Singapore’s personal income tax is one of the most competitive in the developed world — but the rules around residency, reliefs and filing dates trip up even seasoned professionals. With IRAS opening the YA2026 filing season from 1 March to 18 April 2026, this guide walks through what every individual taxpayer in Singapore needs to know.
Singapore Personal Tax Rates 2026 (YA2026)
Singapore applies progressive resident tax rates and a flat non-resident rate.
Resident tax rates
| Chargeable income (S$) | Rate | Tax on band |
|---|---|---|
| First 20,000 | 0% | $0 |
| Next 10,000 (20,001–30,000) | 2% | $200 |
| Next 10,000 (30,001–40,000) | 3.5% | $350 |
| Next 40,000 (40,001–80,000) | 7% | $2,800 |
| Next 40,000 (80,001–120,000) | 11.5% | $4,600 |
| Next 40,000 (120,001–160,000) | 15% | $6,000 |
| Next 40,000 (160,001–200,000) | 18% | $7,200 |
| Next 40,000 (200,001–240,000) | 19% | $7,600 |
| Next 40,000 (240,001–280,000) | 19.5% | $7,800 |
| Next 40,000 (280,001–320,000) | 20% | $8,000 |
| Next 180,000 (320,001–500,000) | 22% | $39,600 |
| Next 500,000 (500,001–1,000,000) | 23% | $115,000 |
| Above 1,000,000 | 24% | — |
The top marginal rate of 24 per cent kicks in only above $1 million of chargeable income.
Non-resident tax rates
For non-residents (less than 183 days in Singapore in the year preceding YA):
- Employment income is taxed at the higher of 15 per cent (flat) or the resident progressive rates.
- Director’s fees, consultancy fees and other income are taxed at 24 per cent (raised from 22 per cent for YA2024 onwards).
- Employment exercised in Singapore for not more than 60 days in a calendar year is generally exempt — except for directors, public entertainers and certain professionals.
Who Counts as a Tax Resident?
You are a Singapore tax resident for a year of assessment if, in the preceding calendar year, you were:
- A Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident who normally resides in Singapore (except for temporary absences); OR
- A foreigner who stayed or worked in Singapore for 183 days or more.
Tax residents enjoy lower progressive rates and a host of personal reliefs. Non-residents face the flat-rate regime with no access to reliefs except as specified in a tax treaty.
Common Personal Reliefs and Rebates
| Relief | Maximum (S$) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Earned Income Relief | $1,000 (age <55), $6,000 (55–59), $8,000 (60+) | Automatic for taxpayers with earned income |
| Spouse Relief | $2,000 | Spouse’s annual income must not exceed $4,000 |
| Qualifying Child Relief (QCR) | $4,000 per child | For child under 16 or studying full-time |
| Working Mother’s Child Relief (WMCR) | $8,000 / $10,000 / $12,000 per child | From YA2025, fixed dollar amounts replaced percentages |
| Parent Relief | $5,500 (not staying) / $9,000 (staying with parent) | For each dependent parent |
| CPF Cash Top-Up Relief | $8,000 self + $8,000 family | For voluntary CPF top-ups |
| SRS Contribution Relief | $15,300 (Singaporean/PR) or $35,700 (foreigner) | See our SRS guide |
| Foreign Maid Levy Relief | 2x levy paid | Working mothers only |
| Personal Income Tax Relief Cap | $80,000 total | Hard cap across all reliefs from YA2018 |
What Is Taxable, What Is Not
Taxable
- Employment income (salary, bonus, allowances, benefits-in-kind).
- Director’s fees from Singapore companies.
- Self-employment / sole proprietorship / partnership profits.
- Rental income from Singapore property.
- Withdrawals from SRS account (50 per cent taxed at withdrawal if conditions met).
- Pension income above the prescribed thresholds.
Not taxable
- Capital gains — Singapore does not have a personal capital gains tax.
- Foreign-sourced income received in Singapore by an individual (with limited exceptions for partnerships).
- Singapore dividends — exempt under the one-tier corporate tax system.
- CPF and SRS investment returns within the account.
- Lottery and casino winnings.
- Gifts and inheritance.
Filing Deadlines
| Form | For whom | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| e-Filing on myTax Portal | Most individuals | 18 April 2026 |
| Paper filing (Form B/B1) | Those who opt out of e-filing | 15 April 2026 |
| Form IR8A | Employer issues to employees | 1 March 2026 |
| Auto-Inclusion Scheme (AIS) | Employers with 5+ employees | Mandatory submission to IRAS by 1 March |
| Tax payment due (Notice of Assessment) | All taxpayers | Within 1 month of NOA, or via GIRO instalments (up to 12 months) |
Common Filing Mistakes
- Missing rental expenses — Mortgage interest, property tax, repairs, agent commission and other ongoing costs are all deductible. Many landlords miss out by failing to claim.
- Omitting overseas director’s fees — Director’s fees from Singapore companies remain Singapore-sourced regardless of where the meetings happen.
- Wrong spouse income test — Spouse Relief disqualifies if the spouse earned more than $4,000 in the year, not in any one month.
- Double-claiming QCR and WMCR — Working Mother’s Child Relief replaces, not adds to, QCR for the same child if both parents claim.
- Stock option / RSU income — Taxed in the year of exercise or vesting in Singapore, not in the year of grant.
Special Cases
Tax clearance (Form IR21) for foreigners leaving Singapore
If you cease employment in Singapore (including resignation, retirement or being posted overseas for 3 months or more), your employer must withhold any monies owed and file Form IR21 with IRAS at least 1 month before your last day. IRAS issues a Clearance Directive — your employer pays any tax due before releasing the balance to you.
Not Ordinarily Resident (NOR) scheme — phased out
The NOR scheme has been phased out, with the last grant for YA2020. Existing NOR taxpayers continue to enjoy the 5-year status until expiry.
Tax Treaties
Singapore has more than 100 Double Taxation Agreements. If you receive income from a treaty country, see our guide to Singapore Double Tax Agreements for claiming treaty benefits.
Penalties for Late Filing or Underdeclaration
- Late filing: Initial fine of up to $1,000. IRAS may also issue a default Notice of Assessment based on best-judgement income.
- Late payment: 5 per cent of tax overdue, plus 1 per cent per month (capped at 12 per cent additional penalty).
- Negligent underdeclaration: Penalty of up to 200 per cent of the undercharged tax.
- Wilful tax evasion: Penalty of up to 400 per cent of the undercharged tax, plus a fine of up to $50,000 and/or imprisonment up to 5 years.
How Raffles Corporate Services Helps
For our corporate clients, we coordinate the personal tax filings of directors and key executives, ensuring that director’s fees, benefits-in-kind, share-based remuneration and overseas income are all captured correctly. We also handle the corporate side — IR8A, AIS submissions, IR21 tax clearance for departing foreign employees — so that the personal returns reconcile cleanly with the company’s records.
For corporate tax matters, see our Singapore Corporate Tax 2026 guide.
Useful Resources
— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services