Discuss about life in Singapore. Ask about cost of living, housing, travel, etiquette & lifestyle. Share experience & advice with Singaporeans & expat staying in Singapore.
-
bruinbear
- Regular
![Regular Regular]()
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:19 pm
- Location: Singapore
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by bruinbear » Sat, 12 Jul 2008 5:23 pm
To have 50% of income suddenly locked up is not funny.
But mandatory CPF contributions does have some advantages. For instance, they can act as a tax shield. Of course the value of this tax shield depends on which tax bracket you are in. Given Singapore low income tax rates, this shield might not be worth that much.
-
hertfordshire_lad
- Member
![Member Member]()
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Sat, 21 Jun 2008 12:38 am
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by hertfordshire_lad » Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:07 pm
Thanks for all the info above - this is just the kind of thread I was looking for.
I'm also considering PR, but worried about the drop in disposable income. I'm young, single, a masters degree holder from a good uni and have 5 years work experience, but still find potential employers and recruitment agents are not interested as i'm not PR. So, I find that the main benefit of taking PR is employment flexibility.
However, I wondered whether there are any other considerations when deciding to apply? Are there any other obvious pros/cons?
thanks in advance.
-
Saint
- Director
![Director Director]()
- Posts: 3505
- Joined: Thu, 16 Jun 2005 5:19 pm
- Location: The Juban Stand, Boat Quay
-
Contact:
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by Saint » Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:27 pm
hertfordshire_lad wrote:Thanks for all the info above - this is just the kind of thread I was looking for.
I'm also considering PR, but worried about the drop in disposable income. I'm young, single, a masters degree holder from a good uni and have 5 years work experience, but still find potential employers and recruitment agents are not interested as i'm not PR. So, I find that the main benefit of taking PR is employment flexibility.
However, I wondered whether there are any other considerations when deciding to apply? Are there any other obvious pros/cons?
thanks in advance.
CPF contribution percentages in the first year are low and increase every year until full contribution. this is for both employer and employee. There is also a monthly income threshold which is only subject to contributions.
So in your first year of PR you will only pay 5% of a Max $4.5k per month income, so the most you will be deducted in 1st year is $225 per month.
subsequent year the contributions increase, 2nd year i think is 9%?
-
sundaymorningstaple
- Moderator
![Moderator Moderator]()
- Posts: 40607
- Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
-
Answers: 21
- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by sundaymorningstaple » Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:39 pm
hertfordshire_lad wrote:Thanks for all the info above - this is just the kind of thread I was looking for.
I'm also considering PR, but worried about the drop in disposable income. I'm young, single, a masters degree holder from a good uni and have 5 years work experience, but still find potential employers and recruitment agents are not interested as i'm not PR. So, I find that the main benefit of taking PR is employment flexibility.
However, I wondered whether there are any other considerations when deciding to apply? Are there any other obvious pros/cons?
thanks in advance.
Here's the bummer......
You have to have a job initally (EP or S pass) in order to apply for PR unless you are applying on family ties (hard) or are coming in as a Landed Permanent Resident (LPR). This is an In-Principle Permanent Resident Approval. I think this will give you up to a year to find a job (PR will be given upon confirmation of an employment contract). see
http://www.smcmc.com/immigration/immigration.html
sms
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
-
sundaymorningstaple
- Moderator
![Moderator Moderator]()
- Posts: 40607
- Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
-
Answers: 21
- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by sundaymorningstaple » Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:45 pm
As a PR you can take back all you CPF upon leaving Singapore, but you have to put it all back plus any interest that would have accrued had it be left there, if you plan on coming back anytime in the future to work.
It's actually a good things and has been for quite a number of years now as the interest rates (risk on risk) are about the best you will find. You can sock away around 15,600 a year and a minimum of 2.6% up to 4% and an additional 1% on the first 60K I believe.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
-
hertfordshire_lad
- Member
![Member Member]()
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Sat, 21 Jun 2008 12:38 am
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by hertfordshire_lad » Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:00 am
Fantastic - Thanks for the speedy replies.
