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FAQ – GST change 2023

The amount relating to the option money paid before 1 Jan 2023 is subject to the GST rate of 7%.

The remaining payment will be subject to the GST rate of 8% as the property is only made available on/ after 1 Jan 2023.

If you receive full payment for the banquet before 1 Jan 2023, you should only charge 7% GST to your customer even if the banquet is to be held on/ after 1 Jan 2023.

If you only receive a deposit before 1 Jan 2023 and will receive the balance on/ after 1 Jan 2023, the deposit is subject to 7% GST while the remaining payment is subject to 8% GST.

You should also make clear to your customer that the portion of the banquet price paid before 1 Jan 2023 is inclusive of 7% GST while the balance to be paid on/ after 1 Jan 2023 is inclusive of 8% GST.

The letter of claim is not a bill for payment (i.e. invoice) for GST purposes.

On the understanding that you would only issue the invoice to the developer upon the certification of the work done in 2023 and collect payment from the developer thereafter, the time of supply would be on/ after 1 Jan 2023. Hence, the supply of your construction services would be subject to 8% GST.

However, you can choose to charge GST at 7% as you have completed the construction works before 1 Jan 2023.

As you would only issue the invoice and collect the retention sum from the developer in Nov 2023, the time of supply would be on/ after 1 Jan 2023. Hence, the retention sum would be subject to 8% GST.

However, you can choose to charge GST at 7% on the retention sum as you have completed the construction works before 1 Jan 2023.

You are not allowed to reflect GST at 8% before the rate change effective date of 1 Jan 2023.

The advance invoice pertaining to the services from 1 Oct 2022 to 31 Mar 2023 should reflect GST at 7%.

If you do not receive full payment before 1 Jan 2023, you are required to issue a credit note for the lower of remaining payment or the remaining value of service to be performed on/ after 1 Jan 2023. Thereafter, you are required to issue a new tax invoice in respect of the amount credited out to charge GST at 8%.

Alternatively, you may issue a credit note to cancel out the original invoice and at the same time, reissue new tax invoice(s) for the value of supply subject to GST at 7% and value of supply subject to GST at 8% .

No. You are not allowed to issue a tax invoice with GST at 8% before the rate change effective date.

If you issue a tax invoice before 1 Jan 2023, you should reflect 7% GST on the tax invoice. If the payment is not received before 1 Jan 2023, you will need to issue credit note to cancel the original tax invoice and to issue a new tax invoice for the goods delivered after the rate change, showing 8% as the GST rate.

When you issue the tax invoice to your customer before 1 Jan 2023, you are advised to inform your customer on the potential GST adjustment under the rate change transitional rules to avoid dispute on the GST rate and GST amount payable on the supply.

You are not allowed to reflect GST at 8% before the rate change effective date of 1 Jan 2023. Hence, your invoice that is issued in Dec 2022 should reflect GST of 7% on the rental for the period 5 Dec 2022 to 4 Jan 2023.

Subsequently, assuming payment has not been received before 1 Jan 2023, you should issue a credit note by 15 Jan 2023 to cancel the portion of the rental for the period 1 Jan 2023 to 4 Jan 2023 billed at 7%, and to issue a new tax invoice at 8% for the same period.
The rental can be apportioned based on the number of days as follows:

Portion of rental that is subject to the GST of 7%
= Monthly rental x 27/ 31 days
Portion of rental that is subject to the GST of 8%
= Monthly rental x 4/ 31 days

When you issue the tax invoice to your customer before 1 Jan 2023, you are advised to inform your customers on the potential GST adjustment under the rate change transitional rules to avoid dispute on the GST rate and GST amount payable on the supply.

If you provide rebates to your customer that represent a discount for a past sale, you should calculate the GST on the rebate using the rate that is originally charged on the sale.

On the other hand, if the rebate is used to offset against the value of your next sale to your customer which takes place on or after 1 Jan 2023, you should charge GST at 8% on the net value of the sale.

For returned goods, you should adjust the GST using the rate that is originally charged on your supply of goods and maintain documentary evidence to show whether the goods returned were supplied before or on/after 1 Jan 2023.

Source: IRAS – FAQ

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Changes to Singapore GST in 2023

In Budget 2022, the Minister for Finance announced that the GST rate will be increased from: (i) 7% to 8% with effect from 1 Jan 2023; and (ii) 8% to 9% with effect from 1 Jan 2024.

