Family of 4 moving to SG from USA in AUG

[zzm9980]

About 50% of kids in International School have parents who pay the school fees themselves. So most companies pay enough for you to send your kid to school even if they don't give you a package.

Such a high figure surprises me. Most of the foreigners I know and work with have their company paying for it. I don't doubt some pay their own way, but that % is surprises me.

Also, how many are well-to-do locals or PRs vs actual foreigners moved here for work?

i believe that was a statistic from UWC and only foreigners go to this school. We came 7 years ago and even then our company no longer did packages, just generous salaries that covered school and rent. many of my friends are in the same boat. Do you have children in an International school?

No, my daughter is too young. Just stories from coworkers, most of whom are American. I hope to be back in the US before she's old enough for Grade 1. If not, my mgmt already knows there will need to be a renegotiation to cover schooling. I could cover it well with my current salary, but I'd also make my current salary in the US and would be living in one of the top public school districts in the country. So, I expect it to be paid.

[Hannieroo]

From what I can gather a fair few people I know pay their own. Most do have it built into the salary so no problems but a number do pay out of what would be considered okay packages and do worry about fee hikes and live in housing that doesn't entirely suit their needs to cover schools.

[Chantikki]

No, my daughter is too young. Just stories from coworkers, most of whom are American. I hope to be back in the US before she's old enough for Grade 1. If not, my mgmt already knows there will need to be a renegotiation to cover schooling. I could cover it well with my current salary, but I'd also make my current salary in the US and would be living in one of the top public school districts in the country. So, I expect it to be paid.

Actually you may be right for the American school. I only know of a few Americans who pay their own way. Because of the double taxes it's rare for Americans to not come with a package.

I'd say half of my friends pay their own way and they are from a mix of countries. And the above poster is right, the price hikes are a killer when you have to cover them yourself. When we first arrived the Australian school was 21k a year, now its 30+ and the bus isn't cheap either.

[scarbowl]

That's just... bizarre. Companies receive tax benefits on assistance provided vs salary. It's in their interests to give you 15k/month salary and 5k assistance for whatever vs 20k salary.

That is not correct. Any expenses paid to an employee are normal tax deductible expenses to the company. Doesn't matter how I compensate you.

The only benefits I see are in housing where the individual gets a tax break. But for the company, an expense is an expense is an expense.

I can't find it now of course, but I read that if a company gives a housing allowance to an employee who maintains a residence back in the US, the company receives further tax breaks on that payment. I've heard similar about educational reimbursements also.

No extra deductions for these costs. They are just normal costs deductible just as other payroll costs. And the employee must pay taxes on all benefits though there are some benefits (not all pmts considered taxable) when companies pay rent and school fees directly instead of through the employee.

[zzm9980]

No, my daughter is too young. Just stories from coworkers, most of whom are American. I hope to be back in the US before she's old enough for Grade 1. If not, my mgmt already knows there will need to be a renegotiation to cover schooling. I could cover it well with my current salary, but I'd also make my current salary in the US and would be living in one of the top public school districts in the country. So, I expect it to be paid.

Actually you may be right for the American school. I only know of a few Americans who pay their own way. Because of the double taxes it's rare for Americans to not come with a package.

Yes, I was coming from an American perspective since I know OP said she was American. Sorry for the confusion.

I also can't find anything I read previously about US employers being able to deduct housing allowances when paid to Americans who still own primary residence in the US. I know I read it, and I'm almost positive it was on a various online IRS form. Until I can find it, please ignore what I said above. If I do, I'll come back and link it.

[Chantikki]

Yes, I was coming from an American perspective since I know OP said she was American. Sorry for the confusion.

Thats okay. I was coming from the perspective that she said she wasn't going to go to SAS and going to be paying her own fees. Also she may not work for your company. So most of the other schools do have parents paying themselves. Which would make her situation quite normal. She will find many other people in her same situation. She is quite likely being paid a sum of money that will cover reasonable housing and schools.