Yes, I'm an EP holder here and have been for just under a year. Just to clarify, is the ceiling of 4.5k per month both for the employee and employer CPF contributions?
How about housing implications? Would a PR have any advantage over an EP holder?
Also do you know whether it is still possible to apply without having had an Income Tax assessment document?
Many thanks again.
-
Saint
- Director
![Director Director]()
- Posts: 3505
- Joined: Thu, 16 Jun 2005 5:19 pm
- Location: The Juban Stand, Boat Quay
-
Contact:
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by Saint » Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:09 am
hertfordshire_lad wrote:wow thanks for the speedy replies.
Yes, I'm an EP holder here and have been for just under a year.
Just to clarify, is the ceiling of 4.5k per month both for the employee and employer CPF contributions?
Also do you know whether it is still possible to apply without having had an Income Tax assessment document?
many thanks again.
Yes the ceiling is for for employee and employer.
As for your last question, yes it is possible to apply without an income tax assessment form but I'm not really the the right person to answer this

-
revolta
- Member
![Member Member]()
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Sat, 09 Jul 2005 7:17 pm
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by revolta » Mon, 12 Jan 2009 9:56 am
sundaymorningstaple wrote:As a PR you can take back all you CPF upon leaving Singapore, but you have to put it all back plus any interest that would have accrued had it be left there, if you plan on coming back anytime in the future to work.
It's actually a good things and has been for quite a number of years now as the interest rates (risk on risk) are about the best you will find. You can sock away around 15,600 a year and a minimum of 2.6% up to 4% and an additional 1% on the first 60K I believe.
if drop PR can take all cpf including money in medisave? how long is the process for withdrawal of cpf?
-
sundaymorningstaple
- Moderator
![Moderator Moderator]()
- Posts: 40607
- Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
-
Answers: 21
- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by sundaymorningstaple » Sun, 22 Aug 2010 2:27 pm
10 business days wired to any bank you designate world wide.
Oh, please do not advertise in the forum. You surely know the rules by know.
moderator
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
-
-
Buying Private Property with CPF
01the-reef.jpg
By using the Ordinary Account savings in their CPF accounts, CPF members are able to purchase property in Singapore for occupation...
- 0 Replies
- 12661 Views
-
Last post by Pal
Sun, 12 Dec 2021 11:03 am
-
-
CPF medishield liability
Replies: 13
First post
Has anyone got experience with CPF medishield liability for dual citizenship Singaporean child (16-21 years old) with non-Singaporean parents?
Cheers
Last post
If OPs son is giving up his SC and cancelling his CPF account then Eduaave should be part of that.
- 13 Replies
- 9731 Views
-
Last post by PNGMK
Wed, 27 Apr 2022 7:29 am
-
-
Increase in CPF Contribution rates from January 2023
Replies: 50
First post
Mainly applies to ages 55-70 years old
Last post
Although I don’t enjoy CPF, my wife does, and because she perceives all CPF contributions are donations that she’ll never get back… I’ve been helping...
- 50 Replies
- 48861 Views
-
Last post by PNGMK
Fri, 20 Oct 2023 12:30 pm
-
-
CPF accounts of 300,000 foreigners will automatically close from April 2024
Replies: 33
First post
The days of giving up SG PR/citizenship and letting your CPF idle & collect interest is now officially over .
Good thing they closed this loophole,...
Last post
I would hope people read the actual Constitution instead of Wikipedia to understand exactly what is said. Things posted in Wikipedia change over time...
- 33 Replies
- 82397 Views
-
Last post by malcontent
Tue, 04 Apr 2023 7:00 pm
-
-
CPF and US Tax Filing
Replies: 10
First post
I am new to US Tax filing for CPF. I would like to seek advice for:
1. How to file US tax for the Medishield premium deducted from MA? As...
Last post
Thank you very much for answering my questions and for your suggestions.
I am pretty sure that I do not need to report anything related to the CPF...
- 10 Replies
- 16032 Views
-
Last post by zhangqian0324
Tue, 05 Dec 2023 9:22 am
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest