Filing taxes in Singapore is a national obligation, and everyone who qualifies must take part. Taxes are used to help pay for the government, which then spends the money it makes on things like infrastructure and public transportation. The tax eventually benefits the general populace and aids in uplifting the disadvantaged group so that the entire nation can advance together.
A sizable portion of Singapore’s youth are actively seeking out new sources of income, and many of them are beginning to get salaries. But the issue is that the majority of them do not understand Singapore’s income tax structure, criteria, eligibility, reliefs, or most significantly, how to pay it.
Although there are numerous corporate tax services in Singapore that may assist you, it is vital to be aware of your responsibilities so you can make educated decisions.
This article will aid seasoned taxpayers who have previously used corporate tax services Singapore for their tax filing Singapore by covering everything a newbie needs to know.
Singapore’s Tax Payment Requirements:
Let’s first determine whether you even need to pay income tax before moving on to the how-to. Each and every person in Singapore who earns a living is required by law to pay taxes. Of course, there are certain exceptions, but we’ll get to those in a moment.
Anyone with an annual income of $22,000 or more is required to pay taxes. Regardless of the method of work, the income might come from a job, a business, or self-employment, therefore part-time or freelance income is also taxed.
Similar taxes apply to foreign nationals who live and work in Singapore for more than 183 days as well as those who work elsewhere but have their employment status recognised by Singapore.
Taxable And Non-Taxable:
Let’s now discuss the exclusions.
The legislation separates income into two groups: those that are taxed and those that are not.
If the money is derived from a business, employment, or self-employment, for instance, it will be taxed. Additionally, it includes passive revenue from sources like rents.
Revenue obtained from sources like lotteries, pensions, and stock capital gains is included in non-taxable income.
Calculating income taxes:
Singapore has a just tax system that prioritizes equity above equality. Simply said, different percentages have been established for various income levels. If your income is large, you will have to pay more tax; if it is low, you will have to pay less tax.
For purposes of common comprehension, the tax application begins with a $20,000 yearly income. The tax rates range from 2% at the lowest rate to 22% at the highest rate.
On the IRAS website, you may get detailed and current information on the income tax rate. The data might change over time, therefore you should constantly refer to it for an exact tax estimate.
Tax Reductions:
The Singaporean government frequently develops rules to exclude some industries from tax so they can thrive since taxes are for the benefit of the country. Additionally, it motivates additional people to enter that industry and close the gap.
In addition to industrial sectors, individuals can also receive tax relief to help handle their important obligations. Having dependent parents or children, course fees, life insurance, the Central Provident Fund, Supplementary Retirement Reduction, and gifts are all criteria that might qualify you for tax relief in Singapore.
Schedule for Singapore tax filing:
Singapore’s tax filing deadline falls in the first quarter of each year. Beginning in March when the relevant department begins to intimidate you about it, it lasts until the middle of April at which point you will be punished for violating it.
The tax that has to be filed relates to the prior year. As an illustration, you will pay taxes on your 2022 income in the first quarter of 2023.
Making Tax Filings in Singapore:
Now that you are familiar with the fundamentals of Singapore tax filing, let’s move on to the real process.
In Singapore, there are two methods for filing taxes. One is conventional paper filing, while the other is more contemporary electronic filing that was implemented as part of Singapore’s digital revolution.
Corporate tax consulting Singapore advises utilizing the electronic method since it is much more comfortable and easy to use, and it also conserves important resources like paper.
Resources needed:
To make filing convenient for you, you should have the following items on hand before beginning:
- IRAS Unique Account / SingPass (IUA)
- Form IR8A (in case your employer is not a participant in the Auto-Inclusion Scheme)
- Information about dependents (such as a parent or kid) needed to make a relief claim
- Information about any rental or other income
- Number assigned to businesses or partnerships for tax purposes (only for self-employed and partners)
The MyTaxPortal:
When you have all the resources you need, you are prepared to begin submitting your taxes.
The following step would be to use SingPass or IUA to connect onto myTax Portal, choose “Individuals,” then “File Income Tax Returns.”
You may just follow the instructions the site gives you for the next stages.
Giving & Verifying Information:
The gateway will take you to a form where you can fill out the necessary information. If your company participates in the Auto-Inclusion Scheme, the information will already be available to you; you simply need to confirm it.
Getting Reliefs & Giving Them Up:
The following step would be to take advantage of the reliefs for which you are eligible and forego those that are no longer available to you. A couple of examples are giving up a course fee deduction if you are no longer qualified for it or receiving child relief if you had a baby during the tax year.
Declaring Income Sources:
You must declare every one of them since tax is based on gross income. It can be a brand-new business that you launched during the tax year or one that you closed down.
Acknowledgement:
If you accurately completed the preceding procedures, you would have successfully submitted your tax returns and would have gotten an acknowledgment receipt that you could download and print.
If you decide against filing electronically, IRAS will send you a paper filing form during the months of February and March that contains all the information needed to complete the process.
For more information about tax service Singapore, please visit https://www.accorp.com.sg/
