Labor Day and Mother's Day Issue of BAGONG BAYANI Magazine (May 2011)

The Labor Day and Mother's Day Issue (MAY 2011) of Bagong Bayani Magazine with RAMON PADIERNOS, Philippines' Pride in the High Octane World of Digital Technology on the cover, is now out and available for FREE, as usual!

BAGONG BAYANI (MODERN-DAY HERO) MAGAZINE is published monthly in English and Filipino by Salomon Publishing Singapore Pte. Ltd., this glossy, laminated and perfect bound magazine is distributed for FREE, at the Philippine Embassy, Filipino Stores and Restaurants, Remittance Centres, Churches, MRT stations amongst its distribution points.

Salomon publishing is encouraging everyone to share the magazine to the Filipino community here in Singapore.

Housing Development Board advise on Steps Involved in Renting a HDB flat

HDB flats sold under the Home Ownership Scheme are meant for owner-occupation by the flat owners and their families. However flat owners may sublet their whole flat or spare bedrooms if they meet the eligibility conditions.

Singapore citizens, Singapore permanent residents and non-citizens may rent a flat or bedroom from existing HDB flat owners under the Subletting of Flat / Room Scheme.

HDB's Approval Needed To Rent Out the Whole Flat

An HDB owner can rent out his whole flat only after he has obtained a written approval from HDB. Hence, you may request the flat owner to show you a copy of the approval letter to rent out their flat, as obtained from HDB. In addition, to protect your interest, you are advised to include a condition in the subletting contract, specifying that the validity of the contract is subject to the flat owner obtaining HDB's approval for subletting.

Proof of Ownership of the Flat

You are advised to visit the flat you would be renting and to ensure that the person you are dealing with is the rightful owner of the flat. You can do so by requesting for documentary proof of flat ownership which includes the Agreement for Lease, Service & Conservancy charges booklet, Annual or Loan instalment payment booklet/Annual Loan statements, bearing the name of the flat owner.

Rent Payment and Deposit

The market practice is for rent to be paid monthly in advance on the day of tenancy commencement and thereafter on the same day of each subsequent month. The deposit amount is usually equal to one month's rent for a one-year tenancy and two months' rent for a two-year tenancy. It is payable upon signing of the tenancy agreement together with the first month's advance rent. You are advised not to pay more than one month's rent. As proof of payment, you should pay the rental deposit and rents by cheque. You are also advised to move into the flat immediately after collecting the keys.

Disputes Between Subtenants and Flat Owners

Matters relating to subletting tenancy such as amount of rental, payment/forfeiture of deposits, right to terminate tenancy, periods of subletting, etc. are private matters between owners and their subtenants. HDB will not mediate if there is a dispute between owners and their subtenants on these matters. Hence, flat owners and subtenants are advised to read and understand all the terms and conditions in the tenancy agreement carefully before signing it.

Department Of Justice Issues Advisory on Illegal Drug Couriers

The Philippines Department of Justice (”DOJ”) issued an Advisory Opinion explaining to the public the issues surrounding the recruitment, arrest, detention and conviction of Filipinos caught transporting illegal drugs abroad.

 

As with its previous Advisory Opinion regarding the basic rights of citizens in military/police checkpoints, Advisory Opinion No. 2 is in line with the thrust of the DOJ to take a pro-active stance in criminal justice concerns, including the issue on Filipino illegal drug couriers or “drug mules”.

The DOJ’s Advisory is addressed both to Filipinos who willingly accept offers to become illegal drug couriers and to those who were involuntarily caught in the criminal activities of syndicates through various modus operandi.  In either case, the Advisory lays down basic rules that all Filipinos should bear in mind once they are apprehended abroad on suspicion of transporting illegal drugs.

Below are the ten (10) advisory points issued by the DOJ, couched in simple and straightforward language for easy comprehension by the general public:

1. “Carry at your own risk”
2. Knowledge is immaterial and intent is not a requirement in drug trafficking.
3. Be vigilant of the modus operandi of drug courier syndicates.
4. In the unfortunate event of arrest or detention for drug trafficking, have presence of mind and do not resist arrest.
5. Assert your legal rights, inquire on the legal remedies and request for consular assistance.
6. Presumption of innocence will always apply.
7. The laws of the country of arrest apply.
8. If sentenced, the government can only be of limited assistance.
9. “Blood money” cannot be paid to erase the liability of a person convicted of a crime involving illegal drugs.
10. Take full responsibility of your actions.

The DOJ’s Advisory Opinion No. 2 was issued at a time when more and more Filipinos are being arrested and convicted in various countries allegedly for being drug couriers.  It seeks to wan Filipinos of the legal consequences of being involved, voluntarily or involuntarily, in the criminal activities of illegal drug syndicates.

