Singapore

{"ftc_utility":"low","fbar_trigger_notes":"Most US expats in Singapore will hold local bank accounts at DBS, OCBC, UOB or international banks. Any Singapore bank account where the aggregate balance of all foreign financial accounts exceeds USD 10,000 at any point during the calendar year triggers FBAR (FinCEN 114) filing. FATCA Form 8938 thresholds also apply - USD 200,000 on the last day of the year or USD 300,000 at any point for single filers residing abroad. Singapore banks are FATCA-compliant and report US account holders to IRAS for onward reporting to the IRS.","ftc_utility_reason":"Singapore income tax rates are relatively low (effective rates often 10-15% for mid-to-high earners) and the top marginal rate is 24%, well below the US top rate of 37%. Where FEIE is used, Singapore tax paid on excluded income cannot generate FTCs. For income above the FEIE limit, Singapore taxes paid can offset US tax but the credit basket is limited given Singapore rates are lower than US rates. Singapore does not tax capital gains or most investment income, so FTCs are not available for those categories. FTC utility is low for most US expats in Singapore.","presence_day_count_notes":"Singapore does not impose minimum stay requirements that would prevent accumulating 330 qualifying days in a 12-month period for FEIE purposes. Most US expats in Singapore hold Employment Pass, S Pass, or Dependent Pass - none of these visa categories restrict travel in a way that interferes with the 330-day physical presence count. The 330-day count uses any 12-month period and days outside the US (including days in Singapore and third countries) all count. Singapore itself has no rule requiring minimum in-country presence that would conflict with this.","typical_qualifying_method":"either","housing_exclusion_available":true,"physical_presence_test_applies":true,"estimated_housing_exclusion_usd":45000,"local_tax_rate_on_earned_income":0.15,"bona_fide_residence_test_applies":true}

{"pension_income":{"notes":"Foreign pension income remitted to Singapore by individual tax residents is generally exempt from Singapore tax under the foreign income exemption provisions. Singapore-sourced pension income from CPF or other local schemes is subject to Singapore tax rules - CPF withdrawals by members are generally tax-exempt. US pension income is additionally covered by treaty protections.","tax_rate":null,"locally_taxed":false},"social_security":{"notes":"US Social Security benefits received by Singapore tax residents are not subject to Singapore income tax. The US-Singapore treaty and Singapore territorial tax principles both support this outcome. Social Security benefits may still be subject to US federal income tax depending on the recipients total income.","locally_taxed":false,"treaty_protection":true},"roth_distributions":{"notes":"Roth IRA distributions are not taxable in Singapore. Singapore does not tax foreign-sourced income remitted by individuals under its one-tier territorial system. No Singapore tax arises on Roth distributions regardless of treaty position.","locally_taxed":false},"us_401k_ira_distributions":{"notes":"The US-Singapore tax treaty (1988, as amended) provides protection for pension income. Distributions from US 401(k) plans and IRAs received by Singapore tax residents are generally not taxable in Singapore. Singapore taxes on a territorial basis and foreign-sourced income remitted to Singapore by individuals is generally exempt. Treaty Article 18 covers pensions and annuities - amounts paid from a US pension scheme to a Singapore resident may be taxed only in the US under certain conditions. Practical outcome for most US expats is that 401k/IRA distributions are taxed only by the US.","tax_rate":null,"locally_taxed":false,"treaty_protection":true}}

{"rate":0,"notes":"Singapore does not levy capital gains tax on individuals or corporations. Gains from the disposal of investments, property, and other assets are generally not taxable, though gains from trading activity may be treated as income.","details":{"tax_type":"Capital Gains Tax","country_name":"Singapore","country_iso_code":"SGP","source_references":["IRAS Singapore","PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries - Singapore"],"last_verified_date":"2026-06-03","general_description":"Singapore has no capital gains tax. Proceeds from the sale of shares, real property, and other capital assets are not subject to tax in Singapore. The key exception is where the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) determines that a taxpayer is trading in assets rather than investing - in such cases gains may be recharacterised as ordinary income and taxed at progressive rates up to 24%. No formal statutory test exists; IRAS applies a facts-and-circumstances analysis. Additional Buyer Stamp Duty (ABSD) and Seller Stamp Duty (SSD) apply to property transactions but are transaction taxes, not capital gains taxes.","corporate_capital_gains":{"rate":0,"tax_treatment":"No capital gains tax on corporations. Gains on disposal of investments are not taxable unless the company is considered to be trading in those assets, in which case gains are included in chargeable income at the flat corporate rate of 17%."},"individual_capital_gains":{"rate":0,"tax_treatment":"No capital gains tax on individuals. Gains from sale of shares, property, and other investments are not taxable. Trading gains may be recharacterised as income subject to progressive rates up to 24%."}}}

{"notes":"Singapore operates a one-tier corporate tax system. Dividends paid by Singapore-resident companies out of taxed profits are exempt in the hands of shareholders - no further tax applies at the individual level and no withholding tax is deducted. Foreign-sourced dividends remitted to Singapore by individuals are generally exempt from tax under the foreign income exemption provisions, provided conditions are met. There is no dividend withholding tax on outbound dividends paid to non-residents.","rates":[{"rate":0,"type":"exempt","notes":"Singapore-sourced dividends from resident companies are tax-exempt in shareholders hands under the one-tier tax system. No withholding tax on dividends paid to non-residents."},{"rate":0,"type":"exempt","notes":"Foreign-sourced dividends received by individuals are generally exempt when remitted to Singapore, provided the headline tax rate in the source country is at least 15% and the dividend has been subject to tax in the source country."}]}