Korean Job Discussion Forums

[UncleAlex]

I'm curious. Are we teachers entitled to an annual income tax return.
I met a foreign teacher who told me that he is getting back 600Gs this
year after having filed his claim through his employer. I have been here
for ten years and have never heard of such a thing from anybody, and
that includes my former employers. If it is the case, how do we apply for
an income tax refund? I'm hoping to get back what could be my due for
the past decade.

[jeonjugirl]

First of all, have you ever submitted a tax return?

My school gets all the staff to submit tax returns, and I got a small amount one year and a larger amount another year. I don't know if it was the school that calculated the amount of the refund and requested it for me, or the government.

The tax return is a simple, one page paper.

Perhaps someone at your school could help you?

[bellum99]

In 2003 I got back about one million (they allowed credit card deductions). If the school files for you then they will screw you over in the amount of tax they paid and you could end up owing money. Be careful that everything is correct before you file. I knew a bunch of teachers that got screwed when the school filed for them. I got 1 million back and they all end up paying 400 thousand.

[Grotto]

I got back a nice peice of change last year

[Hollywoodaction]

I should be getting a large amount of money back this year. When can I expect them to get their thumbs out of their @#$%^ and send me the refund?

[prairieboy]

Got my refund last month; just shy of 700,000.

[mindmetoo]

Whats up with that "write off anything you buy over 5,000 won" write off? My GF gets receipts for everything she buys and all the dinners I buy for her. It would seem the Korean government gives a tax break to encourage consumerism. "Stop saving so much money, spend."

[Hollywoodaction]

[matthews_world]

When is the deadline usually?

Where can tax forms be found?

How does one show proof of income?

[jeonjugirl]

You have to sign your own form, so unless you're signing something without filling it out, I don't see how your employer is scamming you...

By the way, here is the NTS (National Tax Service) website:

http://www.nts.go.kr/menu/users/ntseng/Tax_Guide1.htm

It has options to fill out an English tax form, and also to check your monthly withholding tax. I didn't check them out, but they might be useful.

[Homer]

I got tax refunds neerly every year here. My employers added it on to the direct deposit on pay day when it arrived.

I had to check how my employer was filing a couple of times when working with hakwons but it was worth it.

[ajuma]

Yep, I've gotten it for the past couple of years. My school takes care of it for me. If you have a credit card USE IT!! It's the easiest way to keep track of the taxes you should get refunded. If you have a car, be sure to submit the statement that comes at the end of the year.

[oldfatfarang]

EACH JANUARY, your employer must refund you your overpaid taxes from the previous year.
Go to the Korean Tax Office website and fill out the Receipt for Witholding form and get the Automatic Calculator to do your taxes for 2005.

I had a lot of trouble and stress with my school. They refused to pay me 760,000 won overpaid taxes from 2005.

In the end, I just took that money as 'time off in lieu' (holidays).
I just hate having to fight for everything with Koreans. It's very tiring.

From discussions with other teachers it is clear that Hakwons use inflated tax rates to reduce teachers' salaries. Then the Hakwon files a understated salary/tax return for the teacher or doesn't file at all (and keeps the tax paid).

[the eye]

[ajuma]

I have no idea. I just submit the statements that come with my credit card bill and from my car insurance company and the payroll department takes care of it.