How to Invoice US Clients from Chile and Get Paid Fast

Invoicing a US client from Chile involves more than sending a PDF and waiting. Between the SII’s boleta de honorarios requirements, the 13% retencion on freelance income, and the spread your bank charges to convert USD to CLP, the gap between what your client pays and what you actually receive can be significant.

This guide covers how to set up a reliable invoicing workflow that gets you paid faster and lets you keep more of what you earn.

The Chilean Freelancer’s Payment Problem

Most US companies pay via ACH or domestic wire transfer. They send USD to a US bank account. If you only have a Chilean account at Banco de Chile or BCI, your client needs to send an international wire – which means they pay $25-$45 in fees on their end, and you pay another $15-$30 on yours. Then your bank converts at a rate 2-4% worse than the mid-market rate.

On a $5,000 invoice, you could lose $150-$250 just on the conversion spread alone, plus $40-$70 in wire fees between both sides. That adds up to over $2,000 per year if you invoice monthly.

What Your US Client Actually Needs

US companies strongly prefer paying to a US bank account via ACH. It costs them nothing (or close to it), settles in 1-2 business days, and uses the same process they use for domestic vendors. When you give them international wire instructions, you become the “difficult” contractor – the one that takes extra approvals, extra fees, and extra time.

The simplest solution: get a US-based account with its own routing and account number, then handle the conversion yourself on your terms.

Setting Up Your Invoicing Workflow

Step 1: Get a USD Account

VaultLeap provides Chilean freelancers with a US-domiciled account that comes with a routing number and account number. Your client sees it as a regular domestic payment. You receive USD directly without intermediary fees.

Step 2: Invoice in USD with US Banking Details

Your invoice should include your VaultLeap account’s routing number and account number. Include “ACH” as the preferred payment method. Most accounting software (QuickBooks, FreshBooks, Wave) lets you add these details to your invoice template.

Step 3: Convert on Your Schedule

Once USD lands in your account, you choose when to convert. If you need CLP for living expenses, you can transfer to your local bank when the rate is favorable. If you have USD-denominated expenses or want to hold dollars as a hedge against CLP depreciation, you keep them where they are.

Boleta de Honorarios and Tax Compliance

Receiving payment in a US account does not exempt you from Chilean tax obligations. You still need to:

• Emit a boleta de honorarios through the SII portal for each payment
• Report the income in your declaracion anual
• Pay the 13% provisional retencion (which applies to gross freelance income in 2025-2026)
• Declare foreign-held balances if they exceed the threshold

Consult a contador familiar with international freelance income to structure this correctly. The key point: where you receive payment is separate from where you report income.

Cost Comparison: Traditional vs. USD Account

Tips for Faster Payment

• Send invoices the day work is delivered – do not batch at month end
• Include payment terms directly on the invoice (Net 15 is reasonable for contractors)
• Add your ACH details prominently – above the fold, not buried in a footer
• Follow up on day 16 if unpaid. US companies often have 2-week payment cycles

When your client can pay you like any other US vendor, you remove friction from the relationship. That means faster payments, fewer excuses, and a cleaner workflow on both sides.