Re: internet business - legal and tax questions

azzuri wrote:
> I am getting ready to form an service related internet business, which could
> not be profitable in the first year or 2. The revenue will most likely be
> coming from US businesses. I reside and work in New Jersey, although I am
> non-resident alien authorized to work for my employer only. Therefore there
> will be 1-2 partners extra in the business that are US citizens/residents.
> There will be no employees until the business is profitable. I would
> appreciate your opinion on several basic questions:

I have always wondered about that, having been a non-resident alien once
myself:

- If you're in business for yourself (self employed or owning a business),
meaning you're not employed by somebody else, is that legal with a social
security card marked "not valid for employment"? (Not that mine ever was)

- and: if you write a book, can you be paid royalties in spite of not being
allowed to work? Where is the boundary? I know there are lots of foreign
non-resident investors who own real estate (certainly with the purpose
of making money, not losing money) or US stocks.

Maren