StarHub Clamps Down Hard On Illegal Set-Top boxes, Destroyed 300

StarHub destroyed over 300 illegal set-top boxes at a site in Kranji this morning. The boxes were seized by Singapore Customs and they were handed over to StarHub for mass destruction.

Illegal set-top boxes, otherwise known as unauthorised decoders, illegally decode StarHub TV's encrypted broadcast transmissions and the importation, possession, sale and use of the boxes contravene Singapore’s Copyright and Broadcasting laws.

StarHub has made known publicly that it will not hesitate to take appropriate action to curb the sale of illegal set-top boxes in Singapore.

Said Ms Andrea Tay, StarHub’s Assistant Vice-President of Pay TV Services, “StarHub respects and upholds intellectual property rights of content owners and will take all necessary steps to protect our rights, and the rights of our content providers. Only authorised set-top boxes provided by StarHub should be used to access our content.”

Ms Tay added, “We would advise the public to abide by the law and respect intellectual property rights. Members of the public who purchase these unauthorised decoders may experience service quality issues, and are exposing themselves to legal liabilities.”

"Video piracy in all its forms undercuts the legitimate interests of content producers, distributors and consumers alike," said Mr Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of regional trade organisation, CASBAA.

"Media savvy economies such as Singapore are especially vulnerable to the activities of the pay TV thieves when they destroy the value of TV and movie productions, undercutting the hard-earned returns on investment by the creative communities. Pay TV theft really does affect everyone. The seizure of these pirate boxes by Singapore Customs is praiseworthy, and we hope that other governments can increase their vigilance with respect to trade in piracy hardware and software."

In last year alone, StarHub took two separate illegal set-top box infringement cases to court and secured convictions for both. Other than taking legal action against such wrongdoers, StarHub has also employed technological means to render such unauthorised decoders useless.

HDB Rental: Verification of Foreigner Immigration Status (VERIFI)

Illegal immigration and overstaying pose a serious problem in Singapore. The authorities have taken a number of measures to tackle the problem; however, as long as immigration offenders can get work or find a place to stay, the problem cannot be
effectively tackled.

Homeowners who wish to rent their premises out to foreigners must exercise due diligence in checking the status of their prospective foreign tenants to ensure that they are in Singapore legitimately. Persons or organizations who are in doubt, are also encouraged to check the foreigners' status before transacting with them.

Everyone has a role to play in ensuring the security and safety of Singapore. It concerns not only the safety and security of the
community, but also your personal safety.

Due Diligence Requirements

Before renting your room out to a foreigner, you need to screen the immigration status of your prospective tenant by conducting the following 3 specified checks:

• Check his original immigration pass or/and work pass;
• Cross-check particulars on these passes against particulars in his passport; and
• Verify with the Controller of Immigration or the Controller of Work Permits, as the case may be, that the permit or pass is valid at the material time or Verify with the employer if prospective tenant is working in Singapore.

If you are in doubt about the status of a foreigner, you may:

• Submit a request to verify the status of the foreigner through the Internet. To verify immigration passes (Long Term Visit Pass and Student's Pass), click here to submit your request to Immigration & Checkpoints Authority.
  .
  To verify work passes (Work Permit, Employment Pass and Dependent's Pass),
  click here to submit your request to Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
  OR

• Contact Immigration & Checkpoints Authority at Tel: 6391-6100 (immigration passes) during office hours or MOM (work passes) at Tel: 6438-5122 to verify the status of the foreigner. Alternatively, you can also call in person at Immigration & Checkpoints Authority or MOM during office hours to verify the authenticity of the immigration or work passes.

Consequences of Harboring Immigration Offenders

Under the Immigration Act, the homeowner is liable to be charged for harboring immigration offenders in his house if investigations reveal that he has not exercised due diligence as required by law. If the homeowner is found guilty of the offence, he shall be sentenced to an imprisonment of not less than 6 months and not more than 2 years and shall also be liable to a fine up to S$6,000.

Median Subletting Rents by Town and Flat Type for 4th Quarter 2010

The statistics below provide the median rents of HDB flats in various locations with subletting approvals in the said quarter. The median rent indicates that half the units were above the value and half below.

Flat owners and prospective tenants may use the median rent as a guide to do their own research before entering into a rental agreement.

