Hi Everyone
I will in the near future love to move to Romania after marrying my Romanian fianc茅e and completing application for residency.聽 Of course only after becoming a resident, will I be able to work in the country.聽 Because of the language barrier, I鈥檓 very like only able to find a job in a call center (I already have a friend who can help me out with this possibility).聽 The average salary I鈥檝e been told for this position is about 400 euro/month.聽 Is there exemption from taxes on this small a salary?聽 I know in South Africa salaries less than 400 euro are exempted. I鈥檓 not trying to avoid paying tax (I understand it鈥檚 everyone鈥檚 duty), but with such a small salary, what will I really be getting out at the end of the month after taxes, social security deductions, etc?
My idea was to be a freelancer and do small online jobs from home (transcription, data capturing, etc.).聽 Probably it won鈥檛 pay much, but I guess with good research and putting yourself out there, one might be surprised at the possibilities.聽 But after doing a bit of research on freelancers and self-employed, registering yourself as one of these, lead up to deductions of almost 45%.聽 Is this for real?聽 Unfortunately, being a freelancer, you never really know what you would make at the end of the month.聽 You cannot even make an estimate, so how would you pay all the expected contributions and taxes? Again, I鈥檓 not trying to avoid paying tax, but would it be best to just not register yourself as 45% deductions is very hefty and if I鈥檓 not mistaken, there are certain rules in being able to register as a freelancer (eg. qualified training, a registered office, etc)?聽 I don鈥檛 exactly want a knock on the door one day and be asked 鈥淪o what are you doing about your taxes?鈥�
It is very important for me to belong to a pension fund as well.聽 Would I automatically make contributions while working at the call center or would I be able to apply for a personal pension fund (at eg. a bank) when I don鈥檛 pay the compulsory social contributions which apply to employees if I go the freelance route?
My question really is, should I take up this call center job and at least get myself聽 rid of the tax man, by paying what I need to through this job, quietly take up the freelancing in my spare time or could I financially make a living from just doing freelancing?
I apologize for the long thread, but I鈥檓 desperate for expert advice as I鈥檓 already having sleepless nights wondering what I鈥檓 going to do in Romania to make a living without getting into trouble.聽 I almost feel that being a foreigner, I鈥檒l be even more in the spotlight or under radar.
