| | Singapore Tax: 2010 Singapore tax changesThe Singapore 2010 Budget Statement was delivered on 22 February 2010. There were no changes in the personal tax rates and generally only limited changes in the personal income tax arena such as enhanced tax relief for families, continued enhanced tax deductions with respect to charitable donations and reduced withholding tax rate for payments to nonresident public entertainers. In addition, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has recently provided certain tax concessionary treatment for certain staff discounts.
Personal tax reliefs
Resident taxpayers are eligible for certain tax reliefs. The Budget enhanced the following categories of tax reliefs, with effect from Year of Assessment 2010 (income year 2009):
- Parent Relief/Handicapped Parent Relief - The quantum of relief has been increased for taxpayer who support his or his spouse's parents, grandparents and great grandparents
- Wife Relief - Previously only applicable to male taxpayers. This relief will be renamed as Spouse Relief and be available to female taxpayers.
- Parent/Spouse/Qualifying Child/Working Mothers Child Relief - The income threshold condition of the dependent has been increased from S$2,000 to S$4,000.
- Handicapped Parent/Spouse/Sibling/Child Relief - The income threshold condition for handicapped dependent related relief has been removed.
With effect from Year of Assessment 2011 (income year 2010), the Budget enhanced the following categories of tax reliefs:
- Central Provident Fund (CPF) Top Up Relief for top-up to the CPF account of spouse or siblings - The income threshold condition of the dependent has been increased from S$2,000 to S$4,000.
- Course Fees Relief - The maximum allowable course fees relief will be increased from S$3,500 to S$5,500.
Personal Resident Tax rates
The personal resident tax rates remain the same as that for Year of Assessment 2009 (income year 2008).
The personal resident tax rates for Year of Assessment 2010 are:
Chargeable Income (S$) Tax Rate (%) Tax (S$)
On the first 20,000 0.00 0
On the next 10,000 3.50 350
On the first 30,000 - 350
On the next 10,000 5.50 550
On the first 40,000 - 900
On the next 40,000 8.50 3,400
On the first 80,000 - 4,300
On the next 80,000 14.00 11,200
On the first 160,000 - 15,500
On the next 160,000 17.00 27,200
On the first 320,000 - 42,700
Excess over 320,000 20.00 -
Withholding tax for nonresident public entertainers (NRPE)
Currently, NRPEs are subject to a withholding tax of 15% of their gross income in respect of services performed in Singapore. NRPEs generally include entertainment artists, musicians, athletes etc. exercising their profession in Singapore for less than 183 days within a calendar year.
To attract more entertainers to Singapore, the withholding tax rate in respect of sums payable to NRPEs during the 5 year period from 22 February 2022 to 31 March 2022 has been reduced from 15% to 10%.
Donations
The tax deduction for charitable donations as defined in the Singapore Income Tax Act was enhanced in last year's Budget from 200% to 250% for donations made during income year 2009. In this year's Budget, the 250% tax deduction was extended for donations made during the 2010 income year.
Staff discounts
The IRAS has recently ruled that with effect from Year of Assessment 2011 (income year 2010), staff discounts (excluding interest free or subsidized loans and discounted stock options or awards) offered to employees and/or their family and friends, is not taxable if the value of the good or service does not exceed S$500 AND the staff discount scheme is available to all employees.
If the staff discount scheme is available to only selected employees, or if the value of the discount for the good or service is greater than S$500, the full value of the staff discount is taxable. | |