Median Subletting Rents by Town and Flat Type for 4th Quarter 2010

TOWN	1-RM	2-RM	3-RM	4-RM	5-RM	EXEC
ANG MO KIO	-	$1,280*	$1,610	$2,100	$2,200	-
BEDOK	-	$1,250*	$1,580	$2,000	$2,250	$2,280
BISHAN	-	-	$1,610	$2,200	$2,400	$2,490*
BUKIT BATOK	-	-	$1,550	$1,900	$2,250	$2,150
BUKIT MERAH	$750*	$1,430*	$1,800	$2,400	$2,800	-
BUKIT PANJANG	-	-	$1,500	$1,700	$1,950	$2,100
BUKIT TIMAH	-	-	$1,730*	$2,150*	$2,350*	$2,450*
CENTRAL	-	$1,300*	$2,050	$2,400	$3,500*	-
CHOA CHU KANG	-	-	$1,300	$1,900	$2,000	$2,300
CLEMENTI	-	-	$1,700	$2,200	$2,400	$2,500*
GEYLANG	-	$1,250*	$1,630	$2,050	$2,400	$2,650*
HOUGANG	-	-	$1,600	$1,930	$2,150	$2,450
JURONG EAST	-	-	$1,600	$2,000	$2,100	$2,480
JURONG WEST	-	$1,450*	$1,500	$2,000	$2,200	$2,300
KALLANG/ WHAMPOA	-	$1,250*	$1,700	$2,250	$2,440	$2,650*
MARINE PARADE	-	-	$1,900	$2,330	$2,350*	-
PASIR RIS	-	-	-	$2,000	$2,100	$2,300
PUNGGOL	-	-	-	$1,900	$2,100	$2,300*
QUEENSTOWN	-	$1,300	$1,780	$2,380	$2,550	$2,800*
SEMBAWANG	-	-	-	$1,850	$2,000	$2,200
SENGKANG	-	-	$1,930*	$2,000	$2,100	$2,300
SERANGOON	-	-	$1,700	$2,030	$2,270	$2,500
TAMPINES	-	-	$1,700	$1,950	$2,200	$2,350
TOA PAYOH	-	$1,300*	$1,700	$2,000	$2,330	$2,490*
WOODLANDS	-	-	$1,430	$1,800	$2,000	$2,050
YISHUN	-	-	$1,500	$1,800	$2,000	$2,250
OVERALL	$750	$1,300	$1,700	$2,000	$2,150	$2,300

Notes:

1. (-) indicates no subletting transactions in the quarter.
2. Figures marked with asterisks (“ * ”) refer to cases where there are less than 10 subletting transactions in the quarter for the particular town and flat type. As such, they may not be representative.
3. The data above is based on rents self-declared in the subletting application forms. Nevertheless, it serves as a useful reference in sublet flat hunting and basis for rent negotiations.
4. The median rent tells you that half of the units for that flat type in that town were rented above that price and half below.
5. The figures are rounded to the nearest ten dollars.

Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) required before selling HDB flat

HDB flat owners can sell their flats in the open market to eligible buyers of their own choice at a mutually agreed resale price. The seller and buyer shall declare to HDB the true resale price of the flat. They shall not enter into any supplementary or other agreements or arrangements that may cause the true resale price as declared to be inflated or understated.

Important Note
Under the Housing & Development Act, the penalties for buyers and sellers who give false information to HDB is up to 6 months' imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $5,000.

Before selling your flat, you must ensure that you have met the eligibility criteria to do so, i.e. to have met the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP).

Minimum Occupation Period (MOP)

HDB flat owners must have physically occupied their flats for a period of time, referred to as Minimum Occupation Period (MOP), before they are eligible to sell it in the open market.

The period will depend on:

• The purchase mode, and
• The flat type

*If you have rented out your entire flat, the period of subletting will not be included in the computation of the MOP.

Flat type listed below and their required MOP*.

1-Room and HUDC Flat
- No occupation period for owners owning 1-room flat or HUDC flat.

Flats bought from HDB (direct-purchase flat), DBSS flat bought from developer and Resale Flat under CPF Housing Grant Scheme
- 5 years from effective date of purchase.

Flats bought under Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS)

• For SERS replacement flat purchased with portable SERS rehousing benefits
  - 5 years from the effective date of purchase of the replacement flat.
• For SERS replacement flat not purchased with portable SERS rehousing benefits
  - 7 years from the date of selection of the replacement flat, provided they had taken possession of the replacement flat; or
  - 5 years from the effective date of purchase of the replacement flat.

The computation of the MOP excludes the period (if any) of non-occupation of the replacement flat, such as subletting of whole flat or any infringement of the flat lease.

