This document is proof that you are a primary resident of another country and allows you to be exempt from one of the Korean income taxes for, at most, two years in a PUBLIC school position. Which means, that if you do go the hagwon route, then you will have to pay this tax and the National Pension tax.
Details: Or...more words...yay...
So far, the agreement between the South Korean government and the following governments are that applicants from the US, South Africa, UK, Australia, and New Zealand are eligible to receive this exemption. Canadians are NOT. Irish applicants are ONLY eligible at the university level. Again, you can’t use this agreement once you have worked in South Korea for more than two years. This applies even if you switched programs or switched from a hagwon to a public school.
I'm not sure how long this process is for other applicants, but for applicants from the US when you apply to the IRS, apply EARLY. This form can take three or more months to obtain. (If your application is unfortunate enough to be processed during a government shutdown, then it takes even longer.) (Processing times do vary, so you could receive it sooner, but it won't be quick enough to do it last minutes.) However, if you do NOT have it when you arrive, you can still submit it later and be refunded, but there is a deadline. (If you are short on time, then I have heard of several schools accepting faxed copies, but some did not. So, if you have someone back home who is willing to fax it to you, then that might be an option.) But, honestly bringing this document with you would be much easier. Either way, Korean taxes for English teachers are not too terribly expensive,but it is worth the trouble in the long run, especially because you have to pay for your pension and health insurance.
Other Taxes: Or...less money...yay x2...
This Certificate of Residency does NOT exempt you from paying into National Pension. However, Americans can receive a refund for their pension upon leaving Korea and providing proof of their departure flight. (So think of it as paying into a savings account.)
The pension situation does vary from country to country. Some have to pay and receive no refund. Some do not have to pay at all. You can't change this, but it is nice to know what to expect, so do look into the agreement your country has with South Korea.
IRS Form 8802 (Complete this to get form 6166 and then Apostille your form 6166)
Applicants from the other Countries: Or... I didn't forget you!
Let's just ignore that this is a small section...even though I brought attention to its size...akward.
Below, I tried to find some websites to get you started for figuring out your tax situation.
Coming soon: Or... back at it again with the plugs!
Thank you for reading and please subscribe to my website and YouTube channel! Your support is always appreciated! You can subscribe and follow me on YouTube, Instagram, Tumblr, and Facebook @nerdplusinternet and Twitter @nerdplusnet. This is it for the "How to Apply" series but I will post more information on other aspects of teaching and living in South Korea. (I know that the last couple of posts have been more U.S. applicant centered, but the next ones will be more applicable to everyone.)
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