FOREIGN MAID LEVY TAX

FOREIGN MAID LEVY TAX

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(Deduction for singles): **

16.

Dr Fatimah Lateef asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance if he will consider allowing foreign maid levy tax deduction for singles who have the responsibility of looking after their aged parents as currently only married women or those separated, divorced or widowed with children, who can claim child relief, are eligible for such tax deduction.

Mr Lee Hsien Loong: The Foreign Maid Levy Relief was intended to encourage married women to continue working and raise families. It is not meant as a general relief for any household that may need help from maids. This is why the Foreign Maid Levy Relief is only available to married working women.

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There are other ways in which the Government supports Singaporeans who are looking after their aged parents. First, there is the Parent Relief. The relief is $5,000 per parent if the parent is living with the taxpayer and $3,500 if the parent is not. Second, those who need to engage a maid to help them care for their aged parents pay a lower maid levy as they are eligible for a $95 per month Foreign Domestic Worker Levy Concession. Individuals can claim the concession as long as their parent, parent-in-law, grandparent or grandparent-in-law is a Singapore Citizen or Singapore PR, aged 65 years and above, staying in the same household. Both the Parent Relief and Foreign Domestic Worker Levy Concession are available to singles.