Taxes

Work Teaching English in Taiwan
1

I am an English Teacher hoping to come to Taiwan and work in the next month or so. However, I am a bit but off by the complicated tax situation. As far as I’m aware tax is 18% for the first 183 days of the year and then you can claim 13 % of that back. However, I only plan on staying here for 1 year. I will probably leave by the end of August 2015. Will I still be able to claim back 13% on the tax I paid before January 1st 2015?

I would also like to enquire as to the possibility of teaching in Kindergartens in Taiwan. That was where I was teaching in mainland China but I have heard its illegal in Taiwan. If it is illegal, is it possible to teach the same age groups of kids (3-6) at language centres or is that illegal too?

Thanks

2

You will not get a refund on the withheld taxes paid this year since you won’t be here for 183 days this calendar year. You will get a refund on the withheld taxes (also at 18%) for Jan-Aug 2015.

It is illegal for you to teach English to any child <7 regardless of what you call the school. Many do but a few get in big trouble.

3

OK thanks for the info.

4

You can easily find work as a kindergarten/pre-school teacher in Taiwan. Further, if the employer is willing to skirt the law on that issue, she will probably also not be reporting your full income to the government so you will both be paying less taxes and less health insurance. If you know you’ll only be staying a year, your chances of not being caught are excellent.