Korean Job Discussion Forums

[luvnpeas]

My school says I need to provide a certificate proving nationality, in order to avoid the income tax that I am entitled to avoid because I'm American. I said, you mean my passport? But, was told, no no, not a passport. A different certificate proving you are American. Otherwise, the tax department will take back a bunch of taxes when you leave the country.

Huh? Does anybody know about this?

[Cerebroden]

umm... it should be your passport, that's about all you got. Maybe a birth cert. or a tax filing. But last I checked Passports were pretty much the be all end all, you are a U.S. citizen type thing.

[lastat06513]

They probably mean something like a Social Security Card, only citizens and resident aliens can get those.
Though, the downside to my argument would be that anyperson with enough ingenuity can make one up.
But that would be a fool-proof way to prove American nationality other than using your passport or birth certificate.

[jmbran11]

I've never heard of the taking taxes out at the end thing. We pay Korean taxes here, and we are exempt from paying income taxes in the U.S., but there is no proof of American citizen "certificate." You showed your passport to get your visa and ARC, that's all there is.

Your boss doesn't know what he's talking about or it's some sort of misunderstanding/scam. Ask him to see a copy from one of the other foreigners.

[rvintage]

You have to file your tax forms in the states in order to be exempt!

They might mean that they need this paperwork. But really that is none of your school's business and I couldn't imagine why they would need this. The Korean govt. doesn't take those taxes out for the states, you would pay them when you got back home.

[BigBuds]

You need a certificate from the tax department back in the States saying you pay taxes back there to be excempt from paying taxes here. That would be what he is asking for. The tax department here needs to see that before they will excempt you from Korean income tax. He needs to give it to the Korean tax deparment cause he is the one giving your tax money to them.

I don't know why anyone would want to do this unless the US tax rate is lower than the approx 2% tax rate you pay here.

I assume some people think they can get out of paying income tax altogether. You have to pay income tax somewhere, and for Americans and Canadians, you can choose whether its in Korea or back home. IMHO, I'd be paying in Korea cause it's a sh*t load less than back home.

[poet13]

Pay your taxes here. It's a no brainer.

[Satin]

Hmmm

So how about those who fall under the two year exemption clause?

[poet13]

ah well, then if they are registered correctly here,
(I don't know how this really works)
they should either get all their tax money back, or their employer shoudn't charge it on the first place.
Like I said, I don't know how it works. Someone like ttompatz can give a better answer than I.

[jeffkim1972]

All citizens have another document other than the passport that takes precedence.

We are not born with passports.

I'ts not the social security number either. Anyone can obtain those, even noncitizens. It's just a cheap paper card with a name and number with no authentic watermark.

[chachee99]

I have a birth certificate.


Anyways, your passport should be suffcient enough.

[poet13]

"All citizens have another document other than the passport that takes precedence. "

Nobody is "born" with any documents. After birth, someone applies for documents on your behalf. I think you are referring to a birth certificate.

The difference between a birth certificate and a passport is that the passport is 1. easily traceable internationally (whereas a birth certificate is not), and 2. the passport has been designed to be recognized as an official document of identification across international borders. (whereas, say Botswana, would just laugh at you if you presented your birth certificate at the border as your transit identification.)

Yes, one can gain citizenship through means other than birth. To Korea however, that is irrelevant. If you have a passport from one of the countries listed as eligible for an E-2 visa, you can GET AN E-2 visa.

[luvnpeas]

To clarify, I am exempt from Korean income tax for two years, as a US citizen. I'm not required to pay US income tax as part of the deal.

[ChuckECheese]

[zappadelta]