Singapore’s Budget For 2010 Will Stimulate Economic Growth
Recently, special attention is paid to economic policies pursued by Singapore. On the basis of objective indicators, Singapore continues to strengthen its position as the best country for business>> (this status was granted to him in 2009, the World Bank (WB) and International Finance Corporation (IFC). Thus, the country’s budget, submitted in 2010, focuses on building new opportunities for economic growth through Tax Incentives for citizens and legal persons, while groups with low and middle income countries will be given additional protection. As was announced by Minister of Finance of Singapore Tharmanom Shanmugaratnamom, the government provides substantial tax breaks to companies investing in innovation and production, requiring the participation of highly qualified staff, by reducing the effective tax rates, providing tax incentives, grants and subsidies for training and staff training.
It is worth noting that the development of business through tax incentives Singapore is engaged for the past 10 years, gradually reducing the tax rate on corporate profits (if in 2001 it was 25,5%, in 2010 – 17%), providing companies with tax exemption on income within the first 3 years of activity (for example, in the first year company may obtain the release of 100% for the first 100,000 Singapore dollars, 50% exemption for 200,000 Singapore dollars in the second and third years). At the same time, numerous agreements on avoidance of double taxation, coupled with exemption from taxation of income earned outside Singapore, making Singapore attractive for international business. Special attention is paid to the Singapore government’s influx of foreign workforce. Since 2004, Singapore has a program to attract foreign businessmen, according to which a foreign citizen, provided it meets certain requirements (regarding education, work experience), could relatively easily get a work visa. This was one of the tricks of Singapore in an effort to become a regional business hub and attract the best business and entrepreneurial minds in the country. Since 2010 increased fees for regulating the flow of labor. In general, for all three years, the overall increase in fees will amount to about 100 Singapore dollars per employee in manufacturing and services.
Singapore Government also encourages the deal to change the corporate structure by promoting mergers and acquisitions. Five-year scheme will be introduced one-time provision of tax credits to help defray costs of organizing the mergers and acquisitions. Allowance will be 5% of the value of the transaction, but will be limited to 5 million Singapore dollars a year. For such transactions will be abolished stamp duty levied on the transfer of shares, not Listed on the Stock Exchange. This rule will apply to transactions whose value does not exceed 100 million Singapore dollars per year. In addition, the government plans to use the new incentives for the expansion of certain types of economic activities with high growth potential. For example, the scope of coverage schemes to promote and expand the activities of law firms will be expanded in order to strengthen Singapore’s position as a International Arbitration Centre. In accordance with this scheme, the recognized legal firms will be subject to vat at 10% of the value added obtained as a result of legal services international character.