Work options

DioneB · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 11:57 am Post subject: Work options

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I'm a Kiwi who's been living in London for the past 13 years and my husband and I are returning home in Sept with our two boys. I've been looking into various work options and am now considering, as are my present employers, of staying with them. I already work from home part of the week and use a broadband and VPN remote connection to the office network. There is no technological reason why I can't just as easily do that from Tauranga as from North London. With the time difference, it could easily work as I can do work over the UK night and have it back for the following morning - I work in Legal Publishing.

I wanted to ask if anyone out there has also considered, or is already, working for their existing employers as a remote worker based in NZ?

If so what is the best way to do it, stay on a UK salary and pay UK taxes, or work freelance and pay tax in NZ. If I paid UK tax, would I have to pay any tax bringing my earnings into NZ?

Any thoughts out there?

Regards

Dione

JCM · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 3:58 pm Post subject:

HI Dione, welcome.

It sounds like a fantastic option you're lining up there. Yes

On the tax front, it's where you're a tax-resident rather than who pays your wages that determines the country you pay your taxes to. If you were living in NZ for a greater part of the year, (you'd need to check with the IRD how long,) you'd be classed as a NZ tax resident and pay your taxes here under NZ taxation regulations. So you would need to arrange for your UK employer to pay your wages gross.

NB I'm not a taxation expert, but that's how it works to the best of my knowledge.