Can I work as a consultant/freelancer ?

[Smita]

Hey All,

I am a housewife, holding DP and putting up in Singapore since 7 months. Can I work as a consultant for an Indian company which has no office in Singapore? (Not an employee of that company) I want to work as a freelancer.
What laws do I need to follow? Do I have to register somewhere?

[katbh]

This has been discussed at length here before - think under a title telecommuting. Yes you can work here...but the issue is where do you pay tax?

[Smita]

Thanks a ton for the prompt reply!
I am unable to find any laws on MOM website. Shall i go to MOM office and find out the details in person?

Else, can I be paid in my Indian account? In that case i do not have to pay ant tax.

[katbh]

It is not really MOM that is the problem. It is the IRAS that you need to consider - ie tax. If your work is sourced in India and is sent back to india it would be my reading that you do not need MOM permission. But as you will be undertaking the work here .... you may have tax implications.
There is no real agreement from the members of this site as to how it should work. But I think there is general agreement that you working here is not the problem - it is just the tax issue.
But if you have an established business you may want to try setting up here fr the favourable tax rates.

[katbh]

have a look at this thread. It may assist

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... ecommuting