Job Discussion Forums

fatgirl · Joined: 22 May 2003 Posts: 12

hi there,

I�m looking at a job which is located in several southern towns. The pay is 1800 zloty, which seems low compared to what I have read, but they said this was after the 19% tax. I calculate that brings the salary to approx. 2200+ a month. Are most of the salaries quoted here given before tax? Is this a reasonable salary given that I will live in a town?

Also, do I get this tax back once I leave Poland? And also, Is this it true I need to pay tax at all or this much, or is this school just trying to scam me.

Thanks in advance for any info. The job seems to be quite professional, but I don�t want to get scammed.

Thanks!!

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

Okay.I am not in Poland right now.But I did teach there (in 2000).
When you say you will be teaching in several southern Polish towns,exactly what do you mean?They will expect you to travel around or what?It would help if you could tell us the name of the school.Are they going to pay the housing for you?That is an important point.What makes you think they are professional?Please be more specific.
The 19 percent you mention as deductions from your pay might not all be tax...part of it might be for health insurance and other deductions.If you clear 1800 a month and they provide the housing,it is probably about average.Not wonderful.Not horrible.Have you ever taught in Poland before?You should ask them for names and contact info from former teachers so you can check with them concerning the school.

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

Wrong as usual bnix. The tax basis foreigners are employed on here means they do not have to pay health contributions (actually it's ZUS which covers much more than just health). They must pay a flat tax of 20% but in the first two years that is 5% deductable so they pay 19%. After the second full tax year it is 20% deductable so we pay 16%. Some schools even say 50% of the tax can be a deductable thus leaving only 10% tax to pay but the legal advice I've had says that is only true for irregular bonus payments and not a monthly wage.

One more piece of advice: never have a landlord who is also your boss. That way you don't have to look for a new flat on the same day as a new job if your boss treats you badly.

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

Just ask Alex...he is the Guru of Poland(self-appointed). Laughing

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

Or ask bnix. The man was here for a few months a few years ago. He couldn't make it here and is still bitter about the experience. The school he worked for told him the polite version of "don't bother coming back next year" (actually they told him that he'd need to pay for his own trip back to the USA to get his visa processed, the reality was that he could have got his paperwork done in the nearest big town's foreigners office but for some reason his school didn't want him knowing that!)

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

My.my Alex is one SMART Laughing

guy! Not only is he the Guru of Poland,but he claims to know that I was only in Poland for"a few months"Sorry,but how do you "know" these things,"Guru"?.In addition to your other "powers",are you also psychic?How do you know about my school?My.my you are one SMART guy."Guru"
Actually,hate to disappoint you,but I was tyhere for longer than "a few months",and I left precisely because I did not want to go back to the US to renew the visa,even though this might not mesh with your "expert" opinions on visa renewal.
Alex,do you use a crystal ball,read tea leafs,tarot cards ,or what?How do you get all of this "information' you think you know about me? Laughing

This field(TESOL) is awash with so-called self-styled "experts" who think they have got it down all pat.If you refer to my original post,I never claimed to be an"expert' or a "guru".I know better than to make claims like that.You,on the other hand... Laughing

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

Not leafs.But maybe he could have foreseen that I would make a typo. Laughing

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

No,I did not get CANNED.(The idea of getting "canned" in Poland is a little humerous anyway,since the money does not amount to much).Alex has been looking in his crystal ball again,or playing with his Tarot cards,or tea leaves,or something,again. Laughing

And he may not know it,but he is flirting awfully close to libel,although the idea of suing a TESOL teacher(ANY TESOL teacher) for ANYTHING is also absurd,since most do not have any money anyway. Laughing

He seems to be just a meanspirited guy who jumped on an innocent little post in which I stated explicitly that I could very well be wrong on some of the details.Oh.well,there are ALL kinds in this business,and he certainly proves it. Either that,or he is just looking to start up an argument out of nothing.What is that called ?trolling?
Anyway,Alex,if you want to be THE EXPERT,that is fine with me.I never claimed to be the expert.I do not claim to know things about complete strangers which I could not possibly know, either.You must be QUITE the guy...expert,a writer,psychic.
Anyway,enough of this.I have wasted enough time on you.Good luck in your reign as EXPERT.Maybe you can even get them to fix you up a throne or something.... Laughing

This is finis as far as I am concerned .I have better things to do.

Alex Shulgin · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 553