A budget for expats?

[Foreign Talent Lah]

Can anyone tell me what's in this budget for we expats? Where is the tax relief?

[Vulcanl]

Not one red cent...as it should be

[Agree with Vulcan]

For once I agree totally with him - why the hell should we get anything?

They should look after their own!

We got 20% discount from our tax bills last year - thank you Singapore as this could have been only for citizens (and maybe PR)

[sdfwsdf]

Why should expats get help in the budget? Because every extra cent that gets freed up to be spent in the local economy will help keep locals in jobs and help keep the economy ticking over during the looooong wait for the export market to pick up.

[Kubes.SG]

I think V and his mate are again way off track in their thinking.  I did a quick calculation and estimate the Kubes' household probably pays in the range of 35-50 times as much direct income tax as the average SG heart-lander family, and when you factor in all our other contributions (rent, GST, airfares, cars. petrol,entertainment, eduction, consumption) we are of more value to the SG economy than about 10 floors of an HDB building.  The only difference is we are worth 0 votes vs the 100 votes you get the HDB heartlanders.  Don't fret, I get it.

Frankly the announced handouts are meager and token efforts, but the implication is clear:  SG Govt is extremely short-sighted and does not really understand whose hand is really feeding it. 

[GST what?]

What is the "GST Credit" the papers keep mentioning?  I've read several articles, but they don't say what it actually is.

Whatever it is, I gather GST reduction will not happen.

They should take it down to 5% or even 3% like it was when I first got here.

[fritjes]

GST Credits and Senior Citizens’ Bonus

1. Purpose

1.1 Why is the Government giving out GST Credits/Senior Citizens’ Bonus?

The GST Credits was introduced in 2007 to help Singaporeans cope with the impact of the GST increase.

The Senior Citizens' Bonus is an additional payout given to the elderly to help them with their retirement and healthcare needs and recognize them for their contributions to Singapore's economic progress.

As announced in Budget 2009, Government will be extending another payment of GST Credits and Senior Citizens' Bonus on 1 March 2009. This will be based on the same payout structure and quantum as GST Credits 2009.

1.2 Why is Government giving out an additional payout of GST Credits/Senior Citizens’ Bonus this year?

The additional GST Credits/Senior Citizens' Bonus payout in March 2009 is a temporary measure meant to provide extra help to Singaporeans to cope with the current economic downturn.

http://www.gstoffset.gov.sg/FAQs.htm

[Kubesollini]

we are of more value to the SG economy than about 10 floors of an HDB building

Wow, Kubes, you really are an arrogant ass.

Pity you have so few friends you have to hang out here all the time.

[To Kubes]

I think V and his mate are again way off track in their thinking.  I did a quick calculation and estimate the Kubes' household probably pays in the range of 35-50 times as much direct income tax as the average SG heart-lander family, and when you factor in all our other contributions (rent, GST, airfares, cars. petrol,entertainment, eduction, consumption) we are of more value to the SG economy than about 10 floors of an HDB building.  The only difference is we are worth 0 votes vs the 100 votes you get the HDB heartlanders.  Don't fret, I get it.

Frankly the announced handouts are meager and token efforts, but the implication is clear:  SG Govt is extremely short-sighted and does not really understand whose hand is really feeding it. 

For you every one is short sighted except you. No wonder you are a billionaire spending so much time on this forum trying to educate us.

What about OZ's govt. Is it shortsighted too? I guess it must be worst than Singapore's as otherwise you would not come running to Singapore and refuse to leave despite all your condemnations of Singapore.

[Kubes.SG]

May be that I over stated it.  Closer to 5 floors of an HDB building. 

Yes, the former Howard Govt in AU was massively short-sighted doing what ever the polling hinted might be good for them (rather than good for the country).  See this same thing happening now in Singapore where the Govt is making choices that will not necessarily provide the best help for the country longer term.  Things they could have done:  reduce GST,  not prop-up the property developers/speculators; more infrastructure investments; let some smaller property developers fail; let land/property/commercial assets devalue smoothly but significantly; devalue the SGD gradually.

[who won?]

Kubes living in Spore is Australia's gains, Singapore's loss
                                               

[dark-defender]

This budget does not really give any incentive for expats to stay here other than the already attractive income tax rates. I think it shows that the government is already preparing for a huge exodus of foreign talent by building a budget that practically encourages companies to release foreign talent and pick up extra non taxable income by hiring singaporean citizens instead.

I think it will be interesting to see how companies react to this.

[Foreign Talent Lah]

The reason I asked my question was because, like Kubes, I pay a shed load of tax to the Singapore Government. I also employ 6 Singaporeans in my business and provide them with training in specialised areas. I live in Singapore and I spend money in this country: eg I rent an apartment from a Singaporean landlord, I pay fees to a local school for my child's preschooling, I pay membership fees to clubs which employ Singaporeans, and I do all my supermarket shopping at NTUC Fairprice. I have chosen not to become a PR because I do not believe that my son should be conscripted into a foreign army. Despite that, the Singapore Government welcomes me here. It tells me I am 'foreign talent'. I believe I have demonstrated a genuine commitment to Singapore, but am beginning to wonder whether the Singapore Government could do more for me in return? Does it care for me?

[HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...]

The reason I asked my question was because, like Kubes, I pay a shed load of tax to the Singapore Government. I also employ 6 Singaporeans in my business and provide them with training in specialised areas. I live in Singapore and I spend money in this country: eg I rent an apartment from a Singaporean landlord, I pay fees to a local school for my child's preschooling, I pay membership fees to clubs which employ Singaporeans, and I do all my supermarket shopping at NTUC Fairprice. I have chosen not to become a PR because I do not believe that my son should be conscripted into a foreign army. Despite that, the Singapore Government welcomes me here. It tells me I am 'foreign talent'. I believe I have demonstrated a genuine commitment to Singapore, but am beginning to wonder whether the Singapore Government could do more for me in return? Does it care for me?

corporate tax rate has been cut. what more do you want? you are genuinely committed to making money, and for the time while, that means making money in singapore. if singapore and its 'foreign army' stops making economic sense, you would leave at the drop of a hat. when is a hooker ever committed to one client?

[Hooker]

Yeah well in this instance the hookers pay the client.