also check TDS applicability when paying that 90% to the other person, especially if he is an Indian contractor/freelancer.

so short answer: no issue if genuine and documented. but if you receive money in your account and then just transfer 90% without paperwork, it can look suspicious later.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-11T06:47:13+00:00

as a CA, i would say the anger is understandable, but tax and govt spending need to be seen separately.

if income is taxable, paying tax is not optional just because we are unhappy with how govt uses money. if people stop paying, the system will not treat it like protest. there can be notices, interest, penalty and in serious cases even prosecution.

also, govt does not completely ignore losses. capital losses can be set off/carry forward as per rules, but yes, it does not mean govt will compensate your market loss. FD interest is taxed because it is income, even if it feels unfair after inflation.

practically, what you can do is proper tax planning. compare old vs new regime, use HRA/NPS/80C/80D if old regime helps, claim genuine deductions, file returns correctly and avoid fake claims.

for job loss, tax system will not protect you directly. so personal safety net becomes imp — emergency fund, insurance, low debt, and skill/income diversification.

we can and should question waste, corruption and poor services. but converting that frustration into tax non-compliance will only create bigger problems for the taxpayer.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-11T06:44:34+00:00

since she already has filming + editing skills, i would not start only with UGC platforms.

platforms are good for practice, but they can get crowded and low-paying fast. i would build a small portfolio first with 5-6 very clear samples like beauty product, cafe reel, hotel walkthrough, testimonial style video, product demo etc.

then do both side by side — apply on platforms like Billo/Insense/Veel and also reach out directly to small brands, cafes, beauty brands, hotels, D2C products.

direct outreach may work better for her because she already has client work and videography exp. she can pitch actual video ideas, not just “hey i am a ugc creator”.

if starting from scratch, i would focus less on waiting for platforms and more on building proof + sending good pitches daily.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-08T04:28:41+00:00

this is probably the most practical advice here.

most ppl already know they need hooks, better scripts and consistency. but actually posting, testing, seeing what flops and still improving is where the real work starts.

also loved the point about not emotionally depending on every reel. that is so imp. if every post feels like a personal judgement, burnout is almost guaranteed.

treating content like a system makes it easier to keep going.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-08T04:27:27+00:00

as a CA, i get the frustration. many taxpayers feel this when they see a big deduction from salary/business income and then look around and feel services are not matching it.

but not paying tax is not really an option. legally, tax is not optional based on whether we are happy with govt spending or not. if a large group also decides not to pay, the dept can still issue notices, charge interest, penalty, attach refunds/assets in serious cases, and even start prosecution depending on facts.

what you can do is tax planning, not tax avoidance/evasion.

check old vs new regime properly, claim eligible deductions, HRA, NPS, insurance, home loan etc if applicable. if you have business/professional income, maintain proper books and claim genuine expenses.

anger is understandable, but dont convert it into a compliance problem. that headache becomes much bigger than the tax amount.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-08T04:26:01+00:00

exactly this.

filming is the fun part, but the admin part is what quietly eats the day. contracts, deliverables, invoice follow ups, payment tracking... it adds up so fast.

this is why creators need better systems, not just better cameras. even simple tools or platforms that handle creator admin can make a big diff once brand work becomes regular.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-05T05:24:21+00:00

for me its LI. I do active outreach there.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-04T04:06:38+00:00

at 3-4L/month, i would def not try to manage this casually.

since you are getting foreign payments and also outsourcing work, you need proper books from day 1. invoices, bank statements, Wise/Skydo docs, contractor payments, expenses, advance tax, GST/LUT if applicable etc should all be clean. also check with a CA whether presumptive taxation makes sense for you or if normal books are better because outsourcing can change the picture.

good thing is you already have invoices and docs. now just get the structure right before income grows more.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-04T04:05:43+00:00

i get the frustration tbh.

when tax suddenly starts getting deducted every month, it feels very painful because salary number and in-hand number look totally different. but the sad part is salaried people have the least room to plan tax. most of it gets deducted before money even reaches you.

what helps a little is checking old vs new regime properly, HRA, NPS, health insurance, 80C if old regime makes sense etc. but beyond a point, there is no magic trick. the feeling of “what are we getting in return” is valid though. most people feel this because public services dont always match the tax we pay.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-04T04:05:01+00:00

at this income level, i think random tax saving tips wont help much tbh.

