GST

Common questions about gst in Singapore, answered by the team at E&H Corporate Services.

What is Goods and Services Tax (GST)?GST is Singapore's value-added tax, currently 9% (from 1 Jan 2024). It is levied on the supply of goods and services in Singapore and on imports, and businesses collect it on behalf of IRAS via periodic GST returns.What is the current GST rate in Singapore?9% as of 2026. The rate was increased from 8% to 9% in January 2024.When must I register for GST?It’s recommended to register early once you are expecting for more than $1 million of turnover. Once a company has more than $1 million of turnover, it has to be registered to IRAS within 30 days.When does my company need to register for GST?GST registration is compulsory when your taxable turnover exceeds illion in the past 12 months, or when you can reasonably expect to exceed that threshold in the next 12 months. Voluntary registration is also available.Is a Singapore company required to collect GST?Yes and no. It depends on the company’s annual turnover. If it’s more than S$1 million, it’s mandatory for the company to register as a GST registered company with IRAS.Can I register for GST voluntarily?Yes. Companies with turnover below S$1 million can register voluntarily to claim input GST credits.What are the conditions for voluntary GST registration?You can register voluntarily if you make taxable supplies in Singapore, even below the S$1 million threshold. Benefits include claiming input tax on purchases; the main downside is the compliance burden and charging GST to customers.What is the GST registration procedure?The following forms are to be submitted: GST F1 (Singapore Goods and Services registration form) GST F3 to include the details of all the partners Supporting documents The process takes about 10 days. Upon approval, you will receive your GST number, your filing frequency, and filing due dates.What is the 'prospective' vs 'retrospective' basis for mandatory GST registration?Prospective registration applies when you expect turnover to exceed S$1 million in the next 12 months. Retrospective applies when turnover already exceeded S$1 million in the past 12 months.What is the penalty for late GST registration?Yes. It is an offence to register late and if found guilty you will be fined up to S$10,000 and an additional penalty equivalent to 10% of the tax which you are due to pay right from the time you were expected to register for GST.What are the GST filing deadlines?GST returns are filed quarterly. The deadline is one month after the end of each accounting quarter.What is the accounting period for filing GST returns?It depends on the financial year-end. For instance, if the financial quarter-end is March, June, September or December, the cycle of the accounting period is January-March, April-June, July-September, October-December.If I am liable to register for GST, can I choose the date to commence registration?The effective date is generally the first day of the month following the end of the quarter in which the turnover threshold was crossed (retrospective basis), or the date you notify IRAS (prospective basis) if you apply early. IRAS determines the effective date based on your circumstances.What is Taxable Supply?A taxable supply is a supply of goods or services made in Singapore in the course or furtherance of business, which is not exempt — including standard-rated supplies (subject to 9% GST) and zero-rated supplies (0% GST).What is Taxable Turnover?Taxable turnover is the total value of your taxable supplies (standard-rated and zero-rated) in a period, excluding exempt supplies, capital assets, and out-of-scope transactions. It determines whether you must register for GST.What is an Exempt Supply?An exempt supply is a supply of goods or services on which no GST is charged and for which the supplier cannot claim input tax on related purchases. Examples include the sale and rental of residential property, financial services (e.g. loan interest, share trading), and the supply of precious metals for investment.What is an Out-of-Scope Supply?An out-of-scope supply is a transaction that falls outside the GST system entirely — e.g. a sale of a business as a going concern, goods exported by a non-registered person, or supplies made outside Singapore that are not connected to Singapore. No GST is charged and they do not count toward the registration threshold.What is a GST-exempt supply?Exempt supplies include financial services, residential property sales, and international transport. These are not subject to GST and do not count towards the S$1 million threshold.What is a GST zero-rated supply?Zero-rated supplies are taxable but at 0% GST. This applies to exports and international services. You can claim input GST credits on zero-rated supplies.What is the difference between standard-rated, zero-rated, and exempt supplies?Standard-rated: 9% GST charged. Zero-rated: 0% GST but can claim credits. Exempt: No GST charged and cannot claim credits.What is a GST grouping?GST grouping allows related companies to register as a single GST entity. This reduces administrative burden and eliminates GST on inter-company transactions.Does taxable turnover include zero-rated sales?Yes. Taxable turnover includes both standard-rated and zero-rated supplies, because both are taxable supplies. Only exempt supplies are left out.Does taxable turnover include exempt sales?No. Exempt supplies generally do not form part of ordinary taxable turnover for GST registration, so they do not count towards the S$1 million threshold.How long must a voluntary GST registrant remain registered?A voluntarily registered business must generally remain GST-registered for at least two years, and must keep meeting IRAS conditions during that period.Must a new voluntary GST registrant use InvoiceNow?Businesses that apply for voluntary GST registration from 1 April 2026 must comply with the GST InvoiceNow requirement and transmit invoice data to IRAS through the InvoiceNow (Peppol) network.Are exports exempt from GST?Qualifying exports are zero-rated taxable supplies, not exempt supplies. They count towards taxable turnover but are charged GST at 0%.Are services to overseas customers always zero-rated?No. Services to overseas customers qualify for 0% GST only when the statutory international-services conditions are satisfied.Is residential rent subject to GST?The lease of residential property is exempt from GST, but related brokerage or advisory services can remain taxable.Can a business claim all GST paid on expenses?No. A business can claim input tax only where every applicable IRAS recovery condition is met — for example, that the goods or services are used for taxable business purposes.Must a dormant GST-registered business file a return?Yes. A GST-registered business with no transactions in an accounting period must still submit a Nil GST return.How long must GST records be retained?Tax invoices and supporting GST records must generally be retained for at least five years.Can GST registration be backdated?IRAS can backdate GST registration where a business applied after its compulsory registration date and late-registration conditions apply.What is the reverse charge on imported services?Reverse charge requires a qualifying recipient to account for GST on specified imported services and low-value goods as if it had made the supply itself.What is the Major Exporter Scheme?The Major Exporter Scheme (MES) suspends GST on qualifying non-dutiable imports for approved substantial importers and exporters.Can a business cancel its GST registration?Yes. A business can apply to cancel when it is no longer liable to be registered, provided any minimum registration period has been completed.Does GST registration replace corporate income tax filing?No. GST registration does not replace corporate income tax, accounting, payroll or ACRA filing obligations.Can a company charge GST while its GST application is pending?No. A company must not charge GST before the effective registration date stated in the IRAS approval notice.How long does GST registration take in Singapore?IRAS states that about 60% of applications are processed within 10 working days, and the remaining applications within 30 days once the required information is submitted.Can a business claim GST paid before registration?Yes, in qualifying cases. Pre-registration GST may be claimed where the general input-tax rules, timing conditions and documentary requirements are satisfied.

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