Job Discussion Forums

steviok85 · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 87

My next employer in Poland has asked me to obtain a "certificate of fiscal residence".
It seems everytime I go into my local tax office in the UK, they initially endear me with a vacant look, and then put me on the phone to speak to someone else who is equally clueless.
Eventually, they found a word document on the internet titled 'Poland: Relief from Polish tax: "Certificate of Fiscal Residence" which I believe is from the HMRC website. Is this familiar to anyone or does anyone know anything about this?
Also, the school has asked me to get a European National Health Insurance card. The "authorities" in the UK are telling me it is for travellers, and that I would actually be taken care of 'by the Polish healthcare system'. Any comments?

Regards

simon_porter00 · Joined: 09 Nov 2005 Posts: 505 Location: Warsaw, Poland

Regarding the certificate, why do they need it?

Your school (assuming you're being employed on an umowa o dzieło - which is a standard way of employing teachers) they will not pay anything into the Polish healthcare system on your behalf - which means you have no cover, which means you'll have to pay for everything yourself.

If you decide to go private paying every month - problem sorted. Have a search of the Poland forum for various options regarding healthcare.

The European health card has a lifetime of 3 years or so (can't remember what the actual time limit is - google will help you out there) so just say you're going on holiday to France to get it. This will entitle you to standard health care available in Poland free of charge.

Yorks Lad · Joined: 16 Aug 2009 Posts: 93 Location: England

I once had to get a certificate to avoid paying Belgian taxes in Belgium. It was just a statement from the UK tax office which confirmed my UK tax code for that particular year. I think it's a very simple procedure - the tax people gave me one straight away. From memory it had a different name but the tax office should know. I hope this helps.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

If you call the HMRC and ask for a Certificate of Residence, the blank look (if such a thing exists on the phone) should disappear. There is such a thing in the UK; the HMRC have one and that's what the Polish employer wants. It may take a month or two to get through, and you will have had to write for it (they'll give you the address to write to over the phone, but you can't request it that way), and then get somebody in the UK to send it you in Poland. Hope that helps.