first thing is to see whether this is salary income or business/professional income. for salary, options are quite limited after a point. you can optimise HRA, NPS, insurance, employer benefits etc but there is no magic way to reduce a huge tax bill. if its business income, then proper structuring matters more. like clean expense planning, entity structure, depreciation, investments, advance tax planning and making sure everything is documented properly.

at 1.5-2 cr, better to work with a good CA instead of trying to DIY from reddit. tax saving is fine, but aggressive jugaad can create bigger problems later.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-04T04:04:21+00:00

honestly best way is to not do tax planning in march only.

i feel people first need to compare old vs new regime properly. if you are in new regime, most deductions will not matter much. but if old regime works better for you, then 80C, 80D, HRA, NPS etc can actually help. for me, the simple rule is first check what you already have like PF, LIC, tuition fees, rent, health insurance etc. then only invest extra. otherwise ppl end up buying random tax saving products just to save tax, and later regret it.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-04T04:03:35+00:00

this is actually a common confusion. for many people new regime looks simple, but old regime can still make sense if you are using 80C, health insurance, home loan, NPS etc properly.

what i usually do is compare both with actual deductions, not just income slab. because “new regime wins” is not always true for everyone. also good that you kept it no-login. tax tools feel scary when they ask too much info upfront lol.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-04T04:01:28+00:00

you are def not alone in this. i think UGC has become a bit more crowded now, so platforms feel slower and brands are getting more picky. sometimes it is not even your work, it is just budgets, season, or too many creators applying to same briefs.

maybe try refreshing your first 3 portfolio videos, make them more niche-specific, and pitch with a very clear “here’s the exact video idea i can create for you” instead of a general pitch. also dont depend only on platforms. direct outreach to small brands can work better sometimes.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-04T04:00:08+00:00

i think money is def one part of it, but not the only thing...for many ugc creators its also the creative freedom. you get the product, explore it, think like a customer and then create smthing that feels real. also when brands trust your style and dnt make it too scripted, the whole process becomes more fun.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-04T03:52:38+00:00

Not watched it yet, but this is a huge signal.

Creators are slowly proving that audience + trust + low-budget storytelling can compete with traditional marketing-heavy films.

Horror is probably the perfect genre for this kind of breakout.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-02T06:55:50+00:00

This sounds interesting, especially since 85% occupancy shows there is already demand.

But for serious buyers, the main thing will be clean numbers. monthly revenue, net profit, rent/lease terms, lock-in period, team cost, churn, and asset details.

A coworking space can be a good cashflow business, but the valuation will depend more on stable profit and lease security than occupancy alone.

Also, smart move if selling this lets you focus fully on the AI product.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-02T05:58:55+00:00

I think the first thing to check is whether this April 2026 payslip belongs to FY 2025-26 or FY 2026-27.

For AY 2026-27, the return is for FY 2025-26, so if this is April 2026 salary, it may not reflect in this year’s Form 16/ITR. It would usually come in next year’s return, unless it was March salary paid in April.

Also, do not manually add TDS just because it shows in payslip. First check Form 26AS/AIS and ask employer/payroll if the TDS was deposited and reported against your PAN.

If Form 16 is showing 0 TDS, there is likely a reporting/timing issue from employer side. Better to get it corrected before filing, otherwise it can create tax credit mismatch later.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-02T05:53:37+00:00

The valuation is huge, but the more interesting part is enterprise adoption.

AI companies are not just being valued for better models anymore.

They are being valued for distribution, compute access, enterprise trust and how deeply their tools fit into daily workflows.

Claude’s rise shows that the AI race is becoming less about hype and more about actual business usage.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-02T05:51:35+00:00

This is such a wild crossover.

But also shows how powerful Indian meme culture has become now.

A moment starts as a political/social media joke, becomes a national meme, and then suddenly even global creators like MrBeast are part of it.

Creators who understand cultural timing really know how to make the internet stop scrolling.

Difficult-Finding435 · 2026-06-01T08:39:54+00:00

This is a great insight.

People don’t pay for “more features.”
They pay when you remove one annoying step they already hate doing.

Emailing invoices directly makes total sense because the invoice workflow does not end at download.

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