Corporate Tax

General Rule for All Companies

A company is taxed on the income earned in the preceding financial year. This means that income earned in the financial year 2016 will be taxed in 2017.

Basis Period and Year of Assessment

In tax terms, using the same example as above, 2017 is the Year of Assessment (YA). In other words, the YA is the year in which your income is assessed to tax. To assess the amount of tax, IRAS looks at the income, expenses, etc. during the financial year. This financial year is known as the “basis period“. The basis period is generally a 12-month period preceding the YA.

Financial Year End Basis Period YA
31 March of each year 1 Apr 2015 – 31 Mar 2016 2017
30 June of each year 1 Jul 2015 to 30 Jun 2016 2017
31 December of each year 1 Jan 2016 – 31 Dec 2016 2017
The same rule applies to new companies.

Corporate Tax Rate

With effect from YA 2010, a company is taxed at a flat rate of 17% on its chargeable income regardless of whether it is a local or foreign company.

Tax Schemes to Lower Tax Payable

(1) Tax Exemption Scheme for New Start-Up Companies

Under the scheme, qualifying new companies are given the following tax exemption for the first three consecutive YAs where the YA falls in:

YA 2020 onwardsNew!

  • 75% exemption on the first $100,000 of normal chargeable income; and
  • A further 50% tax exemption on the next $100,000 of normal chargeable income.

YA 2010 to 2019

  •  Full exemption on the first $100,000 of normal chargeable income; and
  • A further 50% exemption on the next $200,000 of normal chargeable income.

For more details on the tax exemption scheme for new start-up companies and the qualifying conditions, please refer to Common Tax Reliefs That Help Reduce The Tax Bills.

(2) Partial Tax Exemption for all companies

All companies including companies limited by guarantee (or CLGs) can enjoy the following tax exemption:

YA 2020 onwardsNew!

  • 75% exemption on the first $10,000 of normal chargeable income; and
  • A further 50% tax exemption on the next $190,000 of normal chargeable income.

YA 2010 to 2019

  • 75% tax exemption on the first $10,000 of normal chargeable income; and
  • A further 50% tax exemption on the next $290,000 of normal chargeable income.

For more details on the partial tax exemption scheme, please refer to Common Tax Reliefs That Help Reduce The Tax Bills.

(3) Corporate Income Tax Rebate

Corporate income tax rebate is given to all companies to ease business costs and support restructuring by companies and is applicable for YA 2013 to YA 2019. All companies will receive a corporate income tax rebate of the following:
  • 20% corporate income tax rebate, capped at $10,000 for YA 2019; New!
  • 40% corporate income tax rebate, capped at $15,000 for YA 2018; Revised!
  • 50% corporate income tax rebate, capped at $25,000 for YA 2017;
  • 50% corporate income tax rebate, capped at $20,000 for YA 2016; and
  • 30% corporate income tax rebate, capped at $30,000 per YA for YA 2013 to YA 2015.

Corporate income tax rebate is computed on the tax payable after deducting tax set-offs (e.g. foreign tax credit).