Singapore Expats

cracktojack wrote:Hi,

I am coming to Singapore on EP and my wife is coming as a DP holder. She is working in India and her Indian company wants her to work over VOIP phone and mails from singapore.

1. Can she work like this? She won't be getting any income in SG as her salary will deposited in indian savings account in INR. Or she need to apply for any other visas?

2. whether DP holder can do freelancing?

sundaymorningstaple wrote:Actually, ksl, if she is working for an foreign company that is not registered here in Singapore she can even receive her money here in Singapore without running afoul of any laws. She doesn't need to file a tax return here either and she can do it all on a dependents pass or whatever pass she has with no problems at all (wasn't always like that though - I learned this recently as a results of another query on the board and I checked it out and can confirm it.

sundaymorningstaple wrote:Actually, ksl, if she is working for an foreign company that is not registered here in Singapore she can even receive her money here in Singapore without running afoul of any laws. She doesn't need to file a tax return here either and she can do it all on a dependents pass or whatever pass she has with no problems at all (wasn't always like that though - I learned this recently as a results of another query on the board and I checked it out and can confirm it.

Dear SMS

Regardless of whether an individual is holding a work pass or dependent pass, he/she is subject to tax in Singapore if services / work is rendered in Singapore. Under Section 12(4) of Singapore Income Tax Act, all gains or profits from employment exercised in Singapore are deemed to be derived from Singapore. Thus, if the services of an employee are performed in Singapore, the employment income is treated as having a source in Singapore. This is regardless of where the contract is concluded, where the income is received, who the employer is, or where the employer is located.

As such, your mentioned employee's wife who is working for a company not registered in Singapore is subject to tax in Singapore. For more information on tax treatment of an employee employed by a foreign company not registered in Singapore, please visit our website at http://www.iras.gov.sg/irasHome/page.aspx?id=1192

If she is working in Singapore on the capacity as an independent professional, i.e. not an employee of a company, withholding tax may be applicable if she is a non-resident for tax purposes. For details, please refer to http://www.iras.gov.sg/irasHome/page.aspx?id=3462

She may contact us directly via email at [email protected] if she need further clarifications. Please advise her to provide us her FIN number shown in the dependent pass.

Thank you.


Yours sincerely

Yap-Tay Lee Imm (Mrs)
Senior Tax Officer
Foreigner & Clearance Branch
for Comptroller of Income Tax

Dear Sir

We refer to our tele conversation on 22 January 2009.

You may wish to note that a work pass is not required for Dependant Pass
holders working remotely at home for overseas company that is not registered
in Singapore.

For more information, you may visit MOM's website at www.mom.gov.sg.

goldenarms wrote:I am currently in a similar situation. My wife was offered employment and I will be living on a dependent pass. The company I work for in Canada wants me to continue working remote from Singapore. Reading this thread it seems like this isn't an issue? It it from 2009 though. I can't seem to reach anyone from MOM to ask.
Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!