[quote=“Naughtius”][quote=“cfimages”][quote=“Naughtius”][quote=“cfimages”]
Would they even care? If you’re not living in your home country, then there’s not really much they could do about it regardless of whether your money is legally or illegally earned. Last time I filed tax in my home country (in 2002 I think), I simply declared myself no longer a resident for tax purposes on the tax form. There’s no reason for them to ask me nor obligation for me to tell them for as long as I’m not living in Aust. The Taiwan tax office might be a different story though.[/quote]
I’m not sure about other countries, but the US government definitely does care. You have to file US taxes regardless of whether your income is foreign or domestic. If the IRS decides to audit you, then you need to provide proof of what you were doing. They also require you to report all savings or investments over US$10,000; even if it’s in foreign banks. There are strict penalties if you fail to do so. On another note, I know of a Canadian that had to leave the country in a hurry because of some legal problems. The Canadian tax service wanted to see proof of his tax statements. Since he couldn’t ask the Taiwanese government for copies, he had to pay a huge fine in Canada.[/quote]
I know you have to file each year in the us - which incidentally is a ridiculous law - but if you declared a nominal amount or even nothing, wouldn’t they have to prove otherwise if they tried to fine you? I don’t see how they could show you were working if you aren’t on any books and it’s in another country.[/quote]
The longer you stay abroad, the less believable your story of not working becomes. They will also be able to see activity in any domestic bank accounts you might have. There is no statute of limitations on auditing unfiled taxes, so they can go back as far as they want. Also, if you can’t provide proof of what you were doing or what your actual income was, the IRS can “make assessments based on their best estimate of your income.”[/quote]
I was living on the beach on the east coast of Taiwan. I made a home of bamboo and palm leaves. I caught fish, octopi and shellfish every day. I ate mangos and wild berries. I grew my own vegetables fertilized with my own shit. I kept the company of native women and was eventually initiated into the local tribe.
I hearby swear on this affidavit that this is the truth.
[quote=“Naughtius”][quote=“cfimages”][quote=“Naughtius”][quote=“cfimages”]
Would they even care? If you’re not living in your home country, then there’s not really much they could do about it regardless of whether your money is legally or illegally earned. Last time I filed tax in my home country (in 2002 I think), I simply declared myself no longer a resident for tax purposes on the tax form. There’s no reason for them to ask me nor obligation for me to tell them for as long as I’m not living in Aust. The Taiwan tax office might be a different story though.[/quote]
I’m not sure about other countries, but the US government definitely does care. You have to file US taxes regardless of whether your income is foreign or domestic. If the IRS decides to audit you, then you need to provide proof of what you were doing. They also require you to report all savings or investments over US$10,000; even if it’s in foreign banks. There are strict penalties if you fail to do so. On another note, I know of a Canadian that had to leave the country in a hurry because of some legal problems. The Canadian tax service wanted to see proof of his tax statements. Since he couldn’t ask the Taiwanese government for copies, he had to pay a huge fine in Canada.[/quote]
I know you have to file each year in the us - which incidentally is a ridiculous law - but if you declared a nominal amount or even nothing, wouldn’t they have to prove otherwise if they tried to fine you? I don’t see how they could show you were working if you aren’t on any books and it’s in another country.[/quote]
The longer you stay abroad, the less believable your story of not working becomes. They will also be able to see activity in any domestic bank accounts you might have. There is no statute of limitations on auditing unfiled taxes, so they can go back as far as they want. Also, if you can’t provide proof of what you were doing or what your actual income was, the IRS can “make assessments based on their best estimate of your income.”[/quote]
What a crazy system. For a country that prides itself on individual rights and has a relatively low tax %age (compared to other western countries), I’d have thought something like that would never be allowed. Even with an audit, I can’t see much could happen - even double the average salary in Taiwan would leave you under the $70K threshold for out-of-country workers. And the longer you’re in TW, the less need you have to use a domestic US bank account so there’d be nothing to see.
I was living on the beach on the east coast of Taiwan. I made a home of bamboo and palm leaves. I caught fish, octopi and shellfish every day. I ate mangos and wild berries. I grew my own vegetables fertilized with my own shit. I kept the company of native women and was eventually initiated into the local tribe.
