Singapore Tax, Taxation, Singapore Expat Information, Guides for Expats Relocating to Singapore or Singapore Expatriates

Residence Status

The amount of tax you have to pay depends on :

whether you are regarded as a tax resident or non-resident in Singapore; and
how much income you earn.

However, your employment income is exempt from tax if you are here on short-term employment. See Table 1 for a summary of the tax implications.

TABLE 1 - Tax Implications at a Glance
Employment Period in Singapore	Resident Status	Tax Implications
60 days or less	Non-Resident	Short-term employment income is exempt from tax.*
More than 60 days but less than 183 days	Non-Resident	Employment income is taxed at 15% or resident rates, whichever gives rise to higher tax.
183 days or more	Resident	All income is taxed from 0% to 22% from the Year of Assessment 2003.

Note: This rule does not apply if you are a director, public entertainer or exercising a profession in Singapore.

Resident Individual

You will be regarded as a tax resident if

you have been in Singapore for at least 183 days in a calendar year; or
you have been physically present or working in Singapore for 3 consecutive years even though the number of days you are in Singapore is less than 183 days in the first and third year. See Table 2 for an example.

TABLE 2
YearPeriod	Number of days
1 (1.11.2000 to 31.12.2000)	61
2 (1.1.2001 to 31.12.2001)	365
3 (1.1.2002 to 28.2.2002)	59

As a tax resident, you will be taxed on all income earned in Singapore and any overseas income that is brought into Singapore. You will also be given personal reliefs and your income will be taxed at graduated rates from 0% to 22% for the Year of Assessment 2003. See Table 3.

TABLE 3 - Tax Rates for Resident Individuals
Chargeable Income ($)		Rates	Tax Payable($)
On the first	20 000	0%	0.00
On the next	10 000	4%	400.00
On the first	30 000		400.00
On the next	10 000	6%	600.00
On the first	40 000		1 000.00
On the next	40 000	9%	3 600.00
On the first	80 000		4 600.00
On the next	80 000	15%	12 000.00
On the first	160 000		16 600.00
On the next	160 000	19%	30 400.00
On the first	320 000		47 000.00
Above	320 000	22%

Non-Resident Individual

You will be regarded as a non-resident if you have been in Singapore for less than 183 days in a calendar year.

As a non-resident, you will only be taxed on all income earned in Singapore. You will not be given personal reliefs and your employment income will be taxed at a flat rate of 15% or the resident rates for the Year of Assessment 2003 (shown in Table 3), depending on which gives a higher tax. See Table 4 for an example. For director's fees and income other than employment, they will be taxed at a flat rate of 22% for the Year of Assessment 2003.
TABLE 4 - Tax Computation for a Non-Resident for the Year of Assessment 2003.

FAQ on Singapore Tax

Q1. If my Singapore income is being taxed in my own country, do I still need to pay tax in Singapore?

If your home country has a tax treaty with Singapore, it may protect you from being taxed twice on the same income. This depends on the provision of the tax treaty. You can get a list of Singapore's tax treaties with other countries, available at Tax Treaties.

Q2. When do I need to send in my Singapore Income Tax Form?

Usually, we will send an income tax form to you at your mailing address by 31 March of each year. You will then have to fill in and return the form to IRAS by 15 April of the same year.

Q3. If I were to make CPF contributions, will the contributions be tax deductible?

No. Foreigners (other than Singapore Permanent Residents) are no longer required to make CPF contributions under CPF rules. Hence, your voluntary CPF contributions will not be tax deductible and your employer's contributions to CPF (if any) will be taxed in your hands.

Q4. If I choose to make CPF contributions voluntarily and withdraw the amount subsequently upon cessation of employment or departure from Singapore, will I be taxed on the amount withdrawn?

You will not be taxed on the amount withdrawn as you are not required to make CPF contributions under CPF rules (see Q3).

Q5. Does my employer need to inform IRAS if I cease employment with the company?

Yes, your employer needs to seek tax clearance by:
� informing IRAS at least one month before you cease employment or leave Singapore; and
� withholding any monies due to you until tax clearance is given or 30 days after we have received your employer's notification, whichever is earlier.

However if you are a Singapore Permanent Resident and you are merely changing jobs in Singapore, your employer does not have to seek tax clearance unless you are leaving Singapore permanently.

Q6. What if the amount of money withheld by my employer is not enough to pay the tax that I owed?

You should arrange to pay the remaining amount that you owe. Otherwise, IRAS may appoint your bank or CPF Board as agent, under Section 57 of the Income Tax Act, to recover the tax from you. We may also prevent you from leaving Singapore by issuing you a stop order certificate. In such a case, you will need a release letter from IRAS before you can leave Singapore.