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Is Housing Allowance Tax Free?
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bboymagicmonkey



Joined: 04 Jun 2008

PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 7:01 pm    Post subject: Is Housing Allowance Tax Free? Reply with quote

Is Housing Allowance Tax Free?

I was looking at my pay slip and I realized that the tax they took out included my housing allowance as my gross income.

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that Housing Allowance was exempt from tax?

Can anyone verify?
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broken76



Joined: 27 Jan 2008

PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

From what I can recall housing allowance is taxable income. If you break it down it's just a higher salary in lieu of receiving housing.
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kprrok



Joined: 06 Apr 2004
Location: KC

PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Technically they should also be taxing teachers on the value of the provided apartment, but they don't.
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PRagic



Joined: 24 Feb 2006

PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just make sure that your severance paid at the end of your contract is calculated on your TOTAL income, including housing allowance and overtime!
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sojourner1



Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Where meggi swim and 2 wheeled tractors go sput put chug alugg pug pug

PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

kprrok wrote:
Technically they should also be taxing teachers on the value of the provided apartment, but they don't.


Incorrect. You only pay property tax if you own and we don't own. Renters do not pay property taxes.
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kprrok



Joined: 06 Apr 2004
Location: KC

PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sojourner1 wrote:
kprrok wrote:
Technically they should also be taxing teachers on the value of the provided apartment, but they don't.


Incorrect. You only pay property tax if you own and we don't own. Renters do not pay property taxes.


I'm not talking about property tax. I'm talking about income tax on your taxable income which includes the value of the provided apartment.
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yingwenlaoshi



Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Location: ... location, location!

PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Taxes. That's funny. Some remit them. Housing allowances are taxable. Provided housing? That's up in the air.

I believe that a percentage of your housing allowance, however, is tax free. Up to a certain amount. I guess that would be figured out at tax time. If you really care, make sure your employer is paying taxes by contacting the tax office sometime during your employment, but not near the end of your contract.
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crescent



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: yes.

PostPosted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sojourner1 wrote:
kprrok wrote:
Technically they should also be taxing teachers on the value of the provided apartment, but they don't.


Incorrect. You only pay property tax if you own and we don't own. Renters do not pay property taxes.

I don't think you understand what a taxable benefit is.
It is something that has monetary value, used as remuneration.
Such things are taxable here and back in our home countries.

kprrok is correct.
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DongtanTony



Joined: 22 Feb 2008
Location: Bundang

PostPosted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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bboymagicmonkey



Joined: 04 Jun 2008

PostPosted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

MODS!!

STICKY this thread~~~!!!

ALL HOUSING ALLOWANCES SHOULD BE TAX FREE!!!!
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DongtanTony



Joined: 22 Feb 2008
Location: Bundang

PostPosted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Credit username "pecan" for finding that info. Pecan helped a bunch when I was going through this not too long ago.
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crescent



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: yes.

PostPosted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

DongtanTony wrote:
So...for housing allowance...it's similar. These expenses would be incurred by the employer...not the employee.

Sorry folks...if you're housing allowance is getting taxed...you're getting screwed.

You got lucky. I have a formal letter from the tax office saying IT IS a taxable benefit.

This, after hearing similar replies on the telephone from one agent to the next.
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Matilda



Joined: 17 Jun 2006
Location: Gimhae gal

PostPosted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Gimhae City Hall confirmed to me the allowance is tax-free!
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Hyeon Een



Joined: 24 Jun 2005

PostPosted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 7:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What a confusing issue. Just to add to the confusion:

I called the tax office and they told me that I have to pay tax on my housing allowance. The guy I spoke to spoke excellent English and seemed to know exactly what he was talking about; there was no hesitation or waiting whilst he checked the rules. He was very confident of his answer.

It seems other people have received the opposite answer from the tax office, Gimhae city hall etc.

What a confusing mess.

Anyway, I am currently paying tax on my housing allowance.
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crescent



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: yes.

PostPosted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Um, wouldn't asking someone at Gimhae city hall about tax policies be akin to asking a muslim about the bible?
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