Part Time Work & Legalities?

[kankaroo]

My little bro is coming out here to stay for a while. He said he is very interested in doing a bit of teaching (he is fully qualified etc etc) but would only want part time hours. This I told him would be easy to get, but about a work permit I wasnt sure.

Do they even issue work permits to teachers who are only interested in PT work?

[kenkannif]

Probably not! Generally WP's aren't issued for part-time work, but who knows TiT!

[Sumitr Man]

Ken:

That would be on a practical basis - right? After all, why comply with all the WP requirements if the person is only going to be there a couple of hours a day. However, from a legal perspective, there is nothing stopping him from getting a WP because he is working P/T. Just that, in most cases, the company/school can't be ars*d.

Correct?

SM

[kenkannif]

For sure mate! You know that!

However saying that I had a mate that was doing Saturday and Sunday classes for a three letter acronym school and he got a WP with them on the strength of that.

Depends I suppose how part-time the part-time work is?

[h5kaf]

A couple of observations.

The official position is that if a foreigner does any work at all even voluntary work, they need a work permit. There are severe penalties if one is caught working without the permit.

The Tax authorities seem to somewhat similar to the immigration authorities i.e they seem to make up policy on the hoof. A friend of mine was recently told that he had to pay at least 18,000B in tax if he worked more than 2 months in any year. When pressed tha tax officer said even if he worked for 1 month this would still be the case. The rerason given was that this is an immigration rule for a visa. Very odd.

It appears that education authorities (not sure if this means schools but for sure means universities) can employ foreigners and pay them gross so long as the payment is offshore. This is usually for a short course delivered by the foreigner - so is definitely part-time. However there are different views on how this should be handled. One employer I know deducted 35% withholding tax from the fee, another deducted nothing. Whether the first employer was just reducing the salary bill or paying the money to the government - who knows.

Final point; I have been told that part-time salaries are not necessarily linked to the minimum foreigner salaries posted by immigration. Further these minima do not apply to teachers and journalists - but the minimum tax requirements do.

Not much point in taking P/T employment without a WP if it endangers your visa status and second the tax situation certainly makes anything less than 12 months employment on a decent salary unattractive.

[astral]

The tax rules are quite clear but they may need pointing out to the person you are dealing with.

The rates of tax are also quite clearly stated.

You get a 50K personal allowance at the start of the year, then there is a sliding scale depending on how much you earn. 18,000 tax in two months may be correct if you earn the correct expat salary 45-50K minimum(depends on nationality) throughout the year, but not if you only work for 2 months!!

With-holding tax is only on payments remitted overseas.

If you have the money paid in Thailand they deduct 7%.

[kenkannif]

Are you sure these tax rules apply to teachers? I don't think they do somehow? Or at least the required minimum wage (which will obviously effect the tax rate) doesn't?

As the school system/MoE is such a nightmare here you'll find most (if not all) teachers have worked or are working illegally at some point or another (I'm not saying it's right blah blah blah) but if you want to do it all 100% legit, don't bother coming to Thailand (unless you're going to work for the big International schools!).

Good luck!

[Davidcharles]

I have been asked to do some research for a UK Co, in LOS and as a result

Hull have agreed to give me a ME/NI/B Visa.

As my salary will be paid into my UK Bank Account, and I will only get Expenses in

Thailand, I will not have to pay tax there, or obtain a Work Permit!

Unless you know different?

[astral]

I have been asked to do some research for a UK Co, in LOS and as a result

Hull have agreed to give me a ME/NI/B Visa.

As my salary will be paid into my UK Bank Account, and I will only get Expenses in

Thailand, I will not have to pay tax there, or obtain a Work Permit!

Unless you know different?

Interesting one!

If you are here for more than 180 days in a calendar year, working or not, you are liable for tax on money brought in to the country.

In your case you will be able to show the money has been taxed in the UK, so it will be exempt under the Dual Tax Agreement between UK and Thailand.

(You can get a copy form the Stationary office. )

Do not mention that you are exempt from UK Tax as you are working outside the UK!!

Will you research work be obvious? Need special permissions?

Or can you appear to be a tourist, for local purposes?

As stated elsewhere in the forum any work, even voluntary requires a work permit.

However if your work is inconspicuous you will probably be OK.

Your company should be helping you in this area.

Hope this helps.

Edited July 21, 2004 by astral

[Davidcharles]

Yes it will be inconspicuous.

But as I am not a taxpayer, here in the UK, how can I show that Tax is being deducted from the fee paid to me by the sponsoring company?

Also, will I need to show an agreement letter, between myself and 'the company', showing that I will only be paid out of pocket expenses, whilst researching in Los, and that my fee will be paid into my UK Bank?

I take it though that a WP is indeed NOT needed, for this type of activity in LOS?