Tax Rights
IRAS assessments, income tax filing, GST obligations, property tax, tax reliefs and deductions, objections and appeals, and audit protections under Singapore tax law.
Covered in this guide:
Singapore tax runs on a territorial basis under the Income Tax Act (Cap. 134), administered by IRAS. Individual rates go from 0% on the first S$20,000 up to 24% above S$1,000,000; corporate tax is flat 17%. Returns are due 15 April (18 April for e-filing). GST is 9% from January 2024 under the Goods and Services Tax Act (Cap. 117A) for businesses above S$1m turnover. Total personal reliefs are capped at S$80,000. Disagree with an assessment and you have 30 days to file a Notice of Objection, then appeal to the Income Tax Board of Review, then the High Court.
Key Laws
Income Tax Act
Cap. 134, 2014 Rev. Ed.
Personal and corporate income tax — rates, reliefs, deductions, assessments
Goods and Services Tax Act
Cap. 117A, 2005 Rev. Ed.
GST registration, collection, exempt supplies, input tax claims
Property Tax Act
Cap. 254, 2005 Rev. Ed.
Annual value assessment, owner-occupier rates, objections to valuation
Stamp Duties Act
Cap. 312, 2006 Rev. Ed.
Stamp duty on property transfers, Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD)
Economic Expansion Incentives Act
Cap. 86, 2005 Rev. Ed.
Pioneer and development tax incentives for qualifying enterprises
Income Tax Filing
Singapore uses a progressive income tax system with rates from 0% to 24% (for income above $1,000,000). Key filing rules:Tax residency: You are a tax resident if you are a Singapore citizen or PR ordi...
Tax Reliefs and Deductions
Singapore offers a range of personal reliefs and deductions that reduce your taxable income:Earned Income Relief: Up to $1,000 (below 55), $6,000 (55–59), or $8,000 (60+).Spouse Relief: $2,000 if your...
Right to Object to Tax Assessment
If you disagree with your Notice of Assessment (NOA) issued by IRAS, you have the right to object:Deadline: You must file a written objection within 30 days of the date of the NOA.How to object: File...
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Singapore's GST is a broad-based consumption tax currently at 9% (effective 1 January 2024):Compulsory registration (GST Act s.8 & First Schedule): A business must register for GST if its taxable...
Property Tax
All property owners in Singapore must pay property tax — an annual tax based on the Annual Value (AV) of the property:Owner-occupied residential: Progressive rates from 0% (first $8,000 of AV) to 32%...
Tax Audit and Investigation
IRAS conducts audits and investigations to ensure tax compliance:Desk audit: IRAS may request supporting documents for specific items on your tax return — this is the most common type.Field audit: IRA...
Payment Plans and Financial Difficulty
If you cannot pay your tax on time, IRAS offers options to help:GIRO instalments: Sign up for GIRO to spread your tax bill over 12 monthly instalments (interest-free if set up before the payment due d...
Stamp Duty
Stamp duty is payable on documents relating to property transactions and certain other instruments:Buyer's Stamp Duty (BSD): Progressive rates up to 6% for residential property (on the portion above $...