Singapore Income Tax for Foreigners: Rates, Rules, and How to File

Understanding income tax in a single country is hard enough - if you’re a foreigner in Singapore, there’s a good chance you’ll need to understand it in at least two.

If this seems like a daunting task, read on. This article will go over everything you need to know about income tax as a foreigner in Singapore.

We'll also introduce the Wise account, a handy companion to make your money go further with low, transparent fees.

Table of Contents
Do foreigners need to pay income tax in Singapore? Taxable income Tax residency Tax rates Tax residents Tax reliefs Rental income Non-residents Reliefs and exemptions Reduce tax File and pay tax Payment methods Managing money across countries? Use Wise to convert at the mid-market rate

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Do foreigners need to pay income tax in Singapore?

Generally, Singapore charges income tax on income earned in or derived from Singapore, but not overseas income received in Singapore¹.

• Tax residents pay income tax progressively from 0% to 24%², depending on how much they earn.
• Non-residents are taxed differently (explained later).

What income is taxable?

For tax purposes, any income which is accrued or derived from Singapore is considered to be taxable. This includes:

• Salary, bonus, and director's fee
• Retirement benefits
• Gains from the exercise of stock options

Generally, overseas income is not taxable in Singapore. However, there are some exceptions, such as if overseas income is related to your employment in Singapore, or if you work in Singapore for a foreign employer³. If your overseas income is not taxable in Singapore, you do not need to declare it..

Tax residency in Singapore: resident vs non-resident foreigners

Before you pay your income tax in Singapore, it’s important to know whether you’re a tax resident or non-resident, as different rules apply to each. You are a tax resident if:

• You are a Singaporean citizen or permanent resident who lives in Singapore apart from temporary absences
• You are a foreigner who has stayed or worked in Singapore for at least 183 days of the last calendar year, or 3 consecutive years
• You are a foreigner who worked in Singapore over a period spanning two calendar years, with a total stay of at least 183 days
• Or, you have a work permit valid for at least one year

If none of these apply to you, you are not considered a tax resident.

How much is the income tax in Singapore for foreigners?

Singapore operates on a progressive tax system, meaning that as you earn more, you pay a higher percentage of your income in tax. The specifics of this differ for tax residents and non-residents, who are also subject to different tax relief.

Income tax for tax residents

Singapore’s progressive income tax rates can be seen below⁴:

Chargeable Income	Tax Rate	Gross Tax Payable (SGD)
First $20,000	0%	0
Next $10,000	2%	200
First $30,000	-	200
Next $10,000	3.5%	350
First $40,000	-	550
Next $40,000	7%	2,800
First $80,000	-	3,350
Next $40,000	11.5%	4,600
First $120,000	-	7,950
Next $40,000	15%	6,000
First $160,000	-	13,950
Next $40,000	18%	7,200
First $200,000	-	21,150
Next $40,000	19%	7,600
First $240,000	-	28,750
Next $40,000	19.5%	7,800
First $280,000	-	36,550
Next $40,000	20%	8,000
First $320,000	-	44,550
Next $180,000	22%	39,600
First $500,000	-	84,150
Next $500,000	23%	115,000
First $1,000,000	-	199,150
In excess of $1,000,000	24%	-

How to read the table

If you know your total taxable employment income:

1. Find the band your income falls into.
2. Then, you can see the marginal tax rate - that’s the top rate of tax you’ll pay on your income
3. The top number in the ‘gross tax payable’ column shows the total tax you’ll pay in all the bands up to yours.
4. You’ll also pay the marginal income percentage on any additional income within that band.

For example, if you earn 100,000 SGD, you’ll pay 3,350 SGD in income tax on the first 80,000 SGD you earn. For the remaining 20,000 SGD, you’ll pay 11.5% income tax, of 2,300 SGD. This brings your total income tax to 5,650 SGD.

