Unfortunately, for the most part, yes.
Teaching English abroad is the same as any other job which requires you to pay taxes. But of course there are certain differences relating to each situation.
Generally speaking, you will pay tax where you are resident. So if you are teaching in Spain and a resident of Spain, you will need to pay tax in Spain. If you have a full-time job, often this is paid from your salary by your employer – so you don’t need to worry about it.
However, if you are abroad for a short time and therefore not a resident in that country, you will need to pay tax on your salary in your home country.
Some countries have certain rules regarding tax which depend on the amount of money you are earning. For example, you only need to pay tax if you are earning above X amount.
If you are teaching English online, again you will need to pay tax in the country that you are resident in. If you are a digital nomad and are not a legal resident of the country you are living in, you will need to declare your earnings and pay tax in your home country.
Read more: Do I Have to Pay Tax When Teaching English Abroad?