Rules for Supplies that span the change of GST rate

A supply spans the change of GST rate where one or two of the following events takes place wholly or partially on or after 1 Jan 2023: 

  • the issuance of invoice;
  • the receipt of payment (or the making of payment in respect of a reverse charge supply);
  • the delivery of goods or performance of services.

Invoice issued on or after 1 Jan 2023

Full payment received before 1 Jan 2023 Goods delivered after 1 Jan 2023

If you issue an invoice for your supply on or after 1 Jan 2023 but you receive full payment before 1 Jan 2023, the supply is subject to 7% GST.

Full payment received after 1 Jan 2023 Goods delivered before 1 Jan 2023

If you issue an invoice for your supply on or after 1 Jan 2023 but you have delivered all the goods or performed all the services before 1 Jan 2023, the entire value of the supply is subject to 7% GST. 

Invoice is issued before 1 Jan 2023

Full payment received or Goods delivered before 1 Jan 2023

If you have received full payment before 1 Jan 2023, or if you have delivered all the goods or performed all the services before 1 Jan 2023, the entire value of the supply is subject to 7% GST. 

Partial payment received or partial goods delivered before 1 Jan 2023

If you do not receive full payment before 1 Jan 2023 and you have delivered or performed a part or all of the goods or services before 1 Jan 2023, you can elect to charge 7% GST on the higher of:

(a) The payment received is before 1 Jan 2023; or 

(b) The value of goods delivered or services performed is before 1 Jan 2023. 

The remaining value of the supply will be subjected to 8% GST.

Supply involving invoice issued before 1 Jan 2023 – full payment received after 1 Jan 2023

On 22 Dec 2022, you issue a tax invoice for your supply of services (value of $1,000) and you receive the full payment on 5 Jan 2023. You perform part of the services (value of $200) before 1 Jan 2023 and the remaining part of the services (value of $800) after 1 Jan 2023.

You must charge and account for GST at 7% ($70) for the tax invoice issued to your customer on 22 Dec 2022. As you do not receive any payment and only perform part of the services before 1 Jan 2023, under the transitional rules, you are required to issue the following to your customer by 15 Jan 2023, for that part of the services performed after 1 Jan 2023:

  • a credit note for $856 ($800 plus 7% GST of $56); and
  • a new tax invoice for $864 ($800 plus 8% GST of $64).

Supply involving invoice issued before 1 Jan 2023 – payments straddle 1 Jan 2023

On 21 Dec 2022, you issue a tax invoice for your supply of services (value of $1,000). Before 1 Jan 2023, you delivered part of the goods (value of $400) and received a payment of $200. After 1 Jan 2023, you receive the remaining payment of $800 and perform delivered the other part of the goods (value of $600).

Under the transitional rules, you are required to issue the following by 15 Jan 2023, for that part of the goods delivered after 1 Jan 2023:

  • a credit note for $642 ($600 plus 7% GST of $42); and
  • a new tax invoice for $648 ($600 plus 8% GST of $48)
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IRAS – Extended Filing Deadline [Updated]

Due to the extended Circuit Breaker to 1 June 2020, IRAS is providing an automatic extension of deadlines for tax filing for individuals and businesses.

Tax TypeOriginal Filing DeadlineExtended Filing Deadline New
Income Tax for Individuals (including sole proprietors and partnerships)18 Apr 202031 May 2020
Income Tax for Trusts, Clubs and Associations15 Apr 202030 Jun 2020 Updated
Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) for companies with Financial Year ending Jan 202030 Apr 202030 Jun 2020 Updated
Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) for companies with Financial Year ending Feb 202031 May 202030 Jun 2020 Updated
GST Returns for accounting period ending Mar 202030 Apr 202011 May 2020
S45 Withholding Tax Forms due in Apr 202015 Apr 202015 May 2020
Tax Clearances for foreign employee in Apr 2020– 30 Jun 2020 Updated
Tax Clearance for foreign employees due in May 2020– 30 Jun 2020 Updated
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IRAS Extends Tax Filing Deadlines

As part of its support for taxpayers in light of the latest measures to manage the COVID-19 situation, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) is providing an automatic extension of deadlines for tax filing for individuals and businesses:
Tax TypeOriginal Filing DeadlineExtended Filing Deadline
Income Tax for Individuals (including sole proprietors and partnerships)18 Apr 2020 31 May 2020
Income Tax for Trusts, Clubs and Associations15 Apr 2020 31 May 2020
Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) for companies with Financial Year ending Jan 202030 Apr 2020 31 May 2020
GST Returns for accounting period ending Mar 202030 Apr 2020 11 May 2020
S45 Withholding Tax Forms due in Apr 202015 Apr 2020 15 May 2020
Tax Clearances for foreign employee in Apr 2020 -1 additional month
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Singapore Budget 2020 affecting companies

Jobs Support Scheme ("JSS")​

Current Treatment​

Not applicable

New Treatment​

Employers will receive an 8% cash grant on the gross monthly wages of each local employee (applicable to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents only) for the months of October 2019 to December 2019, subject to a monthly wage cap of $3,600 per employee.   

