Taxes for very low-income part-time workers

Hi. i think i am asking a stupid question, but since i am clueless anyway, i would appreciate it very much if anyone can help me...

so, i have been arbeitslos for the last few months but finally found a part time job offer. they hire lots of students (i am not one), and are not willing to pay more than 400 euro a month officially (if i make more, they said they only declare 400 and give me the rest in cash). i am still looking for a fulltime position somewhere, but since i have no idea when i can find anything decent considering my qualifications (especially the lack of german) the work seems quite nice and i would like to take it. at least for the moment. you never know, they may offer full time if i am good

but then, what do i need to do with taxes? i guess i need to file it myself, isnt it? because i am completely clueless, and also with the problem with the language, is there any social help like caritas or something that might help with things like this? or, would i have to pay an accountant?

thanks,

potato

Spud a nebenjob of up to € 430 is tax free.All social benefits are then paid by the employer.However check it out with the Agentur für Arbeit and see how much you can earn on the side

hi mik, thanks for your reply. uh, i think i should not have used the term "nebenjob", while it is really not a nebenjob for me. it is the term the employer kept using.

the point is, the only source of official income i will have in the next few months will probably be only this 400 euro, and, they are not going to pay for insurance or anything. for those next few months or so, i can somehow live from my savings (plus this 400 euro/month), and i will have to pay for health insurance myself.

The question here is, would i have to do anything myself regarding tax declaration? or, is it totally legal and ok if i just go and work and get this 400 euro, without any other paperwork myself to any of the governmental offices?

i am not a student or renter.

thanks,

potato

Sounds like you are self-employed. As you say, it's down to you to arrange your tax affairs, file a return etc. If you can't handle it, you need to pay someone. It's too big an ask to expect most mates or associates to do it for you (unless they are particularly kindly or appreciate the challenge).

If you only earned 4800 Euro a year, you won't be paying tax but you still have to declare.

Also, you mentioned "savings". Interest or other income / gains on them is also income that falls within the scope of your tax return and is taxable (subject to allowances etc too)

If you pay for healthcare, that's deductible of course.

thanks swimmer,

do you have any idea how much "they" would charge for this task?

sorry i forgot to ask. when i cannot find any employer who are willing to do the tax for me, would it be legal to have more than one "less than 400 euro job"?

and, what does it take to become selfemployed? would i need to pay anything? and also, can i stick with my insurance(BKK)?

thanks again,

You are allowed to earn up to € 430 a month on the side.Yearly you can earn up to € 7,200 and not pay tax.That means you must pay tax on it and reclaim it back at the end of the year.You can have any number of jobs on the side so log as the total does not exceed € 430

hi mik,

thanks. but, these jobs i am talking about is not "on the side", but the main ones...

since i still have no clue about how to do most of paperwork in germany, i thought i ask here to see how to proceed.

the job offer i got can in the future turn into full time (at least several months after), and so i would like to give it a go, but i wanted to see if it is financially doable (if accountant or tax consultant costs more than my salary, it really would not make any sense, would it ;-)

thanks,

potato

Find a German speaking friend willing to go with you to the local Finanzamt (get there early) and explain the situation. They'll probably tell you to register as a freiberuflicher (freelancer) and give you a simple form to fill out. Then you'll get a tax number a few weeks later. You'll probably have to pay your insurance yourself.

thanks rainking. i am thinking to do that now.

another question. so, if i dont get any other job than this 400 euro job, the employer still declares it anyway and so i do not have to do any paperwork myself, isnt it? then, would there be anyone coming to check how i am living off 400 euro a month? or german tax people do not really care about people with such low income anyway?

and, would i be able to have two 400 euro jobs? in that case, who does all the taxes?

i really do not want to do anything illegal, but when it is the only chance for the moment of survival, i gotta to what i gotta do.

thanks,

potato