to all non german engineers in here - beware!

[AlfredJPruffock]

It takes several years for the German authorities to check up on your Sozialversicherung. German contractors would be top of the list. For anyone working less than 2 years not really worth worrying about. Plus when the bill comes ît is simply back pay, there are no penalties. They go back 4 years and demand 500 EUR a month.

Now if you are working longterm. There are a few options:

Pay 200 EUR for two years the special rate for new entrepreneurs and then move on to the full 500 EUR later on.

Don't pay any and possibly pay 4 years worth (20000 EUR) if you get caught, putting some money aside.

Employ someone not a family member, to do all your tax and admin paying just above the minimum rate (approx 450 EUR a month) (By the way I can recommend someone who could do that for you, formally qualified "bookkeeper").

Make sure you don't work more than 6 months for anyone company.

or a mixture of options like paying the low rate 200 EUR and then employing someone after 2 years.

Thanks for those sensible comments BB - I am still very suspicous of these 'new' posters on the board who may well be sockpuppets of our established CUK German 'Guest Workers' who are trying their upmost to deter Brit contractors from working in Germany and the competition that would bring - if so - thats a pretty low tactic in my book.

[BlasterBates]

It takes several years for the German authorities to check up on your Sozialversicherung. German contractors would be top of the list. For anyone working less than 2 years not really worth worrying about. Plus when the bill comes ît is simply back pay, there are no penalties. They go back 4 years and demand 500 EUR a month.

Now if you are working longterm. There are a few options:

Pay 200 EUR for two years the special rate for new entrepreneurs and then move on to the full 500 EUR later on.

Don't pay any and possibly pay 4 years worth (20000 EUR) if you get caught, putting some money aside.

Employ someone not a family member, to do all your tax and admin paying just above the minimum rate (approx 450 EUR a month) (By the way I can recommend someone who could do that for you, formally qualified "bookkeeper").

Make sure you don't work more than 6 months for anyone company.

or a mixture of options like paying the low rate 200 EUR and then employing someone after 2 years.

[AlfredJPruffock]

I suspect that these 'Dont go to Germany' positngs are from certain CUK posters whom having profited quite nicely working in Germany over the years are fearful that thier rates could come under pressure from Cheep and Cheerful Brits who would happily work for half their bloated rates ...I mean swine flu in Bavraria - whatever next ?

[cojak]

Bloody Brits.

They'll be taking your women and eating your currywurst next....

[NotAllThere]

Hmm. Nice rant. You missed out the bit about the 'flu vaccine containing rf tracking chips to keep tabs on the population. Are you Bavarian by any chance?

...I have to warn you before coming to germany to take a project here to to become a fixed employee in germany....

Which part of contractoruk.com did you miss?

[engineer]

This posting has been removed for certain reasons