Korean Job Discussion Forums

[John Henry]

Someone with a bit of experience told me that public school teachers can file for exemption from income tax for their first two years of employment.

Anyone else aware of this rule? Strange I've never heard of it, but...

Apparently it requires filing the proper form. If anyone knows where I can find that online, I'd appreciate it.

[Junior]

Sounds good. If this proves correct i will be all over it.

[MorgolKing]

There might be something to it....about 4 hours ago one of the teachers at my public school told me I don't have to pay taxes for the first one or two years I'm here. I didn't really believe that at first but your post makes me a little excited.....

[LiquidSunshine]

perhaps it's for americans...not everyone. as far as i know there are different tax rules depending on where you are from ...i would highly doubt that working in a public school exempts you from paying taxes. why should it?

if this is true then...it would be news but if you are canadian you need to pay taxes in korea in order not to get hit with homeland taxes. cause a canadian who doesn't pay taxes is like...

[laogaiguk]

[LiquidSunshine]

you were supposed to fill in the blank...

[cdninkorea]

[SPINOZA]

Yes, it's true. I'm in my first year of employment here and I don't pay income tax.

At first, my employers said I needed to present a 'residence cert' but I didn't and still haven't been paying tax.

This applies to all countries except Canada.

[Newbie]

[Peter Jackson]

An American who works in my area has told me the same thing. I remember hearing it in 2000 (also from an American) also. I believe it applies to Americans (others?). As far as I know, it doesn't apply to Canadians. It all depends on what kind of agreements an individual country has with Korea.

[zappadelta]

Yea, this is true. I am an American, have been working in the public schools for 2 years, and haven't paid any taxes. Love it, by the way.

[antoniothegreat]

I am an american and i do not pay taxes. I had a conflict with a summer camp i was going to do about this, and did find some evidence for this, but god i am not going to dig that up...

starting my third year in august, i hope they forget to add in the tax...

[two roads]

If you're American, the form you need to get out of Korean taxes is available at the IRS website at www.irs.gov. It's form 8802, Application for United States Residency Certification.

I'm really confused, however, about how I can be a resident if I'm not in the country. When I called the IRS and asked about that, they told me to just apply for the certification and don't worry about it. If I do this and get out of Korean taxes, does that mean I can't get out of U.S. taxes? I was under the impression that being out of the country for an entire year allows me to be exempt from U.S. taxes (except Social Security and Medicare). If anyone could clear up that confusion, I would appreciate it.

[flotsam]

I have been paying taxes...probably because I thought it was different at public schools(my last was private) and my school just didn't know. Does anyone know if you file the forms whether or not you can receive the paid taxes back?

[seoulkitchen]

I worked at a haggie and didn't have to pay taxes the first two years.
Didn't have to fill out any forms either. Hag boss took care of it.
He was a really cool guy who know how to work the system....