Anyone with a HSBC credit card?

[kittykat]

If so, am about to apply for one and there's a referral bonus if anyone refers me who has a card. $20 Isetan voucher for you and a movie ticket for me. I'm going to get the card that lets me get KrisFlyer points for paying my tax. I have been here too long - I'm "goodie" obsessed!!

[Fat Bob]

I have! PM or email me and I'll tell you all I know!

[expat yorkshire]

No point kitty

They will charge you .05% conversion fee to do that .....

Now all tax bills can be paid on any card so get the one that gives you the most miles. Fat Bob is the credit card master .

I know there is a DBS card that gives good miles but they charge you a fee to convert miles to flights .

Fat bob is kris flyer Amex gold still the best ?

[Fat Bob]

Damn, I must have missed that bit! How does one pay your tax with any CC?

[expat yorkshire]

They just introduced it . I was seriously pissed off last year when i found out , as i had just paid my tax bill and missed out on lots of airmiles.

[expat yorkshire]

http://www.iras.gov.sg/irasHome/page.aspx?id=4482

[kittykat]

I have a UOB Mastercard that I get Krisflyer miles for with normal purchases. I rang the Call Centre and they said I cannot use my Mastercard to pay so I looked around and HSBC advertise it. If I can pay using my UOB I will definitely. I asked if I could pay on my AMEX (I have a Krisflyer Amex) and they said "no".

What's the score EPY.

[expat yorkshire]

This is what it says

This mode of payment allows you to pay your taxes directly to IRAS using your MasterCard or VISA debit/ credit card. You can make use of this payment mode even if you do not maintain an account with any bank in Singapore as long as you have a credit card.

[kittykat]

Thanks EPY. I've still got $8k to pay so I'll put that thru on my card. Next years bill is going to be a yukky one too so go the points! Yay!!

[Aliya]

Kewl, I pay my tax monthly so could do that with my AMEX. woo hoo.

Oh no sob, wont allow AMEX.

[expat yorkshire]

https://www.irascreditpayment.com/payment/payment.jsp

This form say no amex

[Fat Bob]

Ah! So yes you can, IRAS payments via vPost (Mastercard and Visa only)

But this only allows you to make a one-off payment.

The HSBC method allows you to set up your GIRO as normal with the taxman and then credits your account to pay either one-lump sum (in which case pay using best miles earning card via vPost as above) or on the monthly basis (in which case, the 0.5% premium is worth it)

The calculation is:

12,750 miles to Bali takes $31,875 to earn using the HSBC card. If all of that cash is tax, then you pay ~$160 for a flight to bali on Singapore Airlines. Normal cost of flight is $400-500.

As as an equivalent, if I paid it all in one go, I get 1.2miles/$1 spent with Citibank Premier Miles, so 12,750 miles is $10,625 spending.....and costing nothing aside from not being able to pay monthly.....

Hmmmm........

Thanks for the heads up EPY!

[expat yorkshire]

I told you it was one of Fat Bobs obsessions

[kittykat]

I have a Citbank Platnuim and they said I cannot get points on that - stupid scheme. I might try switching cards with Citibank.

[Fat Bob]

Pay via vPost and it should show up as IRAS and then they are none the wiser. Therefore go with your best card.

Aliya: I'm ditching my Amex (Krysflyer gold) as there's better out there for the amount I spend.

I know HSBC and ABN-AMRO started the above method a few years ago, seems IRAS has caught up and allows you to pay direct but not monthly. At the mo I need the monthly payments, but will keep in mind for as soon as I don't, as it'll mean even more trips to Bali

[baloo]

I have a Krisflyer PPS Platinum which gets most of my business and back it up with a HSBC Mastercard for Tax time. Works a treat

[Fat Bob]

Yeah, Amex made it more difficult recently, certainly with the various 50% offerings depending on your spend. Especially on the Gold Krysflyer

Usually $1.60 = 1 miles
50% if you spend $5k in a year
50% extra again (up to a max of 5,000 miles) if you spend over $10k in the year.

Hmmmm....seems the PPS card, aside from the 40k miles promo at activation, only gives you 1 mile for $1 spend.

Citibank Premier is 1 mile for $0.83 spend with 10k bonus miles if you spend over $50k/year and 10k annual renewal bonus, though $180 annual fee. Will see if they waive that, though going on Bali calc above then not a major worry.

DBS Altitude Amex does 1 miles for every $0.83 spend, but wouldn't touch DBS with a barge pole considering the hassle I've had before.

[Bob the Builder]

FB,

So does the Citi Miles card work out, if you spend more than 50k at 50/0.83 = 60,240 +10k bonus +10k joining / renewal? In total 80,240 miles?

I presume these redeem at 1 Citi mile to 1 Krisflyer mile?

[Fat Bob]

Yup, you get shed loads of miles, plus a load more and a load more, and they redeem at 1-for-1 on not only KrysFlyer but several other programs, or direct for cash if you want. And the miles never expire by all accounts, until you swap them across to your Krysflyer.

[baloo]

I'm in the middle of applying for the Citi Premier Miles card. Looks the goods.

[kittykat]

I have a Platnium Dividend and rang them to change it to a Citi Premier but all too hard. On reading this I may dig my heels in!

[Fat Bob]

Tip KK: don't change it. Just ask for the CitiPremier Miles card as well. After 2-3 months, ditch the other one.

[kittykat]

Good thinking '99! Excellent stuff.