I hearby swear on this affidavit that this is the truth.[/quote]
Dear Mr Phillips,
It has been determined that the annual value of your plant cover, various native delicacies and fecal matter was equivalent to an annual income of USD150,341.53. If you choose to contest this figure, you are required to contact us within the next 90 days. Your response will be used for our inter-office “wastepaper basketball derby” games, and a team of agents will be sent to your home to confiscate any remaining shellfish, native women, and/or your toothbrush, and throw you in a federal penitentiary, where you can tell what must be the quite entertaining story of your life in Taiwan to “Leroy” and the rest of the boys on the cell block. Uncle Sam has heard that one before and regrets to inform you that there is no interest in it at the present time.
I kind of got the idea (this is hearsay, but I’ve heard it more than once) that it had more to do with the school than the individual. If your school has a connection that allows for a warning/phone call before inspectors are coming, all is good. However, if your boss pisses someone off and the aggrieved party has connections and wishes the worst on the business, you might be in trouble.
To what extent are you prepared to trust the laoban’s reassurances if he or she is already hiring you illegally?
MOST people who do it, I have no doubt, do get away with working here illegally - but it is a risk.
What a crazy system. For a country that prides itself on individual rights and has a relatively low tax %age (compared to other western countries), I’d have thought something like that would never be allowed. Even with an audit, I can’t see much could happen - even double the average salary in Taiwan would leave you under the $70K threshold for out-of-country workers. And the longer you’re in TW, the less need you have to use a domestic US bank account so there’d be nothing to see.[/quote]
I file every year just because … Well…I don’t see a reason not to.
Still, if you make less than a certain amount, you don’t have to file if working in the US. I wonder if you can claim that you made less than that amount, if there is anything they can do.
What a crazy system. For a country that prides itself on individual rights and has a relatively low tax %age (compared to other western countries), I’d have thought something like that would never be allowed. Even with an audit, I can’t see much could happen - even double the average salary in Taiwan would leave you under the $70K threshold for out-of-country workers. And the longer you’re in TW, the less need you have to use a domestic US bank account so there’d be nothing to see.[/quote]
I file every year just because … Well…I don’t see a reason not to.
Still, if you make less than a certain amount, you don’t have to file if working in the US. I wonder if you can claim that you made less than that amount, if there is anything they can do.[/quote]
That’s more or less what I was thinking. For someone working illegally here, declaring a nominal amount each year should be all that’s needed to keep them happy. If I read naughtius correctly though, even that will still make them suspicious especially after a few years.
I think many people just buy a return ticket, so people think they are going on holiday…won’t do a lot of checking then?
I remember my friend met a girl while on holiday, and the girl decided to move to Taiwan to be with her. Girl got here…her paperwork was still being processed…but she only had minimal hours at the school, because it was Summer vacation. So she subbed at another school to make more money, and it got raided. Everything seemed fine, so the two of them went to Thailand for 2 weeks, and when they came back, the gf was stopped and not allowed to come back into Taiwan.
My friend was a mess! Having to rush home, pack all her things, and say good-bye to her in this holding area, in front of everyone. Stupid of them to go on holiday but yeah, wasn’t going to rub it in!!
To what extent are you prepared to trust the laoban’s reassurances if he or she is already hiring you illegally?
MOST people who do it, I have no doubt, do get away with working here illegally - but it is a risk.[/quote]
True, but keep in mind that the laoban gets a hefty fine (180kNTD?), so it’s not in his interest to have an illegal teacher caught. The main problem is the general incompetence of laobans. I’ve seen bilingual kindys with pictures of their western teachers outside for marketing purposes . All part of the general feeling of ‘Everything will be OK, don’t think too much’ in Taiwan that causes problems in so many ways.
It is a risk, but a pretty small one if you ask me. It would be interesting to have some views of posters who have worked illegally.
I kind of got the idea (this is hearsay, but I’ve heard it more than once) that it had more to do with the school than the individual. If your school has a connection that allows for a warning/phone call before inspectors are coming, all is good. However, if your boss pisses someone off and the aggrieved party has connections and wishes the worst on the business, you might be in trouble.
To what extent are you prepared to trust the laoban’s reassurances if he or she is already hiring you illegally?