Resale Flat bought in the open market (without CPF Housing Grant Scheme)

The minimum occupation period you need to meet depends on when we receive your resale application:

Resale Application Received Date	MOP applicable
Before 5 March 2010 (includes owners owning their resale flat as at this date)	2½ years from effective date of resale if the owner takes a loan from HDB 1 year from the effective date of resale if: i. the owner has not taken a loan from HDB; or ii. he has taken a loan from the bank/financial institution to finance the purchase
5 March 2010 - 29 August 2010	3 years from effective date of resale, regardless of the type of loan taken by the owners or loan status
On or after 30 August 2010	5 years from effective date of resale, regardless of the type of loan taken by the owners or loan status

Housing Development Board guidelines for renting out whole HDB flat/unit

This are the guidelines for subletting of flat but is also useful info for those who will be renting the HDB so that they can verify the legality of the flat.

In particular, information provided concerns:

• Eligibility conditions : Flat owners
• Flat owners' responsibilities
• Eligibility conditions : Subtenants
• Maximum subletting period
• Costs involved in subletting
• Apply for approval

Eligibility Conditions: Flat Owners

To sublet the entire flat, you need to satisfy the condition of a 3-year or 5-year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP).
You are allowed to sublet your whole flat if you have occupied your:

• Non-subsidised flat (flat purchased from the open market without a CPF housing grant) for at least 3 years if your application for the purchase of the flat was received before 30 Aug 2010;
• Non-subsidised flat (flat purchased from the open market without a CPF housing grant) for at least 5 years if your application for the purchase of the flat was received on or after 30 Aug 2010;
• Subsidised flat (flat purchased directly from HDB or from the open market with a CPF housing grant) for at least 5 years

In case you do not meet the MOP condition for subletting, you may still sublet your whole flat only if it is under any one of the following special circumstances.

Living in quarters provided by employer	You/your spouse, your family members and authorized occupiers, are all staying in quarters provided by your employer.
Going overseas to work or study	You/your spouse are going overseas to work or study and the entire family will be going with you OR You are leaving behind family members who: Cannot take care of themselves, and Will be moving out of the flat
Living in commercial properties	You/your spouse are tenants, subtenants or owners of commercial property with living quarters AND You need to stay in that property, with your family members, to look after the business
Other circumstances	You are the sole owner and occupier of the flat and need medical care from relatives because of an illness OR You are the sole owner and occupier of the flat and have been hospitalised for more than 6 months OR The flat owners have passed away and left behind an orphaned minor child (under 21 years of age) The guardian or public trustee of the minor child may sublet the whole flat

Flat Owners’ Responsibilities

As a flat owner subletting your flat, you will be responsible for:

• Making sure the flat is sublet to eligible subtenants only
• Making sure that there is no overcrowding and the number of subtenants does not exceed the maximum number allowed
• Making sure that your subtenants have entered and are remaining in Singapore lawfully at all times (while the subletting is in force)
• Making sure that your subtenants do not further sublet the flat to other persons
• Making sure that your subtenants comply with all the covenants in the lease and the provisions of the Housing & Development Act and that you are responsible for all infringements, if any, committed by them
• Informing the Comptroller of Property Tax of the subletting, and HDB of any changes in the subletting
• Resuming occupation of your flat and ensuring your subtenants vacate the premises when:
  • The subletting is terminated, or
  • You are no longer eligible to sublet your flat

Surrendering the flat if the flat is repossessed by HDB

Eligiblity Conditions : Subtenants

Citizenship

Subtenants must be :

• a. Singapore citizens; or
• Singapore permanent residents; or
• Non-citizens legally residing in Singapore [holders of Employment Passes, S Passes, Work Permits*, Student Passes, Dependant Passes, Professional Visit Passes, Long Term Social Visit Passes (6 months and above)].

*Construction workers who are Work Permit holders should be Malaysians.

Immigration status of non-citizen subtenants may be verified using the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority's VERIFI website.

Maximum Number of Subtenants
The maximum number of subtenants allowed in each flat is:

Flat Type	Total Number of Occupants
1-room and 2-room	4 persons
3-room	6 persons
4-room and bigger	9 persons

Tenancy/Property Ownership Status

• Subtenants must not be tenants/owners of other HDB flats except for :
  • Tenants/owners who are divorced/legally separated
    • Only one of the divorced/legally separated parties may be a subtenant
• Owners who are eligible to sublet their whole HDB flat
  • They must sublet their own flat within 1 month after having rented a flat from another flat owner
  • They are not able to sublet their own flat after they move out of their flat as there are other occupiers remaining behind

Subtenants must not be owners of Executive Condominium units where the 5-year minimum occupation period has not been met.

Maximum Subletting Period
- Three years per subletting approval.

