Do I have to pay $150 to process my payment?

[Guest]

I am from Pakistan, have worked remotely on a writing project with a client in California. Now, he is asking me to pay first some $150 (because I am non-resident American one-time employee) to process my payment.

Is it a safe bet? Because he is not giving me any other option than to pay first myself.

[Kristin]

Sounds like a scam. Just tell him to take it out of your payment. Bet you’ll never hear from him again. I hope you didn’t send him anything.

[Sarah]

That doesn't sound right, but I'm not a lawyer or accountant. If you're doing work-for-hire from outside the US, I'm not sure how US taxes apply to you. But, again, I'm not a lawyer or accountant. I'd try to find a tax attorney to ask.