Singapore tax reliefs 2026: cut your bill legally with SRS and family reliefs

Last reviewed: November 2026 · Reviewed by Stéphane Gombauld, tax expert, technologist and digital nomad

You live and work in Singapore and want to know which deductions you can actually claim. This guide lists the 2026 reliefs, rebates and deductions, shows which ones foreigners can use, and works out what they are worth on a real salary.

Singapore personal tax deductions in 2026: the key figures

Is this guide for you?

Read on if you…

• are a Singapore tax resident, citizen, PR or foreigner on a work pass;
• want to lower your YA 2027 bill before 31 December 2026;
• support a spouse, children or parents.

Probably not your case if you…

• are a non-resident – reliefs are not available, see tax residency in Singapore;
• run a business and want to deduct its costs – see business expenses in Singapore.

How do reliefs, deductions and rebates work in Singapore?

Singapore uses three tools. They act at different stages of the calculation.

1. Deductions cut your income first. Examples: employment expenses you paid yourself, and donations.
2. Personal reliefs then cut your assessable income – your income after deductions – to reach chargeable income. That is the figure the rates apply to.
3. Rebates cut the tax itself, after the rates are applied.

Reliefs are capped at S$80,000 a year in total. Most people stay well below that.

Here's the catch: you claim reliefs for the year of assessment, based on the previous year. Money you put into SRS in 2026 reduces your YA 2027 bill. Money paid on 2 January 2027 counts for the next year.

Which personal reliefs can you claim in 2026?

Reliefs open to all residents, including foreigners

Reliefs mainly for citizens and permanent residents

• CPF relief: your compulsory CPF contributions, on wages up to the CPF ceiling, reduce your income automatically.
• CPF cash top-up relief: up to S$8,000 for topping up your own account and S$8,000 for family members.
• Working mother's child relief: for citizen children born or adopted from 1 January 2024, a fixed S$8,000, S$10,000 or S$12,000 by birth order. Older children use a percentage of the mother's earned income.
• NSman relief: for national servicemen and their wives or parents.
• Grandparent caregiver relief: S$3,000 for working mothers whose child is cared for by a grandparent.

Good news for tidy files: the course fees relief lapsed after YA 2025. You do not need to track training receipts for 2026.

Rebates that cut the tax itself

• Parenthood tax rebate: S$5,000 for the first citizen child, S$10,000 for the second, S$20,000 for each further child. Unused amounts carry forward.
• Personal income tax rebate: granted in some years by the Budget. YA 2025 had a 60% rebate capped at S$200. Whether one applies for YA 2027 depends on Budget 2027.

How much do you really pay after reliefs?

Reliefs save you tax at your marginal rate – the rate on your last dollar. The higher your income, the more each dollar of relief is worth.

Investment income rarely needs relief at all. Singapore has no capital gains tax on shares, funds or crypto held as investments. Dividends from Singapore companies are tax-exempt, and interest from approved banks is exempt for individuals. Foreign-sourced income received by residents is generally exempt too. See capital gains tax in Singapore.

How do you pay less tax legally in Singapore?

1. Max out SRS before 31 December. It is the single biggest relief for foreigners. Withdrawals after the statutory retirement age are only 50% taxable and can be spread over ten years.
2. Check SRS exit rules if you will leave. Foreigners who have kept their SRS account for at least ten years can withdraw without the 5% penalty, with 50% taxable.
3. Give to approved charities. Each S$1,000 donated to an Institution of a Public Character gives S$2,500 of deduction until the end of 2026.
4. Claim unreimbursed employment expenses. Only if they are wholly and exclusively for your job, and your employer did not pay them.
5. Use family reliefs correctly. Spouse, child and parent reliefs often go unclaimed by people who moved recently.
6. Look at expat-specific options. Some schemes target newcomers – see tax incentives for expats and digital nomads in Singapore.

Common mistakes (and what they cost)

• Paying SRS on 2 January → the relief moves to the following year and you lose a full year of tax savings.
• Claiming reliefs as a non-resident → IRAS rejects them and corrects your bill, sometimes with penalties.
• Assuming a child or parent relief applies abroad → conditions on citizenship, residence or income are not met and the relief is withdrawn.
• Withdrawing SRS early as a foreigner → the full amount can be taxable plus a 5% penalty, wiping out the original saving.
• Ignoring the S$80,000 cap → reliefs above the cap are simply lost, so stacking them gives nothing extra.

Frequently asked questions

Can foreigners claim tax reliefs in Singapore?

Yes, if they are tax residents. Foreign residents get the earned income relief automatically and can claim SRS relief of up to S$35,700, plus spouse, child and parent reliefs where conditions are met. Some reliefs, such as CPF relief and working mother's child relief, are mainly for citizens and permanent residents. Non-residents cannot claim any personal relief.

What is the maximum tax relief in Singapore?

Total personal reliefs are capped at S$80,000 per year of assessment. The cap covers all reliefs together, including SRS, CPF, child and parent reliefs. It does not cover deductions such as donations or employment expenses, which reduce your income before reliefs, or rebates such as the parenthood tax rebate, which reduce the tax itself.

Is SRS worth it for expats in Singapore?

Usually, if you pay tax at 11.5% or more. You get relief at your marginal rate now, and only 50% of withdrawals are taxed after the statutory retirement age. If you plan to leave within a few years, check the early withdrawal rules: before ten years, withdrawals by foreigners can be fully taxable with a penalty.

When do I need to claim my reliefs?

File your return on myTax Portal by 18 April of the year of assessment. Many reliefs, such as earned income, CPF and SRS, are pre-filled from data IRAS receives. Others, like parent or spouse relief, must be claimed in your return. Reliefs for 2026 are claimed in your YA 2027 return, filed in 2027.

Are donations tax deductible in Singapore?

Yes. Cash donations to approved Institutions of a Public Character give a 250% tax deduction for donations made up to 31 December 2026. A S$1,000 gift reduces your income by S$2,500. IRAS receives the data from the charity, as long as you give your tax reference number when donating.

Can I deduct working from home costs in Singapore?

Only in narrow cases. Employment expenses must be incurred wholly and exclusively in performing your job, and not reimbursed by your employer. Rent and utilities of your own home rarely qualify. Self-employed people follow different rules for business costs, which can include a share of home office expenses when justified.

Related guides

• Tax residency rules in Singapore
• Tax incentives for expats and digital nomads in Singapore
• Business expenses in Singapore
• Capital gains tax in Singapore
• Personal tax deductions and benefits in Hong Kong
• Personal tax deductions in Thailand
• All country tax guides

Sources

• IRAS – Individual income tax
• IRAS – Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
• Singapore Statutes Online – Income Tax Act 1947
• CPF Board
• Ministry of Finance – Singapore Budget

This guide is general information, not personalised tax advice. See how we research and review.