Job Discussion Forums

[hoyao]

I'd defintely be able to handle teaching illegally in Taiwan if I weren't of Taiwanese descent myself. The thing is, I'm sort of already the black sheep of a successful and respectable family (I've been unemployed for awhile). But you know what would push that to another level? If all my relatives fly over to Taipei for a wedding or something, then when they all ask my mom why her son didn't come along, she tells them, "He's barred from re-entry." That just doesn't sound good. Not to mention that I like going to Taiwan.

So I don't care how small the risk of getting caught is, I can't operate knowing that it's even a possibility. It's too much pressure. And there's no way I'm hiding in secret rooms, or climbing up fire escapes to dodge the inspectors, or all that other crazy stuff I've been reading. I guarantee you I'd trip and fall down just as the inspector's rounding the corner, like I'm in a scary movie.

Is it easy or hard to teach in Taiwan wthout breaking any laws? I already have a B.A., so as far as I know, the only things I have to worry about are teaching without an ARC, holding multiple teaching jobs, and teaching kids under 6.

I know it'll be really hard finding a job, but assuming I do get hired by a major chain school like Kojen or Hess, can I insist on not teaching kindergarteners, and not teaching until I've gotten my ARC? Or would they refrain from hiring me based on that?

And I think I read eslewhere on this board that it's now legal to teach at two branches at the same time. Is that right? Would it be legal to tutor on the side while teaching?

Also, I've got a quick tax question. The resident tax rate for the $370,000+ bracket (where most teachers fall under) is 13%, but I also read in a lot of places that teachers get taxed 6%. Which one's correct?

[scarab1169]

For goodness sake - these questions have been answered so many times on here , that you couldn't search? Sorry, the initial tone of your post almost made me want to puke - thought you wanted to come here to teach illegaly. Will try to anser your q.
1) If you're going to insist on not teaching without an ARC, you may run into trouble as your Visa may run out before you get your ARC. Most people start teaching without their ARC's. The big chains are particallarly fond of sticking you to work before you have your ARC. So , if you don't want to do that, then don't look at a big chain! And they certainly won't be commanded around by a small little person who can be replaced by the blink of an eye, who doesn't want to teach without and ARC. For not teaching kindy - well just stay away from it! IF you do get a job at a chain, just take the contract without kindy. You can teach at 2 branches/locations - just get that added to your ARC.

As to the tax questions - the first time you set foot in Taiwan, you'll get taxed 20 % for the 1st 183 days of your stay here. If you come in the later part of the year, you get the 20 % and then in the new year you get 20 % again(new rule - everybody gets taxed at 20/18 % first 6 months of year no matter how long you've been here). After said period , your tax is supposed to go down to 6%. Not 13 or any other number.

And Taiwan ain't the great place to teach EFL anymore. The industry is going down the drain, and you have to consider seriously if you want to come to a place, where teachers have to get more than one job to get enough hours, where student numbers are dropping and where there's really no future in the buxiban industry. Just my 2c. If I can survive that long, I'm out of this place early next year when my contract expires. It just aint worth it anymore. And I'm at a pretty good school. Like I said - just my 2c.

Good luck.

[Seymour Glass]

The 6% tax rate is for income of 0 to 410,000 per annum, 13% kicks in for 410,000 to 1,090,000. 1,090,000 to 2,180,000 is taxed at 21%.
Most of us here don't have to worry about anything above these numbers. There are certain deductions automatically given that amount to a hundred thousand or so in most cases. So, for example, if you made 500,000 one year, after the standard deductions, you'd still be taxed at the 6% rate. As most teachers only get salaries, your tax form would probably have a code numbered 50 in one space, meaning a salaried worker. Free lance translators and other writers get a 180,000 tax exemption, but then are charged a flat 10% for anything over that, (your tax deduction form in this case should have a 9B code written in it.)

[hoyao]

I see. I was wondering why I kept reading that teachers get taxed 6% even though their salaries were above the threshold for the 13% rate. That clears everything up. Thanks, Seymour.

And your thorough response is much appreciated, scarab. You told me exactly what I needed to know. And by the way, I was just trying to emphasize how it would be much more awkward of a situation in my case if word got around that I was deported and banned from Taiwan. I'd imagine that relatives would react differently to that sort of thing when you're talking about their homeland. If anything, I thought it would be funny to illustrate that. But anyways, I typically don't get that much help from people I make ill. So thanks.

I guess I'll have to rethink a teaching job in Taiwan. If the chain schools that hire overseas won't accept me if I won't teach without an ARC, then I'd have to go to Taiwan to find a job. But it's risky because I know there are quite a few obstacles in the way of me getting hired. A job at a buxiban is better than doing nothing in the US. But if all Taiwan has to offer is a new place to get continually rejected, then that would suck.

[JZer]

I don't think anyone gets deported for teaching kindy at Hess. Let's say that they are above the law.