Costs Involved In Subletting

• Administrative fee
  Flat owners have to pay an administrative fee of $20/- for each subletting application.
• Renewal fee
  Flat owners must submit a new application and pay a fresh administrative fee to continue subletting the flat when existing subletting period expires. The new application will be subject to a reassessment of your eligibility to sublet your flat.

Apply For Approval

You must obtain HDB’s approval before you sublet your whole flat. You can submit the application online at My HDBPage. Alternatively, you can obtain the application form from any HDB Branch Office or download the application form and print it.

If the lessee is overseas during the period of subletting, there must be a properly appointed Attorney to act for him in the management of the flat. A certified true copy of the Power of Attorney (POA), executed in HDB's prescribed form and which has been lodged with the High Court, must be furnished (Please consult your solicitor on the POA).

Housing and Development Board (HDB) stepped up enforcement against unauthorized subletting of flats

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) stepped up its enforcement against unauthorized subletting of flats in 2010. This comes after 7,000 flat inspections conducted in 2010 (an increase from the 3,000 done in 2009).

Of the 95 flat owners owners caught by the HDB for illegal subletting, 39 had their flats acquired.

Of the 7,000 flats inspected, 95 flat owners had action taken against them by the HDB in relation to unauthorized subletting. The actions taken include compulsory acquisition of the flats and imposing of financial penalties.

The public's feedback played a greater role in the HDB's inspections, with public feedback leading to 1,800 inspections (of the total of 7,000). This is almost double the number received in 2009.

Under current HDB rules, flat owners who wish to sublet their entire flats must meet the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) and obtain the HDB's approval before doing so.

Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) -- HDB flat owners must have physically occupied their flats for a period of time before they are eligible to sell or sublet/rent it in the open market.

HDB will continue to step up inspections and is welcoming public feedback on suspected unauthorized subletting, which it promises to keep strictly confidential. The public can report such suspected cases by calling the dedicated hotline 1800-555-6370.

Immigration and Checkpoint Authority rejected about 2% of PRs’ re-entry permits annually

For the past three years, the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) has rejected about 2 per cent of re-entry permit applications from permanent residents (PRs).

This was revealed by the Home Affairs Minister, K. Shanmugam, in response to a question from Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Audrey Wong, on the number of PRs who could not renew their re-entry permits.

According to The Straits Times, PRs are required to have a valid re-entry permit if they wish to travel out of Singapore, so they can retain their PR status while away from the country. They are required to renew the re-entry permit on a periodic basis.

However, Mr Shanmugam said that reasons for rejection of applications included an applicant’s prolonged absence from Singapore, lack of gainful employment at the time of a renewal application or lack of family roots in Singapore.

In addition, for PRs who are dependents such as spouses or elderly parents, the loss of the PR status of their sponsor would mean that their re-entry permit applications would also be rejected.

Philippine Bureau of Immigration step up vigilance and intensify campaign against human trafficking

Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Ricardo A. David Jr. urged immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to step up their vigilance and intensify the agency’s campaign against human trafficking.

David made the appeal during a dialogue with the bureau’s head supervisors and personnel assigned at the premiere port last Monday.

David directed Lina Andaman Pelia, BI airport operations division chief, to institute measures that will not only stop victims of illegal recruitment from leaving but also prevent the smuggling of illegal aliens.

He said the campaign against human trafficking should also target the syndicates that use the Philippines as a transit point for smuggling illegal aliens to other countries.

“Although we should be proud of our success in stopping thousands of undocumented OFWs from leaving, more efforts should likewise be exerted prevent the entry of illegal aliens who are later smuggled abroad by the syndicates that recruited and victimized them,” the immigration chief added. Immigration officers at the NAIA have been offloading thousands of passengers since August last year when it launched its intensified drive against human trafficking.

Most of the offloaded passengers were prospective OFWs bound for Asian destinations such as Singapore, Malaysia, Hongkong, and the Middle East but did not have the required overseas employment certificate from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

David said the BI will soon be deploying more immigration officers to the NAIA to augment the personnel who process and screen passengers.

He also stressed the need to conduct more training programs that will bolster the capability of BI personnel in profiling suspected illegal aliens and detecting fraudulent travel documents.

“Deploying more immigration officers will not serve its purpose unless we are sure that they have the capability and the know-how to perform their jobs,” he added.

GIRO your tax and win up to $20,000 cash in “GIRO Your Tax” Lucky Draw

The Lucky Draws are open to individuals who pay income and property tax by GIRO. There will be 3 annual draws from 2011 to 2013. The longer one stays on GIRO, the higher the chances of winning in the Lucky Draws! Taxpayers now paying their tax on GIRO are already eligible for the Lucky Draws.

