Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ForceOne]

I'm currently working at a hogwan, making really good money (definately above average) and they take the standard 3.3% tax off my cheque every month...But now that its tax time, I hear I'm supposed to file and apparently owe around 5,000,000won!!! How can this be? Is it legal? Is it true? Has anybody ever owed an amount of money like this before, and if so, what did u do? I don't know of too many foreigners that keep this amount of money here in Korea (most send it home, right?)...I have friends who owe taxes (not this much), and haven't paid for a couple of years, and haven't had any problems leaving the country (and even coming back)...What to do? Any advice/experiences would be greatly appreciated...I didn't know "THE MAN" followed us to Korea too!

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Where you from? Different countries have different tax agreements with SK. That said, the only way you could owe that much is if..........your school was pocketing all that money all year and perhaps also inflating your wage for tax reasons or something.

[sconner]

That is just wrong. Call the labor board in your area and they will give you the numbers of the offices you need to contact.

[Cedar]

They say you owe that to the Korean gov't or to your home gov't? In most cases you don't have to pay your home gov't, if you meet certain criteria (like earning under 80,000 a year and meeting a physical presence test overseas).

In 10 years in Korea I have never paid more than what the employer withheld (in your case, the common 3.3%) to the Korean gov't. Not sure if that means I wss getting away with something, but never did, was never told i needed to.

[ForceOne]

They gave me some tax forms and told me I need to go to the tax office and file a return...so pay to the Korean gov't...How many other people have never paid additional tax (other than the standard 3.3%)? Any problems or consequences?