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    Are you ready for 7 million people on tiny Singapore?

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    • H Offline
      Harlequin
      last edited by

      pirate:
      $1,000,000 Ferrari. GST $70,000. Cannot buy from Italy. Actually can, but still have to pay the GST when shipped into Singapore. πŸ˜‰

      Any goods above SGD400 brought in to SG for consumption are liable for GST; can hide lah, but must pray hard don't get caught, if get caught kena pay hefty fine plus GST.
      Even those luxury items bought at Changi Airport departure hall's duty free shops if brought back to SG on your returning flight are subjected to GST.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • H Offline
        Harlequin
        last edited by

        3Boys:
        limlim:



        GST if necessary, is fine with me. But it should be kept low at say, 3% and still contribute to revenue.

        If not enough, then the income tax of top tier shouldn't be reduced. Why can't they keep it at say, 25% while introducing GST?

        Reducing income tax and increasing GST just doesn't makes sense to me other than benefiting the rich.

        I'm okay with GST but don't agree with reducing top tier income tax to increase GST.

        And from where did you arrive at this figure of 3% from? Plucked out of the air? Why not 0% like HK, why not 8% like Switzerland, why not 20% like Ghana or Norway?

        What's wrong with 7%?

        Rich pay more GST than any other form of taxes...

        For example, rich men's ΓΌber chi chi tai tai/s no income status, pay no income tax; but easily blowing $100k a month on shopping.... must tax GST lah... supple our national coffer mah.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • M Offline
          Mdm Koh
          last edited by

          3Boys:
          Mdm Koh:

          It's much more comfortable for them to maintain high revenues, but at what cost to the people?


          Again, this is quite an unsubstantiated assertion. Pray tell, how much revenue did the g'ment earn from GST on medical services? Versus how much did they pump back in in terms of subsidies?

          Please don't confuse the issue. The point is keeping the whole thing affordable, not about the GST per se.

          So why is it justifiable for people to spend discretionary income on hairdos and holidays, but not on medical care?

          Your first question should be forwarded to the ministers in parliament. I am not able to provide figures that are not readily available online. All I can say is that GST exemption on medical services is implemented in other developed countries. Thus far, the economies of those countries have not collapsed yet.

          I am not sure what your last question means. Are we not spending our income on healthcare?

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • P Offline
            pirate
            last edited by

            limlim:
            GST if necessary, is fine with me. But it should be kept low at say, 3% and still contribute to revenue.


            If not enough, then the income tax of top tier shouldn't be reduced. Why can't they keep it at say, 25% while introducing GST?

            Reducing income tax and increasing GST just doesn't makes sense to me other than benefiting the rich.

            I'm okay with GST but don't agree with reducing top tier income tax to increase GST.
            Because top tier personal income tax is easily avoided by a little bit of tax planning. Only the salarymen and professionals get hit. The big towkays can structure their income into something else. As for the criminals and their undeclared income... 🀷

            On the other hand, if you want to ride around in your very own $500,000 Mercedes in Singapore, you have to pay $35,000 GST. It doesn't matter if you make your money from bank interest, stock dividends, capital appreciation, speculating on the stock market, gambling at the casino, underdeclaring the number of plates of char kway teow you sell, loansharking or rigging soccer games in Europe. You still have to pay $35,000 GST.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • H Offline
              Harlequin
              last edited by

              Mdm Koh:
              3Boys:

              [quote=\"Mdm Koh\"] It's much more comfortable for them to maintain high revenues, but at what cost to the people?


              Again, this is quite an unsubstantiated assertion. Pray tell, how much revenue did the g'ment earn from GST on medical services? Versus how much did they pump back in in terms of subsidies?

              Please don't confuse the issue. The point is keeping the whole thing affordable, not about the GST per se.

              So why is it justifiable for people to spend discretionary income on hairdos and holidays, but not on medical care?

              Your first question should be forwarded to the ministers in parliament. I am not able to provide figures that are not readily available online. All I can say is that GST exemption on medical services is implemented in other developed countries. Thus far, the economies of those countries have not collapsed yet. Just like how all those countries with a strong welfare system are still around and some of them, like Denmark, seem to be doing well.

              I am not sure what your last question means. Are we not spending our income on healthcare?[/quote]Mdm Koh, your wish may come true.... be patient.
              Like 3B said, the rich and the medical tourists currently are being taxed GST on medical which could be fund for the the low income heavily subsidized group.... need a formula lah... people are not that thrilled about rebate anymore.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • L Offline
                limlim
                last edited by

                3Boys:
                limlim:



                To each his own.

