REP renewal while abroad

[malcontent]

Our family moved to the US last year after our daughter was accepted into a top university on the west coast. Our son is still a minor under 18 who legally cannot be left to live on his own and is going to college. Both kids plan to graduate in Spring 2028.

Husband: former EP holder (almost 3 decades) currently unemployed, enrolled in a certificate program and planning to downshift with a career switch.

Son: former DP holder (since birth) who attended International School until age 15.

Wife: currently a PR (since 3 decades) owns and operates a Singapore based business and draws S$6k salary with CPF and pays Singapore taxes.

Daughter: currently a PR (since age 6) locally schooled thru A-levels, Singapore government internship in 2024, currently in a leadership position in the Singapore student association at her school.

We continue to own a property in Singapore and have been back twice after we left.

Wife and daughter’s REPs expire in December.

What are the odds of REP renewal and for how long?

[malcontent]

Nobody wants to venture a guess?

[Strong Eagle]

I can't answer about the REP but sooner or later you're going to run into issues with not having a resident director (if your company is pte ltd) or resident manager, if SP. After I left Singapore it took many months to fully wind down the company with all the paperwork, and about halfway through it all, I got a notice from the ACRA that I didn't have a resident director (I had updated my address to my US address). A friend of mine living in Singapore kindly consented to be the resident director while I completed the winding down activities.

On another note, since the wife is non-resident and the director/manager, she may well be subject to the non-resident director taxation plan which includes automatic withholding at nonresident director rates before disbursing funds.

Given the above, my SWAG is that a REP isn't going to happen because that would give her resident status for the above issues, and I don't see that happening... it would open too many doors for abuse.

[PNGMK]

How old is she? I don't think over retirement age?

Worse case she may be given a short term REP.

I'm going to be in a similar situation but should be above 63 (my cohorts retirement age) at next renewal.

[malcontent]

The Pte Ltd is a 50/50 with her sis, who is a SGC and remains in Singapore. Nothing has really changed since we left, the business goes on, she’s still doing what she did before (just doing it from here).

For the U.S. I’ve got to file form 5471 (Foreign Corp) for tax year 2025… fortunately she’s a pure category 3 = one-time filing with no CFC/GILTI headaches. Income is also simple FEC (foreign employer compensation) on 1040 line 1h, and we can claim the FTC (foreign tax credit).

[malcontent]

How old is she? I don't think over retirement age?

Worse case she may be given a short term REP.

I'm going to be in a similar situation but should be above 63 (my cohorts retirement age) at next renewal.

We are one decade behind you. A one-year extension the worst I can imagine… if that happens, she will fight for the full 5 years. If they deny her, she will fly to SG before it expires and demand to see an officer… of that I have no doubt.

There are other ways to justify her being here - for example, looking to expand the business. She is always looking for new opportunities.

[PNGMK]

Provides she has an ongoing relationship with Singapore I suspect she will be ok. The issues seems more for people who set up PR and then never really have ongoing ties in Singapore. Particularly family or social or business related.

[MOCHS]

There are plenty of threads that ask similar questions about REP renewal and response is gonna more or less the same.

Either:
- Standard 5 year renewal
- Or shorter REP renewal (1 to 3 years) that forces the PR holder to make a decision to either move back or give up the PR

If mother & daughter’s first time being away from SG for an extended period of time and ICA can see PR holder is pursuing further studies, probably leaning towards standard renewal.

After that standard renewal, if PR holder still continue to remain overseas, then don’t be surprised by a shorter REP for subsequent renewal.

Don’t think a PR can remain perpetually overseas without staying in SG for majority of the year and still continue to get REP renewal.

[PNGMK]

I do think age and type of PR (PTS vs FTS) makes a difference. I can see FTS being renewed indefinitely if there are family ties in place. PTS no.

This is one area I wish the garment was a bit clearer or open about.

[malcontent]

I do think age and type of PR (PTS vs FTS) makes a difference. I can see FTS being renewed indefinitely if there are family ties in place. PTS no.

This is one area I wish the garment was a bit clearer or open about.

They definitely look at what originally qualified the person for PR.

When our daughter’s PR (via FTS) was being adjudicated, they looked at the entire chain from the mother’s PR (also FTS), all the way back to the elderly grandparent’s PR which was from GIS around 4 decades prior. They then asked to see the books from my wife’s business and asked to see what assets she held — keep in mind, all of that was reviewed for a 6 year old child, and then we finally had to write in to say why we thought her rejected PR should be reconsidered — for that we focused on our Singapore roots which are long and deep.

A cynic might say that by our daughter turning down NUS to study overseas it was an act of disloyalty — but it has actually put her in a stronger position to contribute even more to Singapore in the future — not the overseas degree itself, but the investment banking opportunities she is now getting that would have never happened had she went to NUS. Returning with that kind of experience is exactly what can help Singapore grow as a banking center.

[PNGMK]

Yes. Looking back that far is a good thing. I have two SC children which I hope counts as well.