Job Discussion Forums

[delphian-domine]

Surprised that this hasn't been mentioned here...

The new government is planning to force language schools to pay VAT. If this happens, it will be a double edged sword - those of us already here will know how to play the game, but it will destroy the majority of language schools overnight. There's no way that most people are going to take a 23% cut in salaries, nor are most people going to pay 23% more for classes.

Empik, Profi-Lingua and others almost certainly won't survive this.

[sparks]

Are you referring to this :

http://www.polskieradio.pl/42/276/Artykul/1540371,Nauka-jezykow-obcych-nie-bedzie-juz-zwolniona-z-podatku-VAT

It hasn't been voted on in Sejm yet and PASE is appealing. It seems they just "forgot" to exempt schools from paying VAT, not that they're trying to "force language schools to pay VAT"

As the article says this would be stupid as language courses would just go into the "szare strefa" and no taxes or ZUS would be paid.

[Infinite]

Many schools are also collecting signatures. However, given the general situation in Poland regarding language schools, I can't see anyone really giving a shoe about their opinions on the matter.

If it does go through, Poland will become one of the worst places to teach. At least now, you're able to make a decent living teaching, that extra 23% is going to make a huge difference for folks such as myself, with kids and self employed.

One of the reasons why I suspended my "działalność" is because I wanted to see what it's like working via third party in case the VAT bill goes through the Sejm. I've found out already that there are some organizations and businesses which can't pay third parties. Fortunately I only have one such client.