Taxes for freelancers and the self-employed in Singapore in 2026

This guide touches on tax rates, registration requirements, deductions, and compliance obligations for Singaporean freelancers and sole traders to help you get a flavour.

We’ll also introduce services which may be able to help you, like professional tax advisors and Wise Business – ideal for managing your business finances across SGD and many other currencies.

Key takeaways: Freelance taxes in Singapore

• Freelancers, self employed people and partners usually pay Singapore tax using the Individual Income Tax system, rather than paying corporate rates
• The way you pay tax depends also on whether you’re a Singapore tax resident or considered non-resident for tax purposes
• Most partners, freelancers and self employed people e-file their taxes using Singpass with due dates running from 1 March to 18 April annually
• International freelancers may need to manage multi-currency transactions efficiently

The self-employed tax system in Singapore

Freelancers & Self-Employed (FSE) workers in Singapore make up around 12% of the resident workforce. If you’re a self-employed person, freelancer, sole proprietor or partner you’ll usually pay tax to IRAS using the Individual Income Tax system, rather than paying corporate rates.

Exactly how tax works for you as a freelance or self employed person in Singapore depends on several factors, including your residency for tax purposes, and the amount you earn through your work – and while the Singaporean taxation system is relatively straightforward it may not be familiar if you’re an expat. This guide walks through some key pointers to help you navigate your way through the tax registration, filing and payment process.

The information provided here is not intended as financial or personalized advice. Tax is complicated – and especially so if you’re an international freelancer or sole trader as you may have other duties and liabilities in your home country as well as Singapore. Get professional advice to make sure you submit and pay taxes in the correct way, based on your unique situation.

Self-employed income tax in Singapore

Both resident and non-resident self employed people are likely to need to pay income tax in Singapore. However, the rules which apply may vary depending on your tax residency.

Standard rates of income tax

Here are the Singapore income tax brackets and rates for resident individuals including freelancers, self employed people and partners. Taxes are progressive, meaning that the rates change according to your overall taxable income:

Chargeable Income	Income Tax Rate (%)	Gross Tax Payable ($)
First $20,000 Next $10,000	0 2	0 200
First $30,000 Next $10,000	– 3.50	200 350
First $40,000 Next $40,000	– 7	550 2,800
First $80,000 Next $40,000	– 11.5	3,350 4,600
First $120,000 Next $40,000	– 15	7,950 6,000
First $160,000 Next $40,000	– 18	13,950 7,200
First $200,000 Next $40,000	– 19	21,150 7,600
First $240,000 Next $40,000	– 19.5	28,750 7,800
First $280,000 Next $40,000	– 20	36,550 8,000
First $320,000 Next $180,000	– 22	44,550 39,600
First $500,000 Next $500,000	– 23	84,150 115,000
First $1,000,000 In excess of $1,000,000	– 24	199,150

Tax for self-employed sole traders and freelancers

IRAS offers guidance to help you decide if you qualify as a self employed person. Generally if you have a contract for service, and you work for yourself, you’ll be considered a self employed person. Once you’ve checked you count as a self-employed person there’s a lot of IRAS guidance available on what you need to do when filing your taxes.

As a freelancer or self-employed person, you and your business are considered as a single entity and as such you will report your income through the individual income tax route. This is different to a registered company like a Pte or a Pte Ltd structure.

If you are reporting 200,000 SGD or less, you’re required to complete a 2-line statement containing:

• Revenue
• Adjusted Profit/Loss

If your income is higher you must complete a 4-line statement when submitting your taxes, including:

• Revenue
• Gross Profit/Loss
• Allowable Business Expenses
• Adjusted Profit/Loss

You will usually be required to report your income to IRAS using Income Tax Return (Form B/B1) each year.

Tax for partnerships

Partners in an ACRA registered arrangement will usually be considered self employed and must complete their tax reporting following the individual income tax process – the same as self employed people.

You’ll be required to report your share of profit and loss from the partnership in the ‘Partnership Income’ section of the B/B1 tax return form.