Employers do not need to apply for the JSS. The grant will be computed based on CPF contribution data.   

Employers can expect to receive the JSS payment from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) by 31 July 2020.

Wages paid to business owners will not be eligible for the grant. 

Enhancement to Wage Credit Scheme ("WCS")​

Current Treatment​

Under WCS, the Government will co-fund a part of wage increases given to Singaporean employees earning a gross monthly wage of up to $4,000.

  • 2013 to 2015: 40% cap at $4,000
  • 2016 to 2018: 20% cap at $4,000
  • 2019: 15% cap at $4,000
  • 2020: 10% cap at $4,000

Employers do not need to apply for the WCS. The grant will be computed based on CPF contribution data. 

Payouts will be given to employers by 31 Mar of the payout year.

New Treatment​

The monthly wage ceiling will be raised from $4,000 to $5,000 for qualifying wage increases given in 2019 and 2020.

  • 2013 to 2015: 40% cap at $4,000
  • 2016 to 2018: 20% cap at $4,000
  • 2019: 20% cap at $5,000
  • 2020: 15% cap at $5,000

Government co-funding levels will also be raised for 2019 and 2020 qualifying wage increases by five percentage points, to 20% and 15% respectively. 

Corporate Income Tax ("CIT") Rebate ​

Current Treatment​

YA2019: 20% of tax payable, capped at $10,000

New Treatment​

YA2020: 25% of tax payable, capped at $15,000

Automatic extension of interest-free instalments of 2 months for payment of CIT on Estimated Chargeable Income (“ECI”) filed within 3 months from the companies’ financial year-end (“FYE”)​

Current Treatment​

Tax payable on first ECI e-Filed within

  • 1 months from year end: 10 months
  • 2 months from year end: 8 months
  • 3 months from year end:  6 months
  • After 3 months from year end: No instalments allowed

New Treatment​

Tax payable on first ECI e-Filed within

  • 1 months from year end: 12 months
  • 2 months from year end: 10 months
  • 3 months from year end:  8 months
  • After 3 months from year end: No instalments allowed

Increase the number of YAs for which the current year unabsorbed capital allowances (“CA”) and trade losses for a YA (collectively referred to as “qualifying deductions”) may be carried back ​

Current Treatment​

“Qualifying Deductions” (“QD”) can be carried back for one YA immediately preceding that YA in which the CAs are granted or the trade losses incurred capped at $100,000.

New Treatment​

“Qualifying Deductions” (“QD”) for YA2020 can be carried back for three YA  (i.e YA2017) capped at $100,000.

Provide an option to accelerate the write-off of the cost of acquiring plant and machinery (“P&M”) ​

Current Treatment​

A taxpayer who incurs capital expenditure on the acquisition of P&M in the basis period can claim Capital Allowances (CA) over

Section 19A

  • 100% Write-Off in One Year
  • Write-Off Over Three Years

Section 19

  • Write-Off Over the Prescribed Working Life of the Asset

New Treatment​

A taxpayer who incurs capital expenditure on the acquisition of P&M in the basis period for YA2021 (i.e. financial year (“FY”) 2020) will have an option to accelerate the write-off of the cost of acquiring such P&M over 2 years.

The rates of accelerated CA allowed are as follows:

a) 75% of the cost incurred to be written off in the first year (i.e. YA2021); and,
b) 25% of the cost incurred to be written off in the second year (i.e. YA2022).

Provide an option to accelerate the deduction of expenses incurred on renovation and refurbishment (“R&R”)​

Current Treatment​

A taxpayer which incurs qualifying expenditure on R&R during the basis period for the purposes of its trade, profession or business can claim Section 14Q deduction  over three consecutive YAs starting from the year in which the R&R expenditure is incurred, i.e. 1/3 of the R&R expenditure can be claimed in each of the three YAs.

The amount of R&R costs that qualify for tax deduction as a business expense is capped at $300,000 for every relevant three-year period, starting from the year in which the R&R costs are incurred.

