How vat / sales tax works in Singapore
Singapore GST runs at 9% on most local supplies of goods and services, with registered businesses charging output tax, claiming input tax, and filing quarterly returns with IRAS.
Registration becomes compulsory once taxable turnover exceeds SGD 1 million in twelve months or is expected to do so, with voluntary registration available for input-heavy businesses below the line.
Exports and qualifying international services are zero-rated, financial services and residential property are largely exempt, and qualifying digital payment tokens have been GST-exempt since January 2020.
Tax rates at a glance
- Standard GST
- 9%
- Zero-rated supplies
- 0%
- Exempt supplies
- Exempt
- Registration threshold
- SGD 1 million
- Digital payment tokens
- Exempt
- Overseas vendor regime
- 9%
Who benefits most
These profiles tend to benefit most when the rules match their real residence, payroll and business setup.
E-commerce sellersSaaS foundersFreelancersFund managersCross-border traders
Watch out for
- The 9% rate dates only from January 2024, so multi-year contracts, deposits, and transitional supplies need rate-allocation checks rather than a flat current-rate assumption.
- Overseas vendors selling B2C digital services and low-value goods into Singapore face GST registration without any SGD 1 million shelter.
- Exempt token and financial supplies block related input tax recovery, which changes the economics of mixed crypto and fintech businesses.
- Customer location, reverse-charge, and e-invoicing readiness decide more liability than the headline rate for SaaS and marketplace models.
Frequently asked questions
What is the GST rate in Singapore?
Singapore GST is 9% in 2026, raised from 8% in January 2024. Zero-rating covers exports and qualifying international services, while financial services and residential property are largely exempt.
When must a Singapore business register for GST?
Compulsory registration applies once taxable turnover exceeds SGD 1 million in twelve months or is expected to. Voluntary registration suits input-heavy businesses that want to reclaim GST early.
Is crypto subject to Singapore GST?
Qualifying digital payment tokens are GST-exempt since January 2020, and using them to pay for goods is disregarded as a supply. Goods and services sold for tokens still carry normal GST.