Property Tax is one of govt's way of getting money from people
without having to provide any service or product and to ensure
revenue. Just like GST and income tax.
There is no way you can escape from not paying property tax except
you don't 'own' any. Same thing with GST and income tax. You need
not pay any GST if you don't buy anything from any company or
anyone who's GST registered. Don't earn more than $2K and you don't
have to pay income tax.
See it from this perspective. Govt own all the land in Singapore,
you buy a flat/apartment on govt's land, so you need to pay off
your property amount. You take loan from HDB/bank and they charge
you interest for the loan. (You loan because you cannot pay up the
entire sum immediately). You contribute to the economy by doing
that. Govt earn, banks earn and you pay!
Then, govt wants to fleece you more, so make you pay property tax
because the flat/apartment/house you are living in is on the land
which doesn't belong to you but to the govt. Unless you can elevate
the property in the air and keep it moving, perhaps you need not
pay property tax.
Just like a car, you need to pay road tax as yr car is in contact
with the road.
All in all, these are avenues that govt has put in place to get
money from people on regular basis.
For TV and radio licenses, just get rid of yr goggle box and radio
and you need not pay! I think the authorities will do spot checks
at those premises that don't pay.
