Work remotely on a visa-free entry

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CaptOats
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Work remotely on a visa-free entry

Post by CaptOats » Sat, 15 Jun 2019 1:01 am

I am an EU national living and working in Denmark.
I will be travelling around Southeast Asia and visiting Singapore, and in order to not use too many leave days, I am considering asking my employer (in Denmark) if I could take a laptop and work remotely from my hotel/airbnb some of the days...

As an EU citizen I get 90-day visa free entry in Singapore.
My question is: am I allowed to work for my Danish employer while in Singapore? Do I need to report this anywhere, or apply for any special permit? Or is it ok to just log on my laptop and work remotely, as long as I don't exceed the 90 day stay?

Thank you so much for any feedback, or if you can redirect me to any official SG government website... I haven't been able to find an explanation for my specific situation.

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Strong Eagle
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Re: Work remotely on a visa-free entry

Post by Strong Eagle » Sat, 15 Jun 2019 1:34 am

You will have no issues. Anything under 60 days is not taxable at all. More importantly, Singapore is concerned with local employment being affected, and your working remotely doesn't do that. You are working for a foreign employer who is paying your salary. Pay your taxes as usual.

CaptOats
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Re: Work remotely on a visa-free entry

Post by CaptOats » Tue, 18 Jun 2019 4:53 pm

Thank you so much for your quick reply!
That is good to know.
But do you know by any chance any official webpages or articles where that is mentioned? My employee might ask for official proof that they won't be penalised or something..
Or maybe you know an email address at MOM I can write to? I only find phone numbers and FAQs that don't answer my specific query.
Thanks!

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sundaymorningstaple
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Re: Work remotely on a visa-free entry

Post by sundaymorningstaple » Tue, 18 Jun 2019 8:26 pm

https://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/Indivi ... o-Pay-Tax/

Beware of Examples Four, Five & Six. It could trip you up if you are not careful. There is a minefield between the 60 day tax free and being considered as a non-resident (less than 183 days). You mention being on a 90 days tourist visa. For purposes of being a non-resident the clock starts ticking the day you enter Singapore working or not, so the day after your 60th day here you are no longer home scot free of taxes as you will then be considered as a non-resident for tax purposes regardless of how many days you actually work.

But as SE noted, as long as your work doesn't interact with Singaporeans or Singapore businesses, you shouldn't have any problem.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

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