New Treatment​

A taxpayer which incurs qualifying expenditure on R&R during the basis period for YA2021 (i.e. FY2020) for the purposes of its trade, profession or business will have an option to claim R&R deduction in 1 YA (i.e. accelerated R&R deduction).

The amount of R&R costs that qualify for tax deduction as a business expense is capped at $300,000 for every relevant three-year period, starting from the year in which the R&R costs are incurred.

Extend the Mergers & Acquisitions (“M&A”) scheme​

Current Treatment​

Under the M&A scheme, an M&A allowance will be granted to a company that acquires another company during the period 1 Apr 2010 to 31 Dec 2020 (both dates inclusive). The M&A allowance will be allowed on a straight line basis over five years and the allowance cannot be deferred. Companies must meet certain conditions to remain eligible for M&A allowance for each Year of Assessment (YA) during the five-year write-down period.

  • 1 Apr 2016 to 31 Dec 2020:  The M&A allowance is 25% of the value of acquisition, , subject to a maximum amount of $10 million for all qualifying share acquisitions in the basis period for each YA. Maximum M&A allowance for each YA will be reached with an acquisition of $20 million in that YA.
  • 1 Apr 2015 to 31 Mar 2016: The M&A allowance is 25% of the value of acquisition, , subject to a maximum amount of $5 million for all qualifying share acquisitions in the basis period for each YA. Maximum M&A allowance for each YA will be reached with an acquisition of $20 million in that YA.
  • 1 Apr 2010 to 31 Mar 2015: The M&A allowance is at 5% of the value of acquisition, subject to a maximum amount of $5 million for all qualifying share acquisitions in the basis period for each YA. Maximum M&A allowance for each YA will be reached with an acquisition of $100 million in that YA.

New Treatment​

The M&A scheme will be extended to cover qualifying acquisitions made on or before 31 December 2025.

The scheme will remain unchanged for acquisitions made on or after 1 April 2020, except for the following:

  1. Stamp duty relief will lapse for instruments executed on or after 1 April 2020; and
  2. No waiver will be granted for the condition that the acquiring company must be held by an ultimate holding company that is incorporated in and is a tax resident of Singapore. This will apply for acquisitions made on or after 1 April 2020.
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Singapore Budget 2018 affecting GST

GST on imported Services​

With effect from 1 Jan 2020, GST will be levied on imported services, via the following:

(a) Reverse charge regime for Business-to-Business (“B2B”) supplies of imported services; and

(b) Overseas vendor registration regime for Business-to-Consumer (“B2C”) supplies of imported digital services. 

Reverse Charge Regime​

Changes in GST Act due to Budget 2018 introduces the concept of Reversal Charge Regime and Reversal Charge (RC) Business. 

RC Business is a person who is subject to reverse charge.

If you are a GST-registered person who procures services from overseas suppliers, you are an RC Business when: 

(a) You are not entitled to full input tax credit; or 

(b) You belong to a GST group that is not entitled to full input tax credit.

Full input tax credit test

You would not be entitled to full input tax credit, if you fall under either of the following circumstances:

(a) You carry out non-business activities (i.e. provide free or subsidised services) ; or

(b) You fail the De Minimis Rule under regulation 28 of the GST (General) Regulations at the end of any prescribed accounting period, except if:

(1) You make only exempt supplies listed in regulation 33 of the GST (General) Regulations (“regulation 33 exempt supplies”) and the nature of your business is not one of those listed in regulation 34 of the GST (General) Regulations (“regulation 34 business”); or

(2) Any provision in the GST legislation grants you the right to claim your input tax in full.

The De Minimis Rule is satisfied if the total value of all exempt supplies made does not exceed:

(a) an average of S$40,000 a month; and
(b) 5% of the total value of all taxable and exempt supplies made in that period.

If you are a non-GST registered person who procures services from overseas suppliers, you would be liable for GST registration by virtue of the reverse charge rules if you satisfy the following conditions:

(a) Your imported services which are within the scope of reverse charge exceed S$1 million in a 12-month period (under either the retrospective or prospective basis); and

(b) You would not be entitled to full input tax credit if you were GST registered.

If a non-GST registered person becomes registered or liable for registration by virtue of the reverse charge rules, he must comply with the responsibilities and obligations of a GST-registered person.

