Which are the most common stocks own by valuebuddies members?

[pianist]

Sg gg sign fatca iga1 with irs. If your broker is a pffi, then there won't be withholding tax required at the sg broker side unless U R a recalcitrant person.

[godjira1]

D.o.g is right. For US equities there is a withholding tax and no real efficient way to get around it (selling before ex date and buying back is imprecise at best).

To raise a v important point i own all my equities thru a trust as if the worst happens, there is no death tax haircut on the portfolio.

[wsreader]

If there is no tax treaty between the US and country X, then a citizen of country X will have 30% of the dividend withheld by the broker. This is US law. There is no tax treaty between Singapore and the US, so Singapore investors who own US stocks will suffer a 30% penalty on their dividends.

That means that as a foreigner, to maximise investment returns, it is better for me to invest in a company that does not pay dividend (eg Berkshire Hathaway).
The profit retained may leads to higher earnings and increase in share prices. The profit given out as dividend is taxed at 30% which is an expensive cost for buy and hold investors.

Of course in this day of CFD and momentum investors, the above does not applies.

[zf87]

My question is how much tax will be withheld when a dividend is paid out if the shareholder is not a US-citizen? I heard that if the dividend is in large proportion, it is beneficial to sell the stock first, then buy it back at the ex day.

If there is no tax treaty between the US and country X, then a citizen of country X will have 30% of the dividend withheld by the broker. This is US law. There is no tax treaty between Singapore and the US, so Singapore investors who own US stocks will suffer a 30% penalty on their dividends.

Thanks a lot for the explanation!

[dtane]

Just to share my list as well :

Singapore Stocks

1. CH Offshore
2. Elec US$
3. First REIT
4. Genting SP5.125%
5. Global Investments Limited
6. Keppel Corp
7. KingsmenC
8. Saizen Reit
9. SingPost
10. Singtel
11. SPH
12. Starhub
13. Olam6.75%b180129 US$
14. Olam W180129 US$

UK Stocks

1. BP PLC
2. JLT