Korean Job Discussion Forums

[llstreve]

My school has no intention of taking taxes out or giving me a pension!

They say that no one really cares about their taxes and it doesn't affect me so I shouldn't care about them either.

Do you know how I will be affected if they do not take taxes out of my paycheck? Could I be in trouble with the US government? If I never see a pay stub would it matter?

I am looking for some ease to my frustrations---please help

[GB]

For a start, none of that is legal.

You have to legally pay tax and pension.

I'm sorry I can't tell you the after effects.....but it doesn't sound good to me.

Maybe someone with more experience can help.

Just for the record, I was having problems with tax and pension...the pension office told me that once I had my visa they couldn't really do alot to enforce the law (great official line!!!) But again, I'm not sure how it would work in the long term.

If this is how your hogwan is, I would be very concerned about everything else.

[I-am-me]

If you are only working in korea for a year, you should have no problem. You will get a nice paycheck with nothing taken out. If you plan to stay long then you might want to get enrolled in the pension scheme. Just make sure they dont tax you at 3.3% and claim you are an independent contractor. Look closely at your contract.

[llstreve]

Thank you for the reply! Yes I am planning on staying at the most a year and a half.

I am worried that I will have to pay in a huge amount when I file taxes next Febuary. How do I even file my taxes if my employer does not give me a record of the taxes they took out? Could I get in trouble from the US government?

[I-am-me]

I doubt you will have problems with the IRS. Just do your 2555 tax form. I submitted mine and just found out hagwon had not been submitting my taxes for last 3 years. Tax office here will not know who you are unless hagwon registers you. Don't sweat it for only a year or more.

[Otherside]

I'd be pissed off about the pension. As an American you can get a refund. That's 4.5% of your salary + 4.5% that they match which equates to about W1mill bonus at the end (on a 2.1mill salary).

Tax should only be about W40000 (W480,000/annum) on that salary. So by not paying taxes/pension, your boss (and, I suppose you) are
1. breaking the law.
2. Screwing you out of W500K at the end.

Oh, and if he isn't paying tax/pension I'd wager he isn't paying medical..

[llstreve]

your right on the medical, I am suppose to get it in two weeks!! yeah right, there are employees who have been working there for 5 years with no medical!

I just don't know how I can get them to give me what I deserve!

Every time I ask about it they get seriously upset and blow me off. My boss only speaks Korean and the middle man (translator) doesn't translate 80% of what my boss says. They have never answered a question.

[shifty]

I worked for a hakwon that offered no tax as a perk, it was a 6 monther contract so I was after the money rather than fiddling with insurance and the like..

At the bank when I wanted to do a transfer my illusions were upended.
Bank wanted all manner of things and my suave manner can't seem to work on bank clerks in the foreign section who are nevertheless and somehow English free.

They battered my poor passport into submission with their red stamps, my only consolation being that 6 months income couldn't yield many more .....transfers .

But for you, no, not rosy.