Imported services​

RC Businesses must account for GST on all imported services other than:  

(a) services that fall within the description of exempt supplies under the Fourth Schedule to the GST Act; 

(b) services that qualify for zero-rating under section 21(3) of the GST Act had the services been made to them by a taxable person belonging in Singapore; 

(c) services that are directly attributable to taxable supplies (this exclusion is only applicable to RC Businesses that are not prescribed a fixed input tax recovery rate or on special input tax recovery formula); and 

(d) the salaries, wages and interest cost components, including their proportionate mark-up in accordance with transfer pricing policy, of cost allocations in inter-branch and intra-GST group transactions

Overseas vendor registration regime for Business-to-Consumer (“B2C”) supplies of imported digital services​

If you belong outside Singapore, you are required to register for GST in Singapore if you:

(a) have an annual global turnover exceeding $1 million; and

(b) make B2C supplies of digital services to customers in Singapore exceeding $100,000.

Once registered for GST, you are required to charge and account for GST on B2C supplies of digital services made to customers in Singapore.

If you are an electronic marketplace operator

Under certain conditions, whether you are a local or an overseas operator of an electronic marketplace, you may be regarded as the supplier of the digital services made by the overseas suppliers through your marketplace.

In such cases, you are required to include the value of these services to determine your GST registration liability. If you are liable for GST registration or are already GST-registered, you are required to charge and account for GST on B2C supplies of digital services made through your marketplace to customers in Singapore on behalf of the overseas suppliers, in addition to digital services made by you directly to customers in Singapore.

To ease extra-territorial compliance burden, if you are an overseas operator, you will be registered under a simplified regime, with reduced registration and reporting requirements.

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Singapore corporate tax exemptions caa 18 Feb 2018

Partial tax exemption for companies (from YA 2020)

Chargeable income% exempted from TaxAmount exempted from Tax
First $10,000@75%=$7,500
Next $190,000@50%=$95,000
Total $200,000 =$102,500

Tax exemption scheme for new start-up companies (where any of the first 3 YAs falls in or after YA 2020)

Chargeable income% exempted from TaxAmount exempted from Tax
First $100,000@75%=$75,000
Next $100,000@50%=$50,000
Total $200,000 =$125,000

Partial tax exemption for companies (YA 2010 to YA 2019)

Chargeable income% exempted from TaxAmount exempted from Tax
First $10,000@75%=$7,500
Next $290,000@50%=$145,000
Total $300,000 =$152,500

Tax exemption scheme for new start-up companies (where any of the first 3 YAs falls in YA 2010 to YA 2019)

Chargeable income% exempted from TaxAmount exempted from Tax
First $100,000@100%=$100,000
Next $200,000@50%=$100,000
Total $300,000 =$200,000

YA 2019
Companies will be granted a 20% Corporate Income Tax Rebate capped at $10,000.

YA 2018
Companies will be granted a 40% Corporate Income Tax Rebate capped at $15,000

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Singapore Budget 2018 affecting companies tax

Corporate Income Tax

Current treatment

For YA2018, CIT rebate is 20% of tax payable, capped at $10,000. 

New treatment

For YA2018, the CIT rebate will be enhanced to 40% of tax payable, with enhanced cap at $15,000. 

For YA2019, CIT rebate at a rate of 20% of tax payable, capped at $10,000.

Tax Deduction For Qualifying Expenditure On Qualifying Research And Development (“R&D”) Projects Performed In Singapore​

Current treatment

Businesses that have incurred qualifying expenditure on qualifying R&D projects performed in Singapore can claim the following: 

a) 150% tax deduction for staff costs and consumables incurred, and 

b) 100% tax deduction for other qualifying expenditure. 

New treatment

Businesses that have incurred qualifying expenditure on qualifying R&D projects performed in Singapore can claim the following: 

a) 250% tax deduction for staff costs and consumables incurred, and 

b) 100% tax deduction for other qualifying expenditure. 

Period: YA2019 to YA2025.

Tax Deduction For Intellectual Property (IP) Registration Cost

Current treatment

Businesses that have incurred qualifying expenditure on qualifying R&D projects performed in Singapore can claim the following: 

a) 150% tax deduction for staff costs and consumables incurred, and 

b) 100% tax deduction for other qualifying expenditure. 

New treatment

Businesses that have incurred qualifying expenditure on qualifying R&D projects performed in Singapore can claim the following: 

a) 250% tax deduction for staff costs and consumables incurred, and 

b) 100% tax deduction for other qualifying expenditure. 

Period: YA2019 to YA2025.

Tax deduction for costs on IP in-licensing​

Current treatment

100% tax deduction on such costs. 

Period: Until YA2020. 