Top prize $20,000 to be won in the “GIRO Your Tax” Lucky Draw on 17 May 2011! Sign up for GIRO before 30 Apr 2011 to qualify for the 1^st year Draw with $65,000 cash prizes to be won!

Meet Michelle Chia, MediaCorp artiste at 'GIRO Your Tax' Roadshows
@ Eastpoint Mall on 2 Apr 2011 (Sat), 12pm to 4pm
@ Jurong Point on 3 Apr 2011 (Sun), 12pm to 4pm
@ Marina Square, Central Atrium on 17 May 2011 (Tue), 2pm to 5pm

Games and attractive prizes await you!

First Year Lucky Draw in May 2011

A pre-draw will be conducted in the presence of external auditors at 55 Newton Road, Revenue House, Singapore 307987. The following will be drawn at the pre-draw:
a) 100 winners for the cash prize of $100 each,
b) 83 winners for the cash prize of $200 each, and
c) 20 winners to be invited to a "Live" Lucky Draw event on 17 May 2011, where the top three (3) winners will be picked for the top 3 cash prizes. The remaining 17 will get cash prize of $200 each.

Easy ways to sign-up for GIRO

1. Instant approval if you sign-up at any AXS station (for DBS/POSB customers) or through Internet banking (for DBS/POSB or OCBC customers); or

2. Complete and send the GIRO application form (14 days to process); or

3. Sign-up for GIRO using the Payment Voucher enclosed with your tax bill.

Benefits of GIRO

Convenient
GIRO is an electronic cashless mode of payment.

No more queues
You do not have to spend time queuing at payment kiosks.

No more late payment
You will not miss the payment due dates.

Interest-free installments
You can enjoy up to 12 monthly interest-free installments, or opt for one-time GIRO deduction.  

Faster tax refund
You can receive tax refund faster as it will be credited directly to your bank account.  You do not have to wait for your refund to be posted to you in cheque.

Full control over GIRO with IRAS’ e-Services
You can adjust or cancel your GIRO plan just by calling IRAS on 1800 356 8300.
You can also view your GIRO plan and tax balance simply by logging in to myTax Portal.
     To view your installment plan > select ‘Payments->View Payment Plan’
     To view your tax balance > select ‘View Account Summary’

GIRO Promotion Lucky Draw

The GIRO Promotion Lucky Draw period is from Apr 2010 to Mar 2013. Sign up for GIRO before 30 April 2011 to be eligible for the first Lucky Draw in May 2011.

How to Qualify for the Lucky Draw and Get Higher Chances of Winning

As long as you have paid your income tax and/or property tax through GIRO during the qualifying periods, you are eligible for the draws.  You will get higher chances of winning if you continue to pay your income tax and/or property tax through GIRO during the promotion period, as illustrated below:

 

	1st Draw May 2011	2nd Draw May 2012	3rd Draw May 2012
Qualifying periods*	1 Apr 2010 - 31 Mar 2011	1 Apr 2011 - 31 Mar 2012	1 Apr 2012 - 31 Mar 2013
GIRO payment	Number of Chances
Income Tax	1	2	3
Property Tax	1	2	3
Total Chances	2	4	6

*For tax billed or payment made during these periods.

Lucky Draw Terms and Conditions (78.6KB)

Cash Prizes	1st Draw May 2011	2nd Draw May 2012	3rd Draw May 2013
1st prize	$20,000	$30,000	$50,000
2nd prize	$10,000	$15,000	$25,000
3rd prize	$5,000	$10,000	$15,000
Consolation Prizes	100 prizes of $200 each	200 prizes of $200 each	300 prizes of $200 each
Consolation Prizes	100 prizes of $100 each	200 prizes of $100 each	300 prizes of $100 each
Total Prizes	$65,000	$115,000	$180,000

FAQs on the Lucky Draw

What is IRAS No-Filing Service

If you have received a letter from IRAS informing you that you are selected to benefit from the No-Filing Service, you do NOT need to submit an Income Tax Return.

IRAS, Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, will issue you a tax bill (Notice of Assessment) based on your relief claims for last year, and the income details sent by your employer who participates in the Auto-Inclusion Scheme (AIS) for Employment Income. However, reliefs may be adjusted if you have been informed that you do not meet the eligibility criteria.

IRAS is to Singapore as BIR is to Philippines, get it.

You need to submit an Income Tax Return only if you:

1. have additional income to declare. For e.g. you changed employer in year 2010 and your new employer is not in the AIS and/or received rental or other taxable income in year 2010; or
2. have additional reliefs to claim. For e.g. you have a new child born in the year 2010; or
3. need to remove pre-filled reliefs for which you are no longer eligible. For e.g. your child started working and had income exceeding $4,000 in the year 2010.

