What's the worst that could happen on Valentine’s Day? No doubt it’s Budget 2023. The front desk was a sea of flowers and goodies. Yet, nothing was for me. The streets were crowded with lovebirds. But I was ineligible for love. The defeated soul went home alone depressed and drained. Still, they broke the bad news about paying more to buy private properties. From tomorrow … [Read more...]
4 big questions of Singapore’s wealth taxes
Blackbox Research surveyed 764 people on Singapore’s Budget 2022. The results showed that two in five respondents “highly favored” tax hikes for top income earners and higher duties for luxury cars. The poll didn’t mention the type of home or personal income of the respondents. But those who “highly favored” raise in taxes are probably not targeted in the new round of … [Read more...]
Budget 2022 is another nightmare of landlords
Last Friday (Feb 18) the government announced a list of progressive tax raises in Budget 2022. They aim to generate revenues for the Inland Revenue of Singapore (IRAS) in the coming three years. When I told my friends and relatives overseas about Singapore's latest budget, they all reacted with disbelief. At present, their countrymen are complaining about runaway inflation. … [Read more...]
A ‘single’ property owner’s wishlist for Singapore Budget
All taxpayers are not created equal. In every year's Singapore Budget or National Day Rally, the media will feature a low-income or middle-class family, highlighting "what he and his family will get" or "how she and her family will be benefited". But no one bothers to interview singles like us. Because we don't get anything anyway. Why do they have to penalize singles … [Read more...]
Unmasking the 5 myths of property tax
On December 5, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) announced the reduction of property tax for HDB flats in 2015. Three days later, there was an article "Property Tax cut for one in four private home owners" in The Straits Times. A week after their announcement, a representative from IRAS further elaborated how annual values are calculated in The Straits Times … [Read more...]