Tax for companies

Company tax in Singapore works differently to self employed tax. A company is usually considered to be a separate entity to the individual who owns it, and tax rates and exemptions are applied using the corporate income tax (CIT) rate.

The Singapore corporate tax rate is 17%, but this may be reduced by CIT rebates, partial tax exemptions, and for many new locally registered businesses through start-up tax exemptions.

NB didn’t add in much detail as we have a separate guide we can link here

How to register for self-employment tax in Singapore

You may choose to register your sole proprietorship with ACRA – however this isn’t always needed. If you do business under your full name as shown on your NRIC, registration is often optional.

It’s also not always necessary to register with IRAS as a self-employed person. IRAS will usually send out a notification to file your Income Tax Return, which might be a text message, a letter, or the Income Tax Return form (Form B/ B1).

You should receive this by 15th March every year – if you do not receive your invitation to report your taxes by this date you should contact IRAS directly to get advice.

Self-employed tax deductions and credits for Singapore freelancers and self-employed

To know what to report to IRAS you will need to calculate your table income. Depending on your work you may be able to claim some common business expenses deductions such as office costs, equipment, professional subscriptions, travel, and telecommunications costs.

Some business expenses you may be able to deduct from your taxable income can include:

• Employee/staff costs – such as CPF contributions by employer, salary and bonus payments to employees
• Finance and professional costs – Accountancy fees, interest and some legal fees
• Running costs – such as costs of your office, upkeep of equipment, stationery, advertising and your business licence
• Other expenses specifically allowed under government schemes

As you’re submitting your income under the individual income tax system you may also be able to use certain government deductions and exemptions applied to personal income, such as the Personal Income Tax Rebate of up to 200 SGD.

Corporate tax in Singapore

If you would prefer to register your business as a company in Singapore the taxes you pay may be different to those you pay as a freelancer or sole trader. As a sole trader or freelancer your work income is treated in the same way as any other personal income. Companies are subject to different tax rules.

There are benefits and drawbacks to both approaches – as a sole trader you’re fully liable for any debts incurred by your company, while having a company limits your liability, for example. But on the other hand, setting up a company is more complex than registering as a sole trader, with additional expenses and reporting rules. Think carefully about the entity type that works best for you before you decide to register.

How to file self-employed tax returns in Singapore

How to file self-employed tax returns in Singapore will depend on how IRAS notify you of your obligations.

If you receive a notification from IRAS that you need to file your income tax you’ll need to do so using myTax Portal with your Singpass from 1 March to 18 April that year.

If you receive a paper form instead you must complete it and send it to:

Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore

55 Newton Road

Revenue House

Singapore 307987

You can still complete an electronic filing even if you’re asked to send in your paper form. This can be a simpler way to submit your taxes, and is recommended by IRAS.

If you don’t hear from IRAS at all you can check your obligations on the Filing Checker tool.

GST obligations for self-employed workers

You must register for GST (similar to VAT in many other countries) if your turnover exceeds 1 million SGD annually. This applies for sole proprietors and partners and takes into account total income. You may earn income from several individual sources, and need to consider the total amount to decide if registration for GST is needed.

If you fall under the 1 million SGD turnover bracket you can also apply for voluntary registration.

If you have a GST registered business you must charge and account for GST, file your returns on time and pay any owed tax. There’s an elearning course offered by IRAS which walks you through how GST works and which will help you to understand your obligations.

Singapore CPF and MediSave for self-employed workers

Singapore MediSave for self-employed workers is set according to your age and income – you’ll be notified by IRAS if you need to pay mandatory contributions. You may also make voluntary contributions to your MediSave account which are tax deductible. It’s possible to make your MediSave contributions in advance and start earning interest earlier if you would like to.

Tax penalties and compliance in Singapore

If you make errors in your tax reporting which are found by IRAS during an audit process you may pay penalties or even face imprisonment.

Incorrect reporting without intention to evade taxes can result in a penalty of up to 200% of the amount of tax undercharged, as well as a fine of up to $5,000, or imprisonment of up to three years.