Are you on NFS?

Please log into myTax Portal to check whether you are on No-Filing Service. Find out more from the User Guide  (226KB).

Singapore MDA started refunding the collected 2011 RTV licence fees

The Media Development Authority of Singapore has begun to refund the 2011 RTV licence fees collected.

Image courtesy of cartoonstock.com

Starting today, some 1.1 million cheques will be mailed in batches to households, non-residential TV licensees (such as hotels, offices, food and beverages and retail outlets that have TV sets), vehicle owners, and dealers engaged in the import or sale of any broadcasting apparatus. The final batch of cheques is expected to be sent by 30 April 2011.

Licensees are advised to bank the cheques into their accounts within six months. Licensees who do not hold a bank account can produce their NRIC/ FIN/ Passport at any United Overseas Bank (UOB) branch to encash the cheque.

Licensees who have paid their 2011 RTV licence fees in full, and have no past outstanding fees for 2010 or earlier, will receive full refunds. Licensees with outstanding fees will have that amount deducted from their refund. If the refund is not enough to offset the outstanding fees, licensees will receive a Final Payment Reminder. They should pay the balance amount by 31 May 2011 at any AXS station or SingPost branch.

Licensees can check their licence account status with their SingPass at MDA Online

For more information on the refund exercise, please visit www.mda.gov.sg or email MDA at feedback@mailbox.mda.gov.sg.

Philippine Embassy Singapore: Observe proper behavior and follow the laws and regulations of the host country

In view of recent incidents (author comment: look for related website forums) involving Filipinos in Singapore, the Philippine Embassy has issued the following guidelines to remind all Singapore-based Filipinos to observe proper behavior and follow the laws and regulations of the host country.

1. Obey the laws of the host country.  As foreigners who work, live or study in Singapore, Filipinos are obliged to respect the laws and regulations of the host country, and should behave properly as guests and visitors.
2. Filipinos should respect the differences between Filipino and Singaporean culture and be sensitive to these differences.
3. Refrain from engaging in partisan politics, especially during the election season in Singapore.  Filipinos should avoid any involvement in partisan political debates and activities in Singapore as this is a violation of Singapore laws.
4. Filipinos, including Permanent Residents, are not allowed to participate in political campaigns and do not have the right to vote in Singapore elections.  Under Singapore laws, errant foreigners may be charged under the Societies Act, the Public Entertainment and Meetings Act, the Immigration Act, and/or the Penal Code if they engage in partisan political activity in the city-state.
5. Avoid participating in online debates, chats or blogs that are political in nature.  Refrain from explicit negative comments, particularly racial or religious slurs and insults.  Participating in these online debates will only inflame the situation and may result in untoward incidents, possible loss of employment and investigation by authorities.

Singapore Police: Appeal for information to a theft at a supermarket in Changi Airport Terminal 1

Have you seen this man?

Singapore Police are looking for the man shown in the photo to assist with investigations into a case of theft at a supermarket located at Changi Airport Terminal 1 on 19 Jan 2011 .

The man is believed to be a male Chinese in his late 30s and was last seen wearing a striped polo-shirt. He was also seen carrying a black haversack and a green paper bag.

Anyone with information on the man is requested to call the Police hotline at 1800-255-0000. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

Philippine Regulatory Commission launches Online Verification of Filipino Professional (OVFP)

To help weed out fake doctors, dentists and the like, the Professional Regulation Commission on Thursday launched an online verification system that would allow interested persons to check if an individual is a licensed professional or not.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said Online Verification of Filipino Professional (OVFP) system—which is accessible on the PRC website—would help solve the problem of fake professionals duping the unsuspecting public.

“With the system … the days of con men producing fake documents, including unscrupulous persons posing as professionals to defraud the public are over,” Baldoz said in a statement.

Baldoz and PRC commissioner Alfredo Po led the rites launching the OVFP at the Department of Labor and Employment main office in Intramuros, Manila.

“The OVFP is a system that allows online verification of the status of professionals. Employers or any person can check with the system, which can be accessed through the PRC website, the authenticity of the license of any professional, or if the latter is in good standing,” Baldoz said.

“The public can now also verify online if, for instance, the doctor or engineer they are dealing with is licensed,” she added.

Baldoz urged the public to report to law enforcers those individuals or groups that, upon verification with the OVFP, were proven to be unlicensed, “including those who were producing fake documents.”

