Job Discussion Forums

[BenE]

Thought I'd start something new after out little debate before.

Anyone ever fallen foul of the tax authorities here? I was sent an official stamped letter in Vietnamese from one of my employers saying the tax office want more information about my tax year 2013. It wasn't addressed to me directly and there was a list of about 30 names with mine on.

The employer said I should fill out a ton of forms and pay a fine for not doing my tax accounts. Problem is I couldn't tell you how much I earned that year and those companies I work for who declare have lost the records or can't be bothered to find them. Employer doesn't want the money and I'd have to deal directly with the tax office. (i.e not a company scam)

Anyone have any horror stories or think this might go away. Amount owed is probably around 5 - 10 million including the 'late' fee.

[TRH]

Off course in the west, the requirement to withhold taxes falls solely on the employer. It sounds like any negative repercussions to your employer have already been handled. Perhaps you should ask them whose palm needs grease.

[Mattingly]

[BenE]

Hmm the plot thickens. In 2014 I was on a list of names sent to another employer. Apparently the tax office started using an online system so is able to see all tax records now. I pay tax to different companies but avoided a higher tax rate as they all took a flat rate of 10%.

Not sure if I should wait it out or pay up.

[ExpatLuke]

Sounds like a headache. Shouldn't the HR department of your old school be responsible for this? I never bother with taxes, other than to make sure the calculations on my pay slip are correct. The school handles all the taxes.

[BenE]

Problem is it's multiple employers so it's supposed to be my responsibility. I suppose technically it might fall to the company who sponsors my work permit but will have to check the law with them. I think they had a clause that stated I had to sort out my own tax affairs.

[spycatcher reincarnated]

Yes, I agree this is legally your responsibility. I would have thought your schools would have given you a form to sign saying you were not earning any money elsewhere or informed you, at the time, that you would have to sort out your own year end tax reconciliation.

[Mattingly]

[I'm With Stupid]

In terms of unpaid tax, I think that's your employers responsibility. Last year I switched jobs just under halfway through the year. My first employer than had to backdate my tax from the usual rate up to 20% just in case I left the country and they were left with the tax bill (you have to pay the non-resident rate if you work for less than half a tax year). At the end of the tax year, I then had to claim this back at the government office, which was fairly easy to do. If it was the employees responsibility, then why would my old employer be so keen to claim unpaid tax from me?

But I've also had emails from my employer saying, for example, that it's up to me to inform them of any changes in my details, and that I could get a fine if I don't.

I suspect like many things in Vietnam, no-one really knows what the case is, and everyone tries to convince you that it's whatever would cause them the least work.

But if an employer is unable to give you a tax receipt, that's extremely dodgy. It took my employers about a week to do it, but they got it for me no problem. I suspect that they've basically been paying no tax, but charging it to you on your payslip.

And just a bit of praise for the government tax department. The most helpful place I've ever been in Vietnam. They literally did everything for me, even though I was getting money back from them. It's collecting all of the forms you need that's the difficult part.