Reply to: Singapore the good, the bad and the ugly

[snaw]

Snaw, might you enlighten those of us remaining in the chilly northern hemisphere how one gets paid as a contractor in SIN ?

Do contractors benefit from the low tax regime ?

What about the local version of IR35 etc?

EDIT: Just realised that of course you are perm there. ** If you were on contract, how would it work it terms of getting paid/tax/Ltd. type entity ?

THANKS

Don't know the exact answer, though my understanding is that you pay less (Then again I don't pay much anyway), as the government encourages entrepreneurs .

singaporexpats.com.sg is a decent site for this kind of stuff (Actually for most singapore specific questions - I'm still new, so I can give you first impressions but I'm still figuring it out as well).

[EternalOptimist]

The wildlife? That's a wee bit ambiguous EO. I've heard some stories and I was in Singapore for 3 weeks in 2002. Are we talking about the Night Zoo (excellent), four floors of whores (not for me), patrolling Thai ladybots (), or the ever so eager SPGs ?

I was more thinking of the insect, lepidoptorus Tigris, which you may not have heard of. It's a small pale butterfly and the only known carnivorous butterfly in the world.
Since the Singaporan rock-ape declined in numbers, its main prey is now humans and pet monkeys.

A mate of mine was bitten whilst he was visiting the Orchard gardens and he spent two weeks in hospital having plastic surgery and skin grafts. They are particularly attracted to the smell of soap, so dont wash before going out.

[EternalOptimist]

Hmm, VAT shouldn't be any issue I guess. We are talking about Singapore VAT right ?

The wildlife? That's a wee bit ambiguous EO. I've heard some stories and I was in Singapore for 3 weeks in 2002. Are we talking about the Night Zoo (excellent), four floors of whores (not for me), patrolling Thai ladybots (), or the ever so eager SPGs ?

As comely as some of the local girls are I heard that the more professional & educated (I like) tend *not* to want the ang moh as it implies she is dependent on him, WAG-style. There is some kind of prejudice against white boy in 'nice' families.

I'm willing to get my head down and work on it.

my situation was, uk based contractor doing a fixed price job in Singapore, hotel flights paid for by them.

They paid me 80% of the deal, and each quarter I paid VAT normally, then at the year end, the accountant adjusted the accounts so I got the withheld money back. Speak to an accountant to get the correct terminology.
It all came right in the end, and very lucrative too

[doodab]

Hmm, VAT shouldn't be any issue I guess. We are talking about Singapore VAT right ?

The wildlife? That's a wee bit ambiguous EO. I've heard some stories and I was in Singapore for 3 weeks in 2002. Are we talking about the Night Zoo (excellent), four floors of whores (not for me), patrolling Thai ladybots (), or the ever so eager SPGs ?

As comely as some of the local girls are I heard that the more professional & educated (I like) tend *not* to want the ang moh as it implies she is dependent on him, WAG-style. There is some kind of prejudice against white boy in 'nice' families.

I'm willing to get my head down and work on it.

That will get you a long way with most women.

[LegendsWear7]

I had to pay a 'withholding tax' (20%) then VAT on top. My accountant recovered the withholding tax at year end
so it was a temporary inconvenience

watch out for the wildlife though, if you are serious about going

Hmm, VAT shouldn't be any issue I guess. We are talking about Singapore VAT right ?

The wildlife? That's a wee bit ambiguous EO. I've heard some stories and I was in Singapore for 3 weeks in 2002. Are we talking about the Night Zoo (excellent), four floors of whores (not for me), patrolling Thai ladybots (), or the ever so eager SPGs ?

As comely as some of the local girls are I heard that the more professional & educated (I like) tend *not* to want the ang moh as it implies she is dependent on him, WAG-style. There is some kind of prejudice against white boy in 'nice' families.

I'm willing to get my head down and work on it.

[EternalOptimist]

Snaw, might you enlighten those of us remaining in the chilly northern hemisphere how one gets paid as a contractor in SIN ?

Do contractors benefit from the low tax regime ?

What about the local version of IR35 etc?

EDIT: Just realised that of course you are perm there. ** If you were on contract, how would it work it terms of getting paid/tax/Ltd. type entity ?

THANKS

I had to pay a 'withholding tax' (20%) then VAT on top. My accountant recovered the withholding tax at year end
so it was a temporary inconvenience

watch out for the wildlife though, if you are serious about going

[LegendsWear7]

Snaw, might you enlighten those of us remaining in the chilly northern hemisphere how one gets paid as a contractor in SIN ?

Do contractors benefit from the low tax regime ?

What about the local version of IR35 etc?

EDIT: Just realised that of course you are perm there. ** If you were on contract, how would it work it terms of getting paid/tax/Ltd. type entity ?

THANKS

[snaw]

I never even knew you'd left Snaw. You Permie out there?

Yep, left 2 months ago - there is a contract market, and it's probaly more so atm as copanies are a bit cadgey - but it's nothing like as lucrative as the UK so on balance permie works better.

I should know better than to respond to you today btw. Didn't get to see it though, not on telly here and my streaming internet was a bit pish yesterday.

[snaw]

It's all a bit conformist and somewhat authoritarian. Not exactly the rock and roll capital of the earth.

I prefer grimy cities with some life, like New York or Istanbul.

True, very true. But I'm married with two kids, and I've lived my share of rock and roll (And a few other peoples as well I reckon). NYC is the best place I ever lived but I couldn't imagine trying to raise a family there, and if you end up upstate where it's nicer, it's would also be dull as ds. IMO.

[snaw]

Ah sweetheart, didn't anyone tell you... Scotland didn't make it


Only kidding!!

I was expecting you to not have no many "cons" of living out there and a lot more "pro's".

How long do you reckon you will stick it out?

Hey, was trying to be balanced. Nowhere is perfect, but I'm loving it here - in balance the positives way outweigh the negatives.

Originally intended maybe three years, the missus and me and already reassessing that and thinking maybe we might end up staying longer.

[Incognito]

Sorry got carried away , I was born there and lived there till I was 18 so I know it rather well. Still go back every year for two weeks, only place I really consider home, and pretty much agree on what you said.

I saw Carl Cox at Zouks about 10 years ago. And got thrown out of Fire the next night for pestering the local women.

I also got thrown out of some rich Aussie chicks flat after asking her if I could get a blowjob on the balcony. Her boyfriend was in the kitchen.

Ahhhh, happy days in Singapore.

[TykeMerc]

That's a very interesting take on life in Singapore, thanks Snaw.

[darrenb]

[*]Work. Seems to be lots of it about, and if you're western it pays well (Even by UK standards).

Well all the jobs there are advertised at Asian rates. How do you find a job at a Western rate?

And are there any jobs outside banks?

[Olly]

I'd love to get back out to asia....just can't get enough of the food in places like singapore.
Is the only "in" via banking ? (experience I don't have ...sniff sniff)

[scooterscot]

Shopping - ugly - there are 5 price levels:
1) the price on the label
2) the price to a tourist
3) the price to an expat
4) the price to a local
5) the price someone will pay knowing the other 4 prices exist!

Little India - Good

Haggle the price, it's the way of life in Asia. In fact the UK too most brits and just to soft to ask...