The PRC also launched on Thursday its Online Renewal Application System (ORAS) that would allow Filipino professionals, including those abroad, to renew their professional identification cards (PICs) without having to go to the PRC itself.

PRC chairman Nicolas Lapena said Oras was intended primarily for professionals working overseas “who usually resort to filing their applications through authorized parties.”

“The system is designed to save our professionals time, money, and effort, adding that the transactions covered include the renewal, reprinting and duplication of the PIC,” Lapena said.

Singapore Immigration (ICA) Officer charged with three counts of forging medical certificates

An officer from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) was charged on Tuesday with three counts of forgery.

Mohammad Rahimi Hussain, 24, is believed to have doctored three medical certificates in a flat at Block 750, Woodlands Avenue 4, in August and September last year.

Each of the three documents he allegedly forged originally stated that he had been given a day's leave.

It's believed that Mohammad Rahimi inflated the rest period the doctors had given him to up to four days.

He will be back in court on March 29.

If convicted of forgery, he could be jailed up to four years, fined or both on each charge.

PE Singapore Announcement of Delays in ePassport Release

This came from Philippine Embassy in Singapore:

Due to unforeseen technical problems in the production of ePassports in Manila, there will be delays in the release of the passports scheduled for collection from 1 to 11 March 2011.

Please be informed that the Embassy is closely monitoring the production process and will call the applicants as soon as their passports become available.  Alternatively, applicants may call tel. no. 65.6737.3977 ext. 127 or 111.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate the public’s kind understanding.

Thank you for the kind cooperation.

SDPC Cigarette Marking: Legal duty-paid cigarettes sold in Singapore

Since 1 January 2009, all duty-paid cigarettes sold in Singapore are legally required to be marked with the letters “SDPC”.

All cigarettes will be sold in packets bearing the graphic health warning labels as stipulated by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

The SDPC will be marked on every individual stick of cigarettes.

How Does a SDPC-marked Cigarette Look Like?

What Does the Regulation Mean?

All cigarettes without the SDPC-marking in Singapore will be deemed illegal. Therefore, anyone caught selling, buying, or having in possession cigarettes without the SDPC marking will be committing an offence under the Customs and GST Acts.

Why is there a Need for this Regulation?

The new marking regulation seeks to achieve the following objectives:

• To reinforce Singapore Customs’ intensified operations to keep contraband cigarettes off the streets,
• As a measure to visibly differentiate duty-paid cigarettes from contraband cigarettes to enhance detection by our enforcement officers, and
• As deterrence to curb the peddling and buying of contraband cigarettes in Singapore

What are the Penalties?

Anyone caught selling, buying, or having in possession of duty unpaid cigarettes without the SDPC marking will be committing an offence under the Customs and GST Acts.  For every packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes, buyers will be fined $500. Illegal peddlers will be arrested and charged in Court.Offenders will be fined or sent to jail or both.

Frequently-asked Questions

• What about smokers returning to Singapore from overseas?  How will their packet of cigarettes be treated at the checkpoint?
  
  There are no duty-free concessions or GST relief for cigarettes and other tobacco products in Singapore since 1991. Persons arriving in Singapore who bring in cigarettes or tobacco products, including SDPC-marked cigarettes and tobacco products, are required to declare them at the Red Channel for payment of duty and GST.
  
  Arriving travellers and returning Singaporeans who have brought in cigarettes from overseas for their own consumption and have paid duty are advised to reproduce their receipts issued by Singapore Customs as proof of payment of duty and GST when checked by Customs officers

   

• What are the penalties?
  
  All duty-paid cigarettes sold in Singapore without the SDPC marking will be deemed as duty-unpaid.  Anyone caught selling, buying, or having in possession of duty unpaid cigarettes without the SDPC marking will be committing an offence under the Customs and GST Acts.  Illegal peddlers will be arrested and charged in court.  For every packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes, buyers will be fined $500.

• Will there be counterfeit cigarettes with the SDPC markings?
  
  We assessed that this is unlikely.  Nevertheless, we will be monitoring the situation closely and will review our tactics accordingly should the situation change.

• Why is there a need for the SDPC marking regulation?
  
  The SPDC marking on every stick of duty-paid cigarettes sold in Singapore is a measure to visibly differentiate duty-paid cigarettes from contraband cigarettes. This will enhance detection by our enforcement officers, and act as deterrence to curb the peddling and buying of contraband cigarettes in Singapore.  The new requirement will reinforce Singapore Customs’ intensified operations to keep contraband cigarettes off the streets.

• When will the regulation on “SPDC” markings take effect?
  
  All individual sticks of cigarettes that are meant for sale or consumption in Singapore will have to bear the SDPC marking.