Reduce your corporate tax: Start-up Tax Exemption Scheme and Partial Tax Exemption

The Start-up Tax Exemption Scheme, introduced by the Singapore government, is meant to encourage entrepreneurship and also the growth of local businesses. to learn from the Start-up Tax Exemption Scheme program, a business in Singapore must:

➤ Be incorporated in Singapore
➤ Be resident in Singapore for tax purposes
➤ Except for investment holding and property development, you can work in any business
➤ Have no quite 20 individual shareholders

Secondly, companies in Singapore not eligible for Start-up Tax Exemption Scheme can still have the benefit of the partial tax exemption in order to reduce corporate tax. The businesses concerned are those having been incorporated for over 3 years in Singapore, have over 20 shareholders, or belong to the investment and property development sectors.

Start-up Tax Exemption Scheme Partial Tax Exemption
75% on the first S$100,000 of normal taxable income of a start-up 75% on the first S$10,000 of normal taxable income
50% on the next S$100,000 of normal taxable income of a start-up 50% on the next S$190,000 of normal taxable income

Business and IPC Partnership Scheme to reduce your corporate tax

First, the Business and IPC Partnership Scheme allows for a 250 percent deduction from Singapore corporation tax on qualified costs paid when workers volunteer, professional services are provided, or services are provided to designated Public Character Institutions.

Second, in Singapore, public benefit institutions that are tax-exempt or registered charities can provide tax-deductible receipts for gifts made to them. As a result, they must adhere to a greater level of regulatory compliance and control than conventional charities.

Furthermore, if you are a company’s employee in Singapore in order to reduce corporate tax thanks to the Business and IPC Partnership Scheme program, you must:
1. Not be an owner, sole proprietor, partner, or shareholder who holds executive positions in the company.

2. Not be employed in an investment holding company.

3. Incurring expenses for voluntary services provided to Public Character Institutions during work hours and on the Public Character Institutions’ premises are:

➤ Not paid by the Public Character Institutions
➤ Not a personal expense for the employee
➤ Not a capital expense

Finally, for each fiscal year, allowable costs are limited to S$250,000 per corporation and S$50,000 every individual Public Character Institution.

Reduce your corporate tax with the "Double Tax Deduction for Internationalization"

First, the Double Tax Deduction for Internationalization program aims to encourage Singapore companies to expand internationally.

Secondly, there are several tax deductions under the Double Tax Deduction for Internationalization, which automatically benefit from tax deductions without the need for further approval. These include:

➤ International business development trips and missions
➤ Study tours and investment missions abroad
➤ Overseas trade shows
➤ Local trade shows approved by Enterprise Singapore or Singapore Tourism Board

Finally, to be eligible for Double Tax Deduction for Internationalization, a business in Singapore must:

➤ Reside in Singapore. The company must have its global headquarters in Singapore for some eligible activities
➤ Have the primary objective of promoting trade in goods or providing services
➤ Overseas trade shows
➤ Have clear intentions to internationalize the business
How to reduce your corporate tax in Singapore?

Regional Headquarters Award and International Headquarters Award

Initially, the Regional Headquarters Award is administered by the Singapore Economic Development Board to encourage global companies to base their regional operations in Singapore. As a result, it advances Singapore’s status as a regional business hub.

Secondly, companies benefiting from the Regional Headquarters Award pay a reduced Singapore corporate tax rate of 15% on the incremental income from eligible activities for 3-5 years, subject to meeting and maintaining all prescribed conditions throughout the award period. To qualify for the Regional Headquarters Award, Singapore’s companies must meet the following criteria:

➤ A paid-up capital of S$200,000 at the end of Year 1 and S$500,000 at the end of Year 3 of the incentive period
➤ Headquarters departments must provide at least 3 types of services to company-owned entities in 3 countries outside Singapore by the end of Year 3
➤ Employment of at least 75% skilled staff (minimum high school certificate) and at least 10 professionals (minimum diploma holders and above) by the end of Year 3
➤ Average salaries of at least S$100,000 per annum for the top five management positions by the end of year 3
➤ Additional S$2 million in total annual business spending in Singapore by the end of year 3

Finally, the Singapore Economic Development Board has also administered the International Headquarters Award. As such, companies looking to establish their international headquarters in Singapore can therefore apply and benefit from the award, which qualifies them for Singapore’s corporate tax rates of 5% to 10%. This award is also a way to reduce corporate tax.
Thus, any company wishing to apply for the International Headquarters Award must be locally incorporated or registered in Singapore and committed to exceeding the Regional Headquarters Award’s minimum requirements.
For companies to establish their headquarters in Singapore, they must meet certain requirements:

1. The company must be recognized in the industry, have the extensive capacity in human resources, assets, capital, and market share.

2. The headquarters must be the organization’s center for the general direction of major operations with well-defined management and control procedures;

3. The company should move most of its headquarters from the Singapore office. These operations may consist of controlling marketing, brand planning and management, strategic business planning, and development. It may also consist of research, development, and bedding new concepts’ tests. Finally, it also involves, the management, professional, technical, and support staff employed by the company to manage the head office operations must be based in Singapore.

Pioneer Certificate Incentive and Development and Expansion Incentive

The Pioneer Certificate and Development and Expansion Incentive programs were set up to encourage Singapore companies to conduct new business activities and expand their production capabilities.

Pioneer Certificate Development and Expansion Incentive
The Pioneer Certificate scheme applies to companies anchored economic activities in Singapore over time, bringing significant benefits to the country's economy The Development and Expansion Incentive program focuses on companies invested in technology, equipment, and operational upgrades. As a result, industry-specific capabilities are advanced to globally competitive levels
Companies approved under the PC program are eligible for a 5% corporate tax rate in Singapore on income derived from eligible activities for a period of 5 years Companies approved under the DEI scheme are eligible for a 10% corporate tax rate in Singapore on income from qualifying activities for a period of 5 years

Criteria for Pioneer Certificate and Development and Expansion Incentive companies include:

➤ Jobs created in the company, including skills, expertise, and seniority
➤ Business spending benefits the Singapore economy
➤ Growth in capabilities in technology, facilities, and skillsets more advanced than what is generally available in Singapore
➤ Plans to expand or maintain business operations in Singapore

Land Intensification Allowance

The Land intensification Allowance is an initial tax allowance of 25% and an annual tax allowance of 5% based on capital expenditure incurred for the construction or renovation or extension of a qualifying building or structure.
Then, companies would need to meet the following key conditions:

1. Qualifying building or structure built on industrial land, Airport, or Portland.

2. The company is engaged in specified manufacturing or logistics activities.

3. Intensified use of the land meets the prescribed gross plot ratio benchmarks for specified manufacturing or logistics activities. Then an incremental 10% gross plot ratio applies to buildings or structures that have already met the prescribed gross plot ratio benchmarks.

Integrated Investment Allowance

The integrated investment allowance is an allowance provided based on a percentage of approved fixed capital expenditure incurred on productive equipment that is placed outside Singapore for an approved project. It is significant to know that the allowance can only be set off against chargeable income derived from the approved project.

Thus, the company’s project should be for the following activities:

➤ Manufacturing or increased manufacture of any product
➤ Provision of specialized engineering or technical services
➤ For research and development
➤ For construction operations
➤ For reducing water consumption
➤ For the promotion of the tourist industry in Singapore
➤ Operation of any space satellite
➤ Provision of maintenance, repair, and overhaul services to any aircraft
➤ Improving energy efficiency
➤ Any other qualifying activity as stipulated under Section 16 of the Economic Expansion Incentives Act

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