Tax Season - USA and Singapore Compared

It is tax season again. For 2005 tax, it is a little bit challenging for us. We moved from USA to Singapore last April. Now we need prepare tax for both USA and Singapore. Luckily everything is online now.

USA tax schema is whithhold-first-refund-back. The federal and state taxes are not cheap, around 25-30%. If you plan to stay and retire there, maybe it is not bad. You can get it back with SSN and medical welfare. Otherwise, it is just like throwing crispy dollars bills into water.

Since you want to get tax back as much as possible, and the whole procedure is very complex, it is good to hire some H&R Block professionals or buy a copy of TurboTax software for it. The small service fee can be very rewarding in turn.

Singapore tax schema is more reasonable. You pay the tax based on your income. The e-file system is well done. Many companies actually report the employee's income directly into the system. The whole procedure is simple and straightforward. There are no such options like resident, non-resident, married fill jointly, married fill seperately, and so on so forth. Everyone claims the tax on her/his own, and relief options are well defined.

Comments

spring 2.0 bean scope

singleton Scopes the bean definition to a single instance per Spring container (default). prototype Allows a bean to be instantiated any number of times (once per use). request Scopes a bean definition to an HTTP request. Only valid when used with a web capable Spring context (such as with Spring MVC). session Scopes a bean definition to an HTTP session. Only valid when used with a webcapableSpring context (such as with Spring MVC). global-session Scopes a bean definition to a global HTTP session. Only valid when used in a portlet context.

Crocs sandals

Suddenly one special looking sandals get popular. The brand is Crocs. It even opens a brand store at Marina Square. The design idea is from Dutch wooden shoes, I guess. A pair of Crocs sandals is sold at around SGD 50. The price is justified for what it is made of - Croslite. Based on Crocs website, "Croslite™, a proprietary Closed Cell Resin (PCCR) which is NOT plastic NOR rubber. Croslite™ is closed-cell in nature and anti-microbial, which virtually eliminates odor. it is an extraordinary impact absorbing resin material developed for maximum cushioning. its closed cell properties resist odor, inhibits bacterial and fungal growth and are non toxic. this versatile material can be worn next to skin and be cleaned with just soap and water." However, it really looks like made of plastic or rubber, and the design is unique. Replica comes. they are sold at SGD 20, SGD 10, SGD 5 depending on quality.

Singapore Girl Sex Clip Posted Online

A couple days ago, a sex video clip about a female Chinese graduate student Wang Ting Ting (王婷婷) was posted on the internet. Just as it is about to cool down, another sex video clip pops. It is a sex clip of a Singapore Nanyang Polytechnic student . The video clip was stored on her cell phone. Someone stole it and posted the video clip on the Internet. This is a breaking news. It is even reported on major Singapore and Malaysia newspapers. Now we have so many cool gadgets. It is a breeze to shoot photos/videos, and share them on the internet. Everyone, even dog, is on the internet waiting for breaking news. Be careful when you do something secret or stupid. It may appear all over the world, live!

No smoking sign

Watch out this sign before you light the cigarette up. SGD 1000 fine! However, I wonder if someone had really paid so much for violation.

Prostitutes in Singapore

Singapore is very realistic about this issue. Prostitution is legal. The famous red light zone is Geylang area. I heard Hong Kong officials are considering to legalize this business in HK also. Singaporeans are not allow to work as prostitute. Maybe also SPR. The prostitutes are mainly foreign workers from poor countries in SEA area, such as Indonesia, Thailand, India, Malaysia, not from China. They come under special 2-year working pass, and must pass the health exam, yes, to prevent STD such as HIV, AIDS and so on. The brothels are mixed with normal resident houses. The brothel's house number is red lighted. The price is ranged from SGD 50 to SGD 200. Illegal sex workers are also around, and in some massage clinics. A very recent fatal case and newly effective government policy make a special social group - Chinese accompanying mom for studying kids a hot media buzz again.

kunwei2005

Search This Blog