Singapore Tax Residence & Foreign Income

Citizens and permanent residents

Citizens and permanent residents who normally reside in Singapore, apart from temporary absences, are tax residents under IRAS guidance.

Foreign individuals

Foreigners may qualify through 183 days of stay/work in the previous calendar year, continuous stay/work across three consecutive years, or qualifying continuous employment spanning two calendar years with at least 183 total days including adjacent presence. The last concession excludes directors, public entertainers and professionals.

Overseas income

Overseas income received in Singapore is generally not taxable for individuals, including deposits to a Singapore bank account; this is not a blanket exemption.

Important exceptions

Exceptions include Singapore partnerships, overseas work or business incidental to Singapore activity, work in Singapore for a foreign employer, and overseas Singapore-government employment.

Taxable income and relief

Taxable overseas income must be reported in its relevant category. Double-tax relief may be available when the same income is taxed overseas.

Income year versus assessment year

Assessment generally follows the income year: Year of Assessment 2026 concerns income earned in calendar 2025.