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[nisha]

Hello,
If I was to work full time that is 40 hours a week and was getting paid at £5.88 an hour how much tax would be cut? This is assuming that I am a part time student in Wales.

GEL wrote:

> Yes, I think just about everyone, except full-time students
> and possibly some other categories, has to pay countil tax when
> they are renting. And the council tax in London is probably
> very high (in the neighborhood of a thousand pounds a year or
> more? Anybody know?)

[chocky]

From your post I think you might be confusing income tax and council tax. Council tax is similar to property tax, a monthly or annual fee calculated on the value of the property you live in (and I think it applies regardless of whether you rent or own the property). Income tax is applied on a sliding scale and depends on your annual income. Usually it's pay as you earn (PAYE), i.e. deducted at source. You can claim a rebate at the end of the year if you have been over taxed. According to http://www.hmrc.gov.uk, if you are single with no dependents you will not be taxed on the first 4,895 you earn annually, and after that you will pay tax at the following rates on your earnings:

on the first £2,020 10% (the starting rate)
on the next £29,380 22% (the basic rate)
on any income over £31,400 40% (the higher rate)

I got this info direct from the website, but check it out yourself. It may differ depending on your specific circumstances. Disclaimer: I have been out of the UK for a few years, so please put me right if any of my info is out of date!!

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[moom]

I'm an H1-B here in the US (UK and Aus citizen):

1) One is never sure, upon traveling, that one will be allowed to cross the border back.

If you are an H1-B I don't think this is a serious problem. Student visas though are risky.

2) If fired, I have 2 weeks to leave the country, on my present work visa

This is true.

3) I cannot earn any extra money, in the U.S.

You can't be an employee, but you can earn money in other ways (consulting etc.)

4) For the 1st 5 years I lived here, I could not claim my child as a dependent. I paid FULL taxes.

As an H1-B you should pay the same tax as US citizens you are considered resident for tax purposes but non-resident for immigration. I spent two years in the US earlier where I paid no tax on a J-1 visa under a tax treaty. So very much YMMV.

5) I cannot engage in retirement plans, no life insurance covers me and worst of all I HAVE NO CREDIT.

I sure have retirement accounts with TIAA-CREF which includes life insurance. I also contribute to social security though like US citizens will need to contribute 10 years before I could claim. I have a very good credit report though have noticed credit card companies don't give me big credit lines. I have lots of borrowing and assets and retirement accounts in Australia too.

Once I get the green card the only difference to being a citizen is:

1. Can't vote

2. Can't work for the Federal government

3. Can be deported for committing any crime.

4. May lose green card if out of the country for more than 12 months.

[cindy]

household total income has to be minimum 35k in london
rent 2 bedroom, zone 6, 20 miles outside downtown london 850-1000
cost of living maybe only 10-15% higher for necessities like food
but rent is the killer and travelAlex wrote:

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