Job Discussion Forums

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 9:22 am Post subject:

It is all much easier than you may believe.

You'll agree terms with an employer. This will include a net hourly rate of payment. You will receive this payment every two or four weeks. ( Touch wood...) Tax is your employer's problem, not yours. Your employer will probably not declare your true earnings to the state.

From your point of view, it matters not one jot if your are supposedly being taxed at 13% or 30%, so long as your agreement is in net terms. You'll receive the salary you have agreed. There will be no cash refunds, but no unpleasant surprises either.

The information provided on the Expat link is all very well, but it is not really aimed at TEFL teachers and their employers, or their devious tax-dodging ways. So, this information is not really relevant to you, unless you are planning to work in a fully transparent company. Of which there are precisely... none in the TEFL sector in Moscow, to the best of my knowledge.

I'd advise just forgetting about all these naive tax questions. They simply do not apply here.

Best of luck.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

As already pointed out, there are two major categories of expat workers. One large segment work for US companies abroad. This is when one's accommodation is liable to tax. It's much easier and simpler when one is working for a non-US employer which is not liable to pay US taxes.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 11:38 am Post subject:

Sigh... None of this is relevant the vast, vast majority of TEFLers in Russia. Tax? A big red herring.

Might become an issue if one were to settle here. Local pensions, social insurance, medical cover etc. all require local documentation. A 'black' salary doesn't do much to help then. But that's not important for short staying teachers.

Everybody, just open up a bottle of the good water, and savour its unique beauty. Ahhh!