                What is so difficult to go and stamp the passport for extension every month? cannot find their way around SG is it? cannot learn? cannot take leave? (oh wait.. are they supposed to be working?)

                How will you feel if your company renews your contract on a month to month basis only?

                Compared to this when the whole family is here, spouse, children, home.

                How does one plan for the future when one does not even know if he will be in that country the following month. How does one sink roots, sign up for activities at the CC, book travel plans, commit to children's activities, be an active contributor to society? If it's just a matter of trooping down to get paper work done monthly, it's one thing, but this kind of uncertainty is excruciating.

                And if you don't understand this, then yes, you are as you say you are.

                Does the ICA not allow extension?

                I wouldn't say there is \"uncertainty\". I believe it is almost certain that, if there is no wrong doings, extension WILL be granted (almost automatic approval). Unless there is REAL examples of extension not granted, I do not buy that argument.

                Next, how many times of trooping down did they go thru? 2 times, 4 times? and then kpkb? Did they do it for 2 years continuously and the ICA not grant LTP of 3mths, then 6mths and so on?

                How would I not understand this. If one wanna get a foreign spouse, one shd willingly pay the cost. I believe I have visited the ICA more times than you go and renew your passport, for all kinds of stuffs at level 4 with my friend.

                Cannot tahan a bit of inconvenience?

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • L Offline
                  limlim
                  last edited by

                  3Boys:

                  Aiyah, read the data lar and stop making all kinds of assumptions out of nowhere.

                  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goods_and_Services_Tax_%28Singapore%29
                  err.. it's a consumption tax.. how they trace/link it to income ar?

                  When they buy things, they declare their income?

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • H Offline
                    Harlequin
                    last edited by

                    pirate:
                    limlim:

                    GST if necessary, is fine with me. But it should be kept low at say, 3% and still contribute to revenue.


                    If not enough, then the income tax of top tier shouldn't be reduced. Why can't they keep it at say, 25% while introducing GST?

                    Reducing income tax and increasing GST just doesn't makes sense to me other than benefiting the rich.

                    I'm okay with GST but don't agree with reducing top tier income tax to increase GST.

                    Because top tier personal income tax is easily avoided by a little bit of tax planning. Only the salarymen and professionals get hit. The big towkays can structure their income into something else. As for the criminals and their undeclared income... 🀷

                    On the other hand, if you want to ride around in your very own $500,000 Mercedes in Singapore, you have to pay $35,000 GST. It doesn't matter if you make your money from bank interest, stock dividends, capital appreciation, speculating on the stock market, gambling at the casino, underdeclaring the number of plates of char kway teow you sell, loansharking or rigging soccer games in Europe. You still have to pay $35,000 GST.

                    Yap!.... thus it's viewed as the fairer form of tax.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • L Offline
                      limlim
                      last edited by

                      3Boys:
                      limlim:



                      GST if necessary, is fine with me. But it should be kept low at say, 3% and still contribute to revenue.

                      If not enough, then the income tax of top tier shouldn't be reduced. Why can't they keep it at say, 25% while introducing GST?

                      Reducing income tax and increasing GST just doesn't makes sense to me other than benefiting the rich.

                      I'm okay with GST but don't agree with reducing top tier income tax to increase GST.

                      And from where did you arrive at this figure of 3% from? Plucked out of the air? Why not 0% like HK, why not 8% like Switzerland, why not 20% like Ghana or Norway?

                      What's wrong with 7%?

                      bcoz it was 3% when it was introduced.. :evil:

                      Increase it? fine, if necessary.. That is fine with me.. :evil: but not before increasing top tier tax to 25%.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • L Offline
                        limlim
                        last edited by

                        Harlequin:
                        pirate:

                        $1,000,000 Ferrari. GST $70,000. Cannot buy from Italy. Actually can, but still have to pay the GST when shipped into Singapore. πŸ˜‰


                        Any goods above SGD400 brought in to SG for consumption are liable for GST; can hide lah, but must pray hard don't get caught, if get caught kena pay hefty fine plus GST.
                        Even those luxury items bought at Changi Airport departure hall's duty free shops if brought back to SG on your returning flight are subjected to GST.

                        You pay GST before for such goods when you are carrying them or put them unpacked (w/o original boxes, price tag) in luggage?

                        For item shipped in, yes. For hand carry stuff.. highly doubt so. Unless you looked like bringing them in to sell that kind.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0

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