AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
Yes, mainly tax reporting. A green card lets you work at any lawful job of your choosing, so no visa permission is needed to freelance for Nigerian clients, but as a permanent resident you must file US tax returns and report worldwide income. That means Schedule C and Schedule SE for the fees, estimated tax during the year, an FBAR if your foreign accounts exceed $10,000, and keeping an eye on Nigerian tax residence if you spend long periods at home.
Work: no extra permission needed
USCIS says a permanent resident may work in the United States at any legal work of their qualification and choosing, with some jobs limited to US citizens for security reasons. Freelancing for a Lagos agency, consulting for a Nigerian bank or writing for an Abuja publication is lawful self-employment for a green card holder, and no petition or employer sponsorship is involved. That is the clearest difference from H-1B holders and OPT students.
Tax: report worldwide income
USCIS lists among a permanent resident's responsibilities filing income tax returns and reporting income to the IRS and state tax authorities. On the IRS side, a lawful permanent resident meets the green card test and is a US tax resident, and US tax residents are taxed on worldwide income (IRS Topic 851; Taxation of resident aliens). You remain a tax resident while you hold the card, even in years you spend abroad.
| What | Form | Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Freelance fees from Nigerian clients | Schedule C | Any business income |
| Social Security and Medicare on that income | Schedule SE | Net self-employment earnings of $400 or more |
| Tax during the year | Form 1040-ES | Expecting to owe $1,000 or more |
| Nigerian withholding tax | Form 1116 (or Schedule A) | If you choose to claim it, within the limits |
| Nigerian bank accounts | FinCEN Form 114 (FBAR) | Combined foreign accounts over $10,000 at any time in the year |
| Specified foreign assets | Form 8938 | From $50,000 at year end or $75,000 at any time for a single filer living in the US |
All figures go on the return in dollars, at the rate when you received each payment. Our guide to one Schedule C for US and Nigerian clients shows how to combine them.
The Nigerian side of the same income
Nigerian clients may deduct withholding tax before paying, at 10% on professional and consultancy fees to non-residents under the 2024 regulations as summarised by PwC. Whether you are a non-resident in Nigeria depends on Nigerian rules: under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, PwC's summary says an individual is resident if any of several tests is met, including domicile, a permanent home available for domestic use, a habitual abode, 183 days or more in any 12 months, or substantial economic or immediate family ties. If you are Nigerian resident, Nigeria can tax your income wherever it arises. See does Nigeria tax income earned in the US.
Worked example (illustrative figures)
Ada, a green card holder in Maryland, earns $18,000 from two Nigerian clients and $6,000 from a US client in a year, with $3,000 of business expenses. Schedule C shows $24,000 gross and $21,000 net profit. Schedule SE works out self-employment tax from that profit. One Nigerian client deducted $900 WHT on a $9,000 fee; Ada reports the $9,000 gross and gives the $900 receipt to her preparer to assess under Form 1116. Her Nigerian account peaked at $12,000 equivalent, so she files an FBAR. Figures are illustrative.
Long stays in Nigeria
Freelancing makes it easy to work from Lagos for months. Two things to watch. First, the IRS rules above keep applying while you hold the card. Second, the IRS expatriation tax page notes that lawful permanent resident status ends if it is revoked or is administratively or judicially determined to have been abandoned, and that long-term residents who end their residence can fall under the expatriation tax rules. Extended time abroad is worth planning carefully for that reason, with immigration advice if a stay will run to many months; see freelancing from Nigeria for a few months.
State tax and business registration
USCIS also points permanent residents to state tax authorities. Most states with an income tax treat freelance profit like other income, and some cities and counties add their own business taxes or licences, even for a home-based consultancy. Whether your state taxes the profit, and how, depends on where you live; see state tax on Nigerian income. If you trade under a name other than your own, your county or state may require an assumed-name or DBA filing, and some clients will ask for an EIN rather than your Social Security number on paperwork.
What to check first
- A ledger of every client payment: date, currency, amount, rate used and any WHT.
- Quarterly estimated tax set up from your first Nigerian payment.
- Your foreign account balances against the FBAR and Form 8938 thresholds.
- Days spent in Nigeria each year, for both Nigerian residence and green card purposes.
- A preparer familiar with foreign income. This is information, not tax or immigration advice.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Business Account receives naira and dollars on local details and keeps each in its currency, and invoicing keeps client records in one place for your Schedule C.
Questions people ask
Can a green card holder freelance for Nigerian companies?
Yes. USCIS says permanent residents may do any legal work of their choosing, so no extra work permission is needed.
Do green card holders report Nigerian income to the IRS?
Yes. Permanent residents are US tax residents taxed on worldwide income, so Nigerian fees go on Schedule C.
Do I need to file an FBAR for my Nigerian account?
If your foreign accounts together exceed $10,000 at any time in the year, yes, separately from your tax return.
Can working from Nigeria for months affect my green card?
Long absences can raise questions about whether permanent residence has been abandoned. Plan extended stays carefully and take advice.
Sources
- USCIS: Rights and responsibilities of a green card holder (permanent resident) · accessed Oct 2026
- IRS Topic no. 851, Resident and nonresident aliens (reviewed 24 Sep 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- IRS: Taxation of resident aliens (reviewed 25 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- IRS: Comparison of Form 8938 and FBAR requirements (reviewed 19 Sep 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Nigeria, individual residence (reviewed 29 May 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- IRS: Expatriation tax (reviewed 4 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.