Working from Poland for company abroad or being employed locally better?

Hi there

I am registered on here but I need to write this post anonymously for various reasons... will probably become clear as you read it.

My husband and I are planning to move to Poland next year. I am currently working in the UK and have got quite a nice paid job. Well the idea was that I quit my job and just look for a new one in Poland. A new idea was to offer my current company that I continue to work for them remotely from Poland. Not sure if they will take up on it but there is a 50/50 chance they will.

So as we are planning to move permanently I think I cannot be employed in the UK (I think you have be living in the country for a certain number of days per year, correct?) I would have to become self-employed in Poland and invoice the company in the UK as self-employed.

My questions therefore are:

- Are there any particular reasons why this idea is not advisable?
- How would health care in Poland work as a self-employed?
- In case I would fall pregnant how would health care be then in Poland or would this be through my husband anyhow if he works in Poland?

Hope this makes sense. Any advise or experiences on this would be really appreciated.

Thanks

No, no reasons why not. It's the legal way to do things.


Same as an employed person - you're covered on a month-to-month basis, as long as you pay the contributions. All you have to do is print off the proof of having paid the social insurance when you use public healthcare.


If you fall pregnant, then you are entitled to maternity leave/medical care as a self employed person. But if you stop being self employed, then as long as your husband pays social insurance, you're covered under him.

The only real issue is that your taxes *could* be higher in Poland - it depends on exactly how much you're earning in the UK. But you should be in a position to ask for a pay rise as you'll be covering your own social insurance from now on - which should negate any higher taxes in Poland.

As for taxation for a self employed person in Poland - 18% up to 85k a year, then 32% of anything over 85k. Plus 360zl a month compulsory social contributions (including health care) - rises to 900zl after 2 years. The other advantage is that you can dock off a wide range of things off your tax bill - allowed deductions here are far more liberal than in the UK :)

perhaps you will need to switch the technicality of the job into something like "contract" work- so that you are not a permanent employee.

Thanks guys. So if I am self-employed and fall pregnant I will then obviously not be able to work for a certain amount of time. Is there anything in Poland that "kicks-in" to help out financially and cover the cost for health insurance?

I suppose if I would just get a job in Poland I would get normal maternity leave and the company would continue to contribute to my health insurance or do the companies not contribute anyhow?

Thanks

Social insurance payments are covered by the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) during your maternity leave :) It's a bizzare system, but that's how it works. Essentially, you'll get some money (how much, I don't know - it's a mystery to me) during maternity leave, plus your ZUS payments will be suspended during the maternity leave.


Once you go on maternity leave in Poland, it doesn't matter if it's through self employment or a normal job - you're covered for the entire period.

Merged: Being employed in the UK but living in Poland - Possible/Allowed?

Good morning.

Does anyone know if it would be possible to be employed by a company in the UK and pay taxes etc. in the UK but live in Poland? I looked into working for a German company but living in the UK at some point and I was told that it is not possible as you have to live in Germany for at least 90 days per year (or something like that). Is there a different rule for the UK?

Thanks
Jars

Merged: Which employment law - Working for UK company, living in Poland

Hi all

Does anyone know which employment law I would fall under if I would work for a UK company but live in Poland. So work remotely. Would I still fall under UK law or would I then fall under Polish law. Which one is more relaxed/strict?

Hope anyone can share some thoughts/experience/knowledge.

Thanks
Jars