Income tax reliefs for tax residents

Singapore tax residents, including foreigners, may be eligible for tax reliefs⁵. The exact tax reliefs you are eligible for will vary, depending on your circumstances. The following may affect the tax reliefs you are eligible for:

• Your gender
• Your marital status
• Whether you have children
• Your employment status

Whilst you can find a full, up to date list of tax reliefs on the Singapore government website, common ones include income earned relief and Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) relief. There is an 80,000 SGD cap on tax reliefs for all tax residents.

Impact of rental income on income tax

Income from property rental is taxed as income⁶. Rental income is added to other income when calculating your income tax.

This means that the landlord pays income tax, and if you are living in a rented property, you don’t need to pay this tax. If you earn income from renting a property outside of Singapore, you do not need to pay income tax on it in Singapore, as these earnings are foreign-sourced. However, you may need to pay taxes in the country the property is located in.

Non-residents

If you are considered a non-resident for tax purposes in Singapore, you must still pay tax on any earnings you make in Singapore. Whilst you can claim deductions for donations or expenses, you are not eligible for personal reliefs, as a tax resident would be.

The way in which you are taxed may also differ compared to a resident. You will be taxed the higher of either 15%, or the progressive rate, depending on how much you earn. However, directors fees, consultants fees and all other income is generally taxed at 24%. You can use the tax calculator for non-residents on the Singapore government website to find out how much this is for you.

Tax reliefs and exemptions for foreigners in Singapore

Foreigners who are tax residents in Singapore are generally eligible for some, but not all income tax reliefs. You may be able to claim reliefs for some of the following:

• Income earned relief
• Parent relief (disability)
• Sibling relief (disability)
• Working mother’s child relief

You can check eligibility on the Singapore government website.

It’s also worth noting that there are some reliefs which foreigners are generally not eligible for, even if you’re a tax resident. For example, NSmen, their wives and parents may be eligible for reliefs, which only applies to Singaporean citizens and permanent residents.

How to reduce income tax in Singapore for foreigners

To legally reduce your tax:

• Claim all reliefs you are eligible for (up to 80,000 SGD cap)
• Check if certain expenses qualify for deductions
• File on time to avoid penalties
• Keep your documents organised

If you are unsure, speak to a tax professional. Following the rules helps you avoid penalties and fines.

How to file and pay Singapore income tax as a foreigner

The 2026 deadline for submitting employment and self-employment records is 1st March for those under the Auto-Inclusion Scheme or using e-submission⁷.

If your employer has more than 5 employees, they must use the Auto-Inclusion Scheme. This means:

• Your income information is sent directly to IRAS.
• You may not need to file employment income manually.
• You must still declare other income (e.g. rental income).
• You should log into myTax Portal (Singpass) to verify details and claim reliefs.

If IRAS notifies you that you must file, you are required to do so⁸. The government will use the information passed from your employer, and any that you submit, to create your Notice of Assessment (NOA), or tax bill.

Non-residents must file an income tax return regardless of income earned.

If unsure, use the IRAS income tax return checker.

Payment methods

You can pay via⁹:

• GIRO (up to 12 interest-free monthly instalments)
• PayNow QR
• AXS
• Internet banking bill payment
• Internet banking fund transfer
• Telegraphic transfer
• Singpost

Telegraphic transfer is useful if you do not hold a Singapore bank account.

You cannot use a credit card as a payment method.

Managing money across countries? Use Wise to convert at the mid-market rate and transfer with ease.

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Sources:

1. IRAS - What is taxable, what is not
2. IRAS - Basics of individual income tax: Working out my tax residency
3. IRAS - Basics of individual income tax: Income earned overseas
4. IRAS - Basics of individual income tax: Individual income tax rates
5. IRAS - Basics of individual income tax: Tax reliefs
6. IRAS - Basics of individual income tax: Income from property rented out
7. IRAS - Due dates
8. IRAS - Basics of individual income tax: Individuals who need to file tax
9. IRAS - Payments: Individual income tax