Russia, May 18, 1998
Spring Flowers Make June Leavers
The smart ones leave before June 30
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The other night I went to dinner to celebrate a special
occasion for a friend. She was getting married, turning 30, and leaving
Russia. The first two, most of us do, but the last one seems to be a
group project this June.
In Price Waterhouse, over 35 expats are leaving in June. I am constantly shocked by this figure, mainly because I have to coordinate all those leaving forms, final payroll, and staff account balances. Now don't start thinking bad things about PW, its Russian tax legislation really. The tax law says that you are exempt from Russian tax if you are here less than 182 days in a year. Since July 1 is about 182 days, everyone heads for the exit June 30th, to get out from under the 35% (yes, 35%!) tax burden. This year the exodus is a bit larger than usual, since two years ago PW Moscow had a hiring drive. Two year contracts end, and people leave Moscow to return to bigger and better PW jobs in their respective homelands or, in rare and unfortunate cases, they leave PW. I'm kinda sad with all these people leaving. I made a bunch of friends at PW, who all seem to be leaving me. How unfair! They should realize how special I am and stay just for me! |
