Concept
Singapore taxes individuals on a territorial basis: employment, trade, rental and other Singapore-source income is taxable, while capital gains are not taxed at all. Residents pay progressive rates with personal reliefs; non-residents pay flat rates. Assessment runs on a preceding-year basis — income of calendar year N is assessed in year of assessment N+1.
Resident Rate Schedule
Chargeable income — after personal reliefs — is taxed on the progressive resident scale of the Second Schedule to the Income Tax Act 1947 (verified at sso.agc.gov.sg, YA2024 and subsequent years): 0% on the first S$20,000; 2% on the next S$10,000; 3.5% on the next S$10,000; 7% on the next S$40,000; 11.5% on the next S$40,000; 15% on the next S$40,000; 18% on the next S$40,000; 19% on the next S$40,000; 19.5% on the next S$40,000; 20% on the next S$40,000; 22% on the next S$180,000; 23% on the next S$500,000; and 24% on chargeable income above S$1,000,000. The effective rate at most income levels sits far below the headline marginal rate because of the graduated structure and reliefs.
Reliefs and Deductions
Personal reliefs reduce chargeable income for residents only: earned income relief, spouse and child reliefs, parent relief, CPF contribution relief and others (the full list and caps change by budget — verify at iras.gov.sg). Non-residents receive no personal reliefs.
Non-Resident Rules
- Employment income — taxed at the higher of a flat non-resident rate or the resident progressive computation (IRAS administrative practice — verify at iras.gov.sg).
- Director's fees and most other income — taxed at a flat 24% for years of assessment 2024 onward (s.43(1)(b) Income Tax Act 1947 — verified at sso.agc.gov.sg).
- Short stays — employment exercised for 60 days or less may be exempt; see Singapore's 60-Day Rule.
What Singapore Does Not Tax
- Capital gains — no CGT for individuals; gains on personal investments are not taxed.
- Inheritance — estate duty was abolished; there is no inheritance tax.
- Foreign-source income — exempt for individuals under s.13(7A) of the Income Tax Act 1947 (verified at sso.agc.gov.sg), except income received through a partnership in Singapore.
Q/A
What is the top marginal rate and from which income?
24%, applying to resident chargeable income above S$1,000,000 from YA2024 (Second Schedule Table 3 — verified at sso.agc.gov.sg). The non-resident flat rate on most non-employment income is the same 24% (s.43(1)(b)).
Which reliefs apply?
Residents only: earned income, spouse, child, parent and CPF-related reliefs, among others — the list and caps are set by budget and should be verified at iras.gov.sg before planning.
How are non-residents taxed?
Employment income at the higher of a flat rate or resident rates; director's fees and most other income flat; no personal reliefs. Short working visits of up to 60 days may be exempt — see the 60-day rule.
Reviewed: 2026-07-21 · Sources: Income Tax Act 1947 (Second Schedule, s.43) at sso.agc.gov.sg; IRAS at iras.gov.sg.
Cite as: wiki.private.law — "Singapore Personal Income Tax: Rates, Reliefs and Non-Resident Rules", https://wiki.private.law/en/singapore-personal-income-tax (reviewed 2026-07-21).