MOST people who do it, I have no doubt, do get away with working here illegally - but it is a risk.[/quote]
That’s pretty much my take, but I was already at my monthly quota of gittin crossways with ole tomthorne, so I was reluctant to post it before.
Additionally–and I’m not sure of this at all, I really do just wonder–I wonder if it’s possible for even a non-influential person to cause a visit like that, for any one of a variety of possible reasons, including competition, or even mere annoyance (you know, as in, “Those damn songs and chants are drivin’ me nuts!” for example).
Anyone can phone up the FAP and complain that a school is employing illegals. The FAP actively encourages people to do it, and there’s a sizeable reward on offer.
I wouldn’t want to be the westerner who did it, though. How’s the grass down in Taichung getting on ?
A colleague of mine at my previous job did some subbing for another school. That second school - which told him there could be no hassles - stupidly taxed him officially even though they weren’t providing him with a secondary ARC. Big hassles when he tried to apply for his new ARC/ARC extension (or whatever it is called).
Eventually, the only way he could stay in Taiwan was to marry his girlfriend. She seemed quite happy about the turn of events, but he didn’t seem quite as pleased.
[quote=“Charlie Jack”][quote=“tomthorne”]Anyone can phone up the FAP and complain that a school is employing illegals. The FAP actively encourages people to do it, and there’s a sizeable reward on offer.
I wouldn’t want to be the westerner who did it, though. How’s the grass down in Taichung getting on ?[/quote]
Huh?[/quote]
A previous poster talked about a guy in Taichung who was pissed off with his former school so photographed his former co-teachers and got them deported. I’d guess they were teaching kindy. I’d imagine he isn’t too popular at the moment.
[quote=“tomthorne”][quote=“Charlie Jack”][quote=“tomthorne”]Anyone can phone up the FAP and complain that a school is employing illegals. The FAP actively encourages people to do it, and there’s a sizeable reward on offer.
I wouldn’t want to be the westerner who did it, though. How’s the grass down in Taichung getting on ?[/quote]
Huh?[/quote]
A previous poster talked about a guy in Taichung who was pissed off with his former school so photographed his former co-teachers and got them deported. I’d guess they were teaching kindy. I’d imagine he isn’t too popular at the moment.[/quote]
Oh. I was fixin’ to say, I don’t live in Taichung.
[quote=“tomthorne”][quote=“Charlie Jack”][quote=“tomthorne”]Anyone can phone up the FAP and complain that a school is employing illegals. The FAP actively encourages people to do it, and there’s a sizeable reward on offer.
I wouldn’t want to be the westerner who did it, though. How’s the grass down in Taichung getting on ?[/quote]
Huh?[/quote]
A previous poster talked about a guy in Taichung who was pissed off with his former school so photographed his former co-teachers and got them deported. I’d guess they were teaching kindy. I’d imagine he isn’t too popular at the moment.[/quote]
He actually never was well liked, even before that. At least, if it’s the person I am thinking of.
One thing I have not seen mentioned in this thread yet is what if something were to happen to one of these guys? What if one of these guys were to get sick? I mean seriously ill. He would be in real trouble then as he would have no health insurance and no way of getting any help.
And what if one of these guys wants to take a vacation off of the island? They can’t do it. They would be stopped at the airport and then hustled out of the country so fast the door would hit them in the butt on the way out. I don’t see how these people can live with these worries.
[quote=“Whole Lotta Lotta”]One thing I have not seen mentioned in this thread yet is what if something were to happen to one of these guys? What if one of these guys were to get sick? I mean seriously ill. He would be in real trouble then as he would have no health insurance and no way of getting any help.
And what if one of these guys wants to take a vacation off of the island? They can’t do it. They would be stopped at the airport and then hustled out of the country so fast the door would hit them in the butt on the way out. I don’t see how these people can live with these worries.[/quote]
These are excellent points. The lack of vacations is something that particularly confuses me. How could anyone possibly stay on the rock for year after year without ever getting a break? You’d get cabin fever for sure. Yearly trips home help maintain my sanity.
I haven’t been back to Oz in over 8 years. I’ve been out of Taiwan a few times though but never all the way back.[/quote]
But you have been out of Taiwan.
. All part of the general feeling of ‘Everything will be OK, don’t think too much’ in Taiwan that causes problems in so many ways.
?