Singapore GST 9% Rate & Business Registration Guide 2026

Complete guide to Goods and Services Tax (GST 9%) in Singapore. Explains compulsory S$1M registration threshold, input tax claims, & OVR digital rules.

Statutory Overview & Legal Tax Framework

Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Singapore is a broad-based value-added consumption tax levied on the import of goods and the supply of goods and services under the Goods and Services Tax Act (Cap. 117A). The standard GST rate is 9%. Businesses are legally required to register for GST on a compulsory basis if their taxable turnover exceeds S$1 million at the end of any calendar year (retrospective basis) or is expected to exceed S$1 million in the next 12 months (prospective basis). Registered businesses collect 9% output tax on sales, claim input tax on business purchases, and file quarterly GST F5 returns on the myTax Portal.

Key Tax Criteria & Statutory Rules

Compulsory GST Registration Threshold (S$1,000,000)S$1M Threshold

Compulsory if taxable turnover exceeds S$1M on retrospective (calendar year) or prospective (next 12 months) basis.

Output Tax Collection (9%) & Input Tax Credit ClaimsInput/Output Tax

Charge 9% GST on local standard-rated supplies; claim 9% input tax paid on business purchases and imports.

Overseas Vendor Registration (OVR) & Reverse ChargeOVR Digital Tax

Overseas digital service providers selling to Singapore consumers must register for GST under OVR rules.

Zero-Rated (0%) & Exempt Supplies Categories0% Zero-Rated

Exports of goods and international services are zero-rated (0% GST); residential property sales are GST-exempt.

Qualification Rules & Tax Compliance

Compulsory registration within 30 days of exceeding the S$1 million taxable turnover threshold.

Voluntary registration requires remaining registered for at least 2 years and making taxable supplies.

GST returns (GST F5) must be filed electronically within 1 month following the end of each accounting quarter.

Must maintain proper accounting and tax invoice records for at least 5 years.

IRAS Filing & Verification Checklist

Goods and Services Tax Act (Cap. 117A) & IRAS GST Guides

12 Months Profit & Loss Statements / Taxable Sales Ledger

Singpass Access for IRAS myTax Portal Business Filing

Sample Business Tax Invoices & Customer Payment Proofs

Step-by-Step IRAS Filing & Payment Workflow

Monitor Annual Taxable Turnover Against S$1M Threshold

Track rolling 12-month taxable sales at the end of every calendar quarter.

Submit GST Registration Application on myTax Portal

Log into myTax Portal via Singpass and submit Form GST F1 with financial statements.

Receive IRAS GST Registration Number & Effective Date

IRAS issues approval notice containing your business GST Registration Number.

Issue Tax Invoices & Charge 9% GST on Sales

Update invoice templates to show 9% GST line item and GST Registration Number.

File Quarterly GST F5 Returns & Pay Net GST Balance

Submit GST F5 return quarterly; pay net output tax via GIRO or eNETS within 1 month.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The standard Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate in Singapore is 9%.

A business must register for GST if its annual taxable turnover exceeds S$1,000,000 at the end of a calendar year or is projected to exceed S$1,000,000 over the next 12 months.

Output tax is the 9% GST you charge and collect from your customers on sales. Input tax is the 9% GST you pay to suppliers on business purchases. You pay IRAS the net difference (Output Tax minus Input Tax).

Yes. Businesses can apply for voluntary GST registration, but they must commit to staying registered for at least 2 years and comply with all quarterly filing requirements.

No. Exports of goods and international services are zero-rated (0% GST), allowing exporters to claim full input tax refunds.

IRAS imposes a late filing penalty of S$200 for every completed month that the GST F5 return is overdue, up to a maximum of S$10,000 per return, plus a 5% late payment penalty.