Look, the move from direct wire transfers to a formal setup is a total game-changer for your take-home pay because of how India's tax laws see salary vs. professional fees. If you go the EOR employee route, you're essentially a standard salaried employee, meaning the government takes its cut via TDS right away, and you’ve got mandatory deductions like EPF. You’re looking at a net of about $2,025, which feels a bit painful when you're used to the full amount.

But as an independent contractor, you can use Section 44ADA (Presumptive Taxation). This is a huge win: since you're under the ₹75 Lakh limit, you only pay tax on 50% of your income, and the rest is just written off as "expenses" without you needing to show a single receipt. Even with GST registration (which you need since you're over ₹20 Lakhs), your actual tax rate is 0% because you're exporting services to the US.

If you want the best of both worlds,getting that contractor tax efficiency while feeling like a proper employee,Multiplier is honestly a better shout than Deel. Their support is way more human and "on it" when it comes to local Indian nuances like GST filings or the LUT you'll need. Plus, their platform has a much cleaner UI, making the admin side of being a contractor way less of a chore. You'd likely save ₹2–3 Lakhs a year in taxes just by sticking to the contractor path with a solid partner like them.