Withholding taxes in Singapore
- What are the withholding tax rates for income derived by non-residents?
| Dividend payments |
0% |
| Interest, commissions, fees and other payments in connection with any loan or indebtedness | |
| – For operations not carried out in Singapore by a non-resident person |
15% |
| – For operations carried out in Singapore by a non-resident person (other than individuals) |
17% |
| – For operations carried out in Singapore by a non-resident individual |
20% |
| Royalties or other lump sum payments for the use of or the right to use any movable property | |
| – For operations not carried out in Singapore by a non-resident person |
10% |
| – For operations carried out in Singapore by a non-resident person (other than individuals) |
17% |
| – For operations carried out in Singapore by a non-resident individual |
20% |
| Know-how payments for the use of or the right to use scientific, technical, industrial or commercial knowledge or information | |
| – For operations not carried out in Singapore by a non-resident person |
10% |
| – For operations carried out in Singapore by a non-resident person (other than individuals) |
17% |
| – For operations carried out in Singapore by a non-resident individual |
20% |
| Technical assistance or service fees |
17% |
| Management fees |
17% |
| Rent or other payments for the use of movable property | |
| – For operations not carried out in Singapore by a non-resident person |
15% |
| – For operations carried out in Singapore by a non-resident person (other than individuals) |
17% |
| – For operations carried out in Singapore by a non-resident individual |
20% |
| Non-resident board directors’ remuneration or fees |
20% |
| Proceeds from any sale of real property where the non-resident seller is a real property trader |
15% |
| Professional fees |
15% (20% if the non-resident professional elects to be taxed on net income) |
| Distributions made by a trustee of any real estate investment trust |
10% for distributions made during the period 18 February 2005 to 31 March 2015 |
| Payments to non-resident entertainers or their representatives |
15% (10% for income due and payable to the non-resident entertainer during the period 22 February 2010 to 31 March 2015) |
- When must the withholding tax be paid?
Any applicable withholding tax has to be deducted and paid to the IRAS, together with the completed Form IR37/A/B/C/D, by the 15th of the second month following the date of payment to the non-resident. Failure to do so will result in the imposition of late payment penalties.
In an administrative circular, the IRAS clarified that the date of payment refers to the earliest of the following dates:
- when the liability to pay the income arises (ie the income is due and payable) in accordance with the terms of the agreement/contract. In the absence of an agreement/contract, the date of the invoice is regarded as the deemed date of
payment - when the income is credited to the account of the non-resident person (or reinvested, accumulated, capitalised or carried to any reserve or any other account however designated, or otherwise dealt with on its behalf), and
- when actual payment of the income is made.