US vs Singapore taxes (2026): income, company and capital gains

United States vs Singapore tax rates at a glance

Tax	🇺🇸 United States	🇸🇬 Singapore
Income tax	Personal income tax: 10% - 37% Social Security: 6.2% Medicare: 1.45% Additional Medicare: 0.9% State income tax: Varies	Resident income tax: 0% - 24% Non-resident income tax: 24% Employment concession: 15% or resident rates Foreign income: 0% / limited exceptions CPF employee: 20% CPF employer: 17%
Corporate tax	C corporation tax: 21% CAMT: 15% Pass-through entities: Different State tax: Varies	Corporate income tax: 17% Start-up exemption: Up to S$125,000 Partial exemption: Up to S$102,500 YA 2026 rebate: 50% GST: 9% Dividend withholding tax: 0%
Capital gains tax	Long-term capital gains: 0% - 20% Short-term capital gains: 10% - 37% Qualified dividends: 0% - 20% NIIT: 3.8%	Capital gains tax: 0% Crypto gains tax: 0% Share gains tax: 0% Property gains tax: 0%
Dividend tax	Qualified dividends: 0% - 20% Ordinary dividends: 10% - 37% NIIT: 3.8% State tax: Varies	Dividend withholding tax: 0% Domestic dividends: 0% Foreign dividends: 0% / limited cases
Wealth tax	Net wealth tax: 0% Property tax: Varies Estate tax: Up to 40% Gift tax: Up to 40%	Net wealth tax: 0% Net worth tax: 0% Annual asset tax: 0%
Inheritance / estate tax	Federal inheritance tax: 0% Federal estate tax: Up to 40% Federal gift tax: Up to 40% Basic exclusion: $15,000,000	Inheritance tax: 0% Estate duty: 0% Gift tax: 0% Probate tax: 0%
VAT / GST / sales tax	Sales tax: Varies by state	GST: 9%

Who wins on each tax

Personal income taxSingapore

Singapore's resident top rate is 24%, below the US federal top rate of 37% before state tax; non-resident and citizenship rules can change the comparison.

Corporate taxSingapore

Singapore's flat company rate is 17%, compared with 21% US federal C-corporation tax plus possible state tax.

Capital gains taxSingapore

Singapore generally has no personal capital-gains tax, while US long-term gains use 0%-20% federal rates and short-term gains are ordinary income.

Dividend taxSingapore

Singapore generally has 0% dividend withholding and one-tier tax-exempt Singapore dividends; US qualified dividends are generally 0%-20% federally, plus possible NIIT and state tax.

Wealth and estate taxSingapore

Neither country has a broad net wealth tax, but Singapore has no inheritance or estate duty while the US federal estate tax can reach 40%.

The verdict

Singapore's resident personal rate tops at 24%, below the US federal 37% before state tax. Singapore corporate tax is 17%, while a US C corporation pays 21% federally plus state tax.

Singapore generally does not tax personal capital gains or ordinary Singapore-company dividends. The US offers preferential long-term gains and qualified-dividend rates but can add 3.8% NIIT and state tax.

Choose Singapore for a genuine Asia-based operating company and lower recurring tax; choose the US for US customers, fundraising and capital-market depth. US citizenship, CFC, substance and treaty rules remain central.

How to read this comparison

Singapore is usually the lower-tax base; the US is often the stronger commercial and capital-markets base. That trade-off only holds when the Singapore company has real management, people and substance.

Frequently asked questions

Is Singapore or the US lower tax?

Singapore is usually lower for recurring personal and company taxation, capital gains and dividends. The US can be better commercially, and US citizens can remain taxable on worldwide income after moving.

Does Singapore tax capital gains?

Singapore generally does not tax capital gains from personal investments, but gains that are trading or business income can be taxable. Classification and substance are decisive.

United States vs Singapore taxes