New treatment

Increase in tax deduction from 100% to 200% for the first $100,000 of qualifying IP registration costs incurred for each YA. This change will take effect from YA2019 to YA2025.

Period: From YA2019 to YA2025

Double Tax Deduction for Internationalisation (“DTDi”) scheme ​

Current treatment

200% tax deduction , on qualifying market expansion and investment development expenses, subject to approval from IE Singapore or STB. 

No prior approval is needed from IE Singapore or STB for tax deduction on the first $100,000 of qualifying expenses incurred on the following activities for each YA: 

a) Overseas business development trips/missions;

b) Overseas investment study trips/missions; 

c) Participation in overseas trade fairs; and 

d) Participation in approved local trade fairs.

New treatment

200% tax deduction , on qualifying market expansion and investment development expenses, subject to approval from IE Singapore or STB. 

No prior approval is needed from IE Singapore or STB for tax deduction on the first $150,000 of qualifying expenses incurred on the following activities for each YA: 

a) Overseas business development trips/missions;

b) Overseas investment study trips/missions; 

c) Participation in overseas trade fairs; and 

d) Participation in approved local trade fairs. 

This change will apply to qualifying expenses incurred on or after YA2019. 

IE and STB will release further details of the change by April 2018.

Start-Up Tax Exemption ("SUTE") scheme​

Current treatment

A new company can, subject to conditions, qualify for, in each of the first three YAs: 

a) 100% exemption on the first $100,000 of normal chargeable income; and 

b) 50% exemption on the next $200,000 of normal chargeable income.

New treatment

A new company can, subject to conditions, qualify for, in each of the first three YAs: 

a) 75% exemption on the first $100,000 of normal chargeable income; and 

b) 50% exemption on the next $100,000 of normal chargeable income.

This change will take effect on or after YA2020 for all qualifying companies under the scheme. 

For example, if a qualifying company’s first YA is 2019, the current SUTE parameters will apply in YA2019 while the new parameters will apply in YAs 2020 and 2021.

Partial Tax Exemption (“PTE”) scheme​

Current treatment

All companies (excluding those that qualify for the SUTE scheme) and bodies of persons, can qualify for, in each YA: 

a) 75% exemption on the first $10,000 of normal chargeable income; and

b) 50% exemption on the next $290,000 of normal chargeable income.

New treatment

All companies (excluding those that qualify for the SUTE scheme) and bodies of persons, can qualify for, in each YA: 

a) 75% exemption on the first $10,000 of normal chargeable income; and

b) 50% exemption on the next $190,000 of normal chargeable income.

All other conditions of the scheme remain unchanged. 

This change will take effect on or after YA2020 for all companies (excluding those that qualify for the SUTE scheme) and bodies of persons. 

Tax Deduction for Qualifying Donations​

Current treatment

250% tax deduction for qualifying donations made to Institutions of a Public Character (“IPCs”) and other qualifying recipients 

Period: 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2018. 

New treatment

250% tax deduction for qualifying donations made to Institutions of a Public Character (“IPCs”) and other qualifying recipients 

Period: 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2021. 

Business and IPC Partnership Scheme (“BIPS”)​

Current treatment

A qualifying person can, subject to conditions, enjoy a total of 250% tax deduction on qualifying expenditure such as wages incurred by him in respect of 

a) The provision of services by his qualifying employee to an IPC during that period; or 

b) The secondment of his qualifying employee to an IPC during that period.

Period: 1 July 2016 to 31 December 2018 

New treatment

A qualifying person can, subject to conditions, enjoy a total of 250% tax deduction on qualifying expenditure such as wages incurred by him in respect of 

a) The provision of services by his qualifying employee to an IPC during that period; or 

b) The secondment of his qualifying employee to an IPC during that period.

Period: 1 July 2016 to 31 December 2021

GST on imported services​

Current treatment

GST is not applicable on imported services provided by an overseas supplier which does not have an establishment in Singapore.

New treatment

B2B imported services will be taxed via a reverse charge mechanism.

Only businesses that:

(i) make exempt supplies, or

(ii) do not make any taxable supplies need to apply reverse charge.

The reverse charge mechanism requires the local business customer to account for GST to IRAS on the services it imports. The local business customer can in turn claim the GST accounted for as its input tax, subject to the GST input tax recovery rules.

The taxation of B2C imported services will take effect through an Overseas Vendor Registration (OVR) mode.

This requires overseas suppliers and electronic marketplace operators which make significant supplies of digital services to local consumers to register with IRAS for GST.