a few questions.. (taxes, employment, PR)

[theemptyone]

I have a question about taxes and PR status.

I am getting nearer to my goal of being able to work remotely for my company in the US from Singapore.

This means that I'll be living in Singapore, but working for a company in the US completely from online.

I'm not entirely sure how this will work out for taxes in Singapore as I won't really be being paid to a Singaporean account, or from a Singaporean company.

One thing I've been told I could do is to start/join a small entrapaneurship with a friend in Singapore, with that as local income. But I'm not really sure about all the intricacies.. especially what I will need to do to gain PR.

I don't believe I need a workers visa if I work this way.. and my Singaporean friends seem to believe that none of this will be an issue, but I'd rather be sure I have my t's crossed and my i's dotted then to find out I'm breaking the law.


Any advice from anyone who knows this sort of thing would be greatly appreciated.

[Mad Scientist]

For taxes read this

http://www.iras.gov.sg/irasHome/page01.aspx?id=88

TO set up a company in Singapore with a local read this

http://www.acra.gov.sg/Guide+for+Foreigners.htm

To apply an employment pass under EPEC read this

https://epec.mom.gov.sg/epec/index.do

To know the type of passes under employment read this

www.mom.gov.sg

To apply for PR under LPR read this

http://www.smcmc.com/faqs/faqs3.htm

OR entrepass for foreigner read this

http://www.business.gov.sg/EN/BusinessT ... reneur.htm

[beppi]

Any income for work performed in Singapore is taxable in Singapore, regardless of where, how and by whom it is paid.
Thus you'd have to tax here what you earn from your online work.

To live in Singapore as a foreigner, you need a visa that allows residence here. This can either be through work (for which you need to be employed by a Singapore-registered company - this could be your own company, but this route is complicated and costly due to many abusers in the past) or family (e.g. by being married to a Singaporean).

You are not allowed to work in Singapore without a visa that allows work. As far as I know this also applies regardless of how and for whom you work.
In addition, once you have a work visa (work permit/employment pass) you can only work for the company which employed you and sponsored the pass.
Thus your online work for other companies would be illegal in both cases, unless they engage the company that employs you to perform this work (again, this could be your own company if you go through the hoops and expense).

You can apply for a PR after living, working (and paying taxes) here for a certain time (three years or more) - or through family connections. Another way to get a PR is to invest a certain (huge) amount of money in the country, or to be very good in a field that Singapore has a shortage of talents in or wants to promote.

This is the short version of the story, all details are in the links MS posted above.

[carteki]

My suggestion is not to visit an internet board or consult friends, but rather get professional advice from the people who know. It could save you a lot of money in the long run. I know of at least one expat couple where the wife has continued working for her UK company. The legal advice they received when they moved here (07) was that she was fine as long as she / co didn't earn any SG income and continued to be paid in the UK. She is still on her dependents pass and doesn't pay tax in the UK either Seriously - spend the money and work out how to do this properly.

Your issue is going to be how you can "stay" in Singapore if you don't have a valid work visa. Your main option is a LTVP which requires a local sponsor - and some sort of relationship - or to do visa runs every 90 days / so.

[sundaymorningstaple]

carteki,

What she might be doing and what the IRAS says would seem to be two different things. That fact that she hasn't been caught is still not good advice. I have on two separate occasions written to IRAS to inquire about this matter and as far as IRAS is concerned, no matter where the income is deposited or generated, if the person is physically present in Singapore when said income is generated or then it is taxable to Singapore. Now, what MOM & ICA might say regarding visas is another ball game altogether.

My suggestion is not to visit an internet board or consult friends, but rather get professional advice from the people who know. It could save you a lot of money in the long run. I know of at least one expat couple where the wife has continued working for her UK company. The legal advice they received when they moved here (07) was that she was fine as long as she / co didn't earn any SG income and continued to be paid in the UK. She is still on her dependents pass and doesn't pay tax in the UK either Seriously - spend the money and work out how to do this properly.

Your issue is going to be how you can "stay" in Singapore if you don't have a valid work visa. Your main option is a LTVP which requires a local sponsor - and some sort of relationship - or to do visa runs every 90 days / so.