Who do I pay my taxes to?

[cara_noble]

I am a freelancer, currently living in the Dominican Republic, working for an Austrailian company but a British citizen. Who do I pay my taxes to and how? I am new to this. I am on a low wage so not even sure I need to pay taxes.

[lysis10]

Don't they have tax people there you can ask? 

[kochubei_valeria]

Hi Cara,

You are responsible for reporting your Upwork income to your local tax authorities. We won't be able to advise you on details but you can talk to a local tax adviser to get more information.

Also, see this help article for more information.

[cara_noble]

Hi Valeria,

I spoke with HMRC (UK tax office) and they informed me that since I am not receiving my income from the UK, I do not have to do declare my taxes to them. So question is now, which country do I declare them to?

[colettelewis]

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@Cara N wrote:

Hi Valeria,

I spoke with HMRC (UK tax office) and they informed me that since I am not receiving my income from the UK, I do not have to do declare my taxes to them. So question is now, which country do I declare them to?

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If you are living in the Dominican Republic, and if you have the right to work there as a freelancer, then presumably they have their own tax system: http://www.drlawyer.com/taxation-dominican-republic/

It is so easy to Google this stuff.

[fatig]

You always pay in the country you're living in, unless you're there for a short period of time only.

How much and how to do it in general - you need to google Dominican Republic's rules. 

[colettelewis]

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@Iga F wrote:

You always pay in the country you're living in, unless you're there for a short period of time only.

How much and how to do it in general - you need to google Dominican Republic's rules. 

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 Which is why I sent that link to the OP.

In some countries, even if it is only for a short period of time, it is illegal for a non-resident to work as a freelancer.

[mwiggenhorn]

And ex-pat Americans often  have to pay US taxes on top of the taxes in the country where they reside.  A good tax advisor is invaluable.

[fatig]

True, it really depends on a country. Though technically you could pay taxes to your home country if you're not a citizen in the one you're currently living in, but I see no eprsk of that?

In Poland you get double-taxed if you worked abroad for less than x days (don't remember how many atm), so it's something everyone has to figure out on their own.

[colettelewis]

It is  a very cloudy area. If I have a four-week job with a client which I start in France and finish in Canada (where I am not allowed to work), I will pay my tax on this job in France, where I am resident and I  am certainly not going to inform the Canadian authorities that I am "working" on their soil.