Job Discussion Forums

[passport220]

Hello members:

I will be semi retiring in 8 months. I am 42 years old, have a B.S. in Economics and will have a TESOL certificate. I will have fixed annuity payments as income until eligible to draw from my pension later in life.

Due to other considerations I am looking for a place to teach were I can be paid under the table. I am not running from the law. I would comply with any types of registration, or work permit requirements. It is however, in my best interest to be assured no income paper trail could find it�s way back to the US.

I have read it is done frequently in Vietnam. Any other places around the globe were I could teach and keep my income strictly private?

Take care,
Pass

[Glenski]

Are you aware that Americans are exempt from paying taxes on income earned overseas up to about $80,000? You have to file for your taxes, but the forms allow for this exemption. You are hardly going to make that amount, so you will be safe in that regard.

Of course, it's up to you whether you even want to declare what you make overseas. No Japanese employer or government office sends information back to your home country, if that's what worries. However, if you go abroad, the paper trail is already there in the form of your passport stamps.

[passport220]

Hi Glenski:

Thank you for the information. I am not so worried about a stamp in my passport as even a visa classification that would allow me to earn an income in the issuing country would not reveal a specific income.

I have no hard information on what the US Federal government can get it�s hands on. I know a nation such as Japan can keep such information as how much income a foreign national is earning within it�s boarders confidential. I don�t know what is voluntarily shared. I have recently read how far the IRS can go to infringe on the famously secretive Swiss banking industry to gain information.

I would respectfully ask how you can be so sure that the Japanese government does not give access to the US to income information of teachers.?

I am not all that paranoid, and do not think Big Brother is all that interested in me. It would however, be a near catastrophic if I earn a few dollars too much and end up having to figure out a way to pay on my own.

Take care,
Pass

[cujobytes]

On another note be aware that you will be required (in China at least and I'm assuming other places as well) to undergo a medical examination as part of the work Visa process which (at least in China) includes a blood check for H.I.V. Whether or not a positive result would preclude you from getting a Visa I'm not sure, however I can only assume it would otherwise why have the test.
Anyone got further info, ideas on this?

[passport220]

A good point cujobytes:

I have taken this into consideration. It is relatively easy to find concrete information directly from the visa / work permit issuing country.

Members who have information from working in the field about how confidential I can keep my income will help me most in finding the right country for me.

Take care,
Pass

[ElNota]

I'm not sure what kind of guarantees that you could get, that your above table income would be kept confidential. If the government had enough interest in finding out, Im sure that they could.

So why don't you focus on finding under the table work, which is very popular in many countries (like Spain, Italy, and South America, to name a few)?

[Mchristophermsw]

U could teach in Cuba or Venzueala. But I am most people find Cuba almost impossible to make any money in.

S.Korea, Philippines, Thialand, Japan have close ties to the US.

My suggestion would to call a Tax Attorney in the specific country and ask about foriegn tax reporting Policies.

Just food for thought, I have a friend who teaches in Panama and he is very well off through investment income he has and the banks there are sealed tight as far as keeping your information under raps and out of big brothers radar.

[Jyulee]

You could work in Spain "unofficially" - most people do

[cujobytes]

China seems to have a pretty lax attitude towards tax reporting, I can't remember signing one piece of paper related to tax in 6 years.

[Justin Trullinger]

Another option would be using a "non-work" visa. Many South American schools use either student or intercultural exchange visas, which makes your income a "stipend" (tax free) rather than a salary.

Justin

[pheonixstar15]

It is a shame you have HIV and I wish you luck in combating that. Are you sure that your medicine will be subsidized if you leave the US for a long period of time though? It would seem that if you become a resident of another country American social programs will not apply to you.

[passport220]

So far I have on the list to check out:
Spain
Italy
Cuba
The better part of South America
Vietnam

Take care,
Pass

[Zero Hero]

[Teacher in Rome]

You may get fingerprinted in Italy if you arrive on a visa - and you can't do anything without a "codice fiscale" (tax number). I suppose you could arrive and then "disappear", but that sounds a little drastic.

I'm not sure how long you'd get on a visa - if you don't have EU citizenship you may only have a few months as a tourist.

[hesterprynne]

There are some people who live just over the border from the U.S. in Mexico who are HIV- positive and return often enough to get SSI and medical help. Not a bad way to live on a fixed income or to do some teaching.