If you report incorrectly with intention to evade taxes the penalty increases to 400% of the amount of tax undercharged, and your fine could be as much as $50,000, with up to five years of jail time.

Late payment penalties can also apply, which may vary depending on the situation but which can be 5% of the owed amount.

How to find an Singapore accountant or financial advisor

You may find it’s a good idea to get professional advice on your Singaporean freelance and self employment taxes.

Options can include tax preparation services, accounting firms, non-profit tax assistance, or registered tax agents which you can locate on the MAS website.

There are plenty of digital services which can help you prepare your Singaporean tax filing, which all have their own features and fees. Compare a few before you select one, to get the best fit for your specific situation. Some options to consider include those listed in these central resources:

• QuickBooks directory
• Xero directory

International considerations for expat freelancers

If you’re an expat working freelance in Singapore you may have tax considerations locally and also in your home country. Some countries require their citizens to report and pay taxes on worldwide income, regardless of their tax residency. This means that you might owe money to more than one country’s tax authorities.

In many cases, countries have double taxation agreements to avoid people paying tax twice on the same income. However, there may still be reporting requirements – such as FATCA reporting for US citizens.

The added complexity of managing your tax obligations across different countries can mean that getting professional advice is invaluable.

If you’re managing your taxes across currencies, using Wise Business can help reduce your currency exchange costs. Get a Wise Business account today for a one time fee, and access mid‑market rate currency exchange with a transparent fee (fees vary; see pricing), and easy ways to send, receive and hold a broad range of currencies.

Availability varies by location and eligibility. Fees and rates apply and may change. See pricing/availability details.

Important business terms and phrases glossary for Singapore

Term	Description
Individual income tax	The primary tax levied on individual earnings and profits, including for freelancers, sole proprietors and partners in many cases
GST	Consumption tax added to goods and services at each stage of production/distribution
Tax return	Official document filed annually declaring income, expenses, and tax liability
Tax deduction	Business expenses that can be subtracted from gross income to reduce taxable amount
Business expenses	Costs incurred in the course of conducting freelance work (equipment, supplies, etc.)
Invoice	Formal bill sent to clients requesting payment for services rendered
Independent contractor	Legal classification for freelancers who work for clients but are not employees
Taxable income	Total income subject to taxation after deductions and exemptions
Filing deadline	Official due date by which tax returns must be submitted to authorities
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)	Government agency responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing tax laws

Conclusion

If you’re self-employed or working freelance in Singapore you’ll need to look after your own tax affairs, including filing and making payments of income tax and other costs like MediSave. As an expat you might also find you have tax obligations in your home country.

Generally IRAS makes it quite simple to manage your taxes as a self employed person in Singapore – but there will be action you need to take to complete your returns and make any payments in full and on time. Get professional advice if you need it and look out for great partners to make it easier to manage your business finances.

FAQ

Do freelancers pay tax in Singapore?

Yes. Freelancers who are resident in Singapore for tax purposes should pay tax on their worldwide income under the IRAS individual income tax rules.

Do I need to register as a freelancer in Singapore?

You may choose to register your sole proprietorship with ACRA – however this isn’t always needed. If you do business under your full name as shown on your NRIC, registration is often optional.

Can I be self-employed and employed in Singapore?

You can be employed in Singapore and also work for yourself. The most important thing is to report all your income from different sources accurately to the IRAS to make sure your tax affairs are in order.

Can I freelance in Singapore with a student visa?

You’ll need to check your specific visa conditions to see if you can freelance in Singapore with your student visa. This is often not possible, as visa conditions can include a ban on working as a contractor or registering a business.

Useful resources

• IRAS – basic tax guide for self employment
• IRAS – income tax in self employment
• IRAS – am I self employed?
• IRAS – PIT rates
• MAS website – find a tax advisor
• QuickBooks directory – digital resources for finding bookkeeping and similar services
• Xero directory – digital resources for finding bookkeeping and similar services