Salary/Allowances
By shellyjean •
I am interviewing for my first job in Qatar with a local company, rather than a US one. Job offers here seem to include salary and housing/transportation allowances. Where I am from, we would just get our wage and work the rest out ourselves.
I live with my husband in a company supplied villa. If I am offered a housing allowance, is that just cash on top of the salary? Do I have to use it for housing or give it back if I don't have a need for housing? Should I negotiate a package without housing included or what?
I am also not sure how the difference between salary and allowance may affect taxes back home in the States. If anyone could help in addressing any of these issues, I would appreciate it. Thank you!
Hey, all is going well, and all of the housing information may be useful to know as my job and living situation here is changing soon. My job is better than I thought, even, and I love it.
I love this place. Blessing upon blessing!
Thanks for the good advice everyone. Turns out that the job offer was ridiculous. I would pay my maid more! Seriously, if I were to take such a job, the cost of transport and the maid to do MY work at home would cost me as much, probably more than I made. Plus, the jobsite looked uninviting.
Good news-I had a good offer in Education City, working with young people(Qatari) and some western co-workers,(best of both worlds) so I am really happy and excited to come back here from my vacation in Aug.
So, now on to researching about F/T live out maid.
Shelly, you will owe US taxes on the fair market value of your housing or your housing allowance.
Mandi
NEED URGENT JOB!!!
I am
Hardware and Network Engineer, having a total of 1 years experience with as Computer Hardware and Network Technician. Seeking urgent employement. Transferable visa available.
It depends on the company. Most places give you the housing allowance as cash on top of your regular salary for you to use as you see fit. So, if you have a housing allowance of QR10,000 and you find a place for QR8,000 the remaining 2000 is yours. A few employers, however, will pay the housing allowance directly to the landlord. So, in the above example, they would only pay your QR8000 rent and you would not see the remaining 2000. Check with your employer to find out how they do it.
Hello ,Yep in the middle east usually the package includes salary , housing allowances, transportation allowances, this are common out here,
In addition the goverment companies, also add up furniture allowances , mobile allowances and much more benfits
Since your offered with housing allowance and you stay with your hubby, i dont think you really need to pick up the housing allowance, instead try for an hike in your basic salary which could help u out at the end of service (Gratuity). But if the company wouldnt let an hike in the salary, then pick up the housing allowance .
Usually the housing allowances are based on 52% of the basic salary, but some companies do not follow this procedure.
I dont think it would affect much on the taxes, since your paid on a lumpsum amount,
Regarding the house allowance, if you got it with the total salary then its OK the company will not ask you how much you are paying since its included in the total salary.
If its paid as separate allowance, its suppose to be the same and the company should not ask you whether you pay more or less, as you may get house allowance of qrs.8000/- while you rent at qrs.5000/- as example.
But if the company told you to rent the house and they will pay the rent on behalf of you its also OK and they may hire the house and give it to you and they will pay the rent directly and in this case you will get only the basic salary.
For your taxes I thinks its better to have the house allowance separated than the basic salary so that you will pay less tax.
Good Luck & Nice to Meet You in Qatar
If the offer is complete package with housing, food, and transportation..the company never ask where or how you spend your allowances.