GST in Singapore, explained
Goods and Services Tax (GST) is Singapore's consumption tax, currently 9%. GST-registered businesses charge it on their sales (output tax), reclaim it on their purchases (input tax), and file a return with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS), typically every quarter, paying over the difference.
Registration isn't optional once you cross the threshold, and getting the timing wrong is one of the most common compliance mistakes we see in growing companies.
When registration becomes mandatory
GST registration is compulsory when your taxable turnover exceeds S$1 million, measured two ways:
- Looking back: your taxable turnover for the past 12 months has exceeded S$1 million; or
- Looking forward: you can reasonably expect it to exceed S$1 million in the next 12 months.
Register late and IRAS can backdate your registration, which means you owe GST on past sales you never collected it on, plus penalties. For our accounting clients we monitor the threshold automatically as part of bookkeeping.
Voluntary registration below the threshold can make sense when your customers are GST-registered businesses or you incur significant input GST. But it comes with commitments, so we run the numbers with you first.
Who it's for
- Companies approaching or past S$1 million in annual taxable turnover, where GST registration becomes mandatory.
- Businesses registering voluntarily to reclaim input tax.
- GST-registered companies that want quarterly filings off their plate.
What you get
GST registration
Assessment of your registration obligation and the full IRAS registration application.
Quarterly returns
GST returns prepared from your books and filed with IRAS every quarter.
Compliance guidance
Practical advice on charging GST, input tax claims, and keeping records the way IRAS expects.
How it works
Registration check
We confirm whether and when you must register, or whether voluntary registration benefits you.
IRAS application
We prepare and submit the GST registration with IRAS.
Quarterly rhythm
Each quarter we prepare your return from the books and file it before the deadline.
Timeline & Pricing
Timeline
Registration handled in days; returns filed quarterly.
Cost
GST registration S$450 one-off. Quarterly GST filing S$1,350 per year for bookkeeping clients (S$2,000 for companies whose books are kept elsewhere).
Pricing
| GST registration | S$450 one-off |
| GST filing (bookkeeping clients) | S$1,350 / year |
| GST filing (books kept elsewhere) | S$2,000 / year |
GST in practice: the details that catch people out
Once registered, the mechanics matter. A few rules come up constantly in practice:
- Not everything is 9%. Exports of goods and certain international services are zero-rated: you charge 0% but still report them and can claim input tax. Financial services and residential property are exempt, so no GST is charged and related input tax generally can't be claimed.
- Tax invoices have rules. Sales to GST-registered customers need a compliant tax invoice showing your GST registration number and the tax amount. Get the format wrong and your customer's input claim (and your paper trail) suffers.
- Imported services can trigger GST too. Buying services from overseas providers can bring reverse-charge rules into play, where your business accounts for the GST itself.
- Input tax has conditions. Claims need supporting tax invoices and business purpose, and blocked items (like private motor cars) stay blocked no matter how business-adjacent they feel.
This is the layer where quarterly filing needs judgement rather than form-filling. Because we prepare returns from books we keep ourselves, classification happens once, at the bookkeeping stage, rather than in a scramble the week the return is due.
Handling GST yourself vs outsourcing
GST runs on discipline: a return every quarter, prepared from accurate books and filed on time. Errors and missed deadlines both attract penalties, and corrections eat more time than doing it right once.
If we already do your bookkeeping, your GST returns are prepared from the same Xero data, which is why the bookkeeping-client rate (S$1,350 a year) is lower than the rate for companies whose books live elsewhere (S$2,000). Registration is a flat S$450, and every fee is on the pricing page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When must my company register for GST?
Registration is compulsory once your taxable turnover exceeds S$1 million over the past 12 months, or is expected to in the next 12. We monitor this for our accounting clients automatically.
Is voluntary registration worth it?
If your customers are GST-registered businesses or you incur significant input GST, voluntary registration can pay for itself. We’ll run the numbers with you before you commit.
What is the current GST rate in Singapore?
GST is 9%, the rate in effect since 1 January 2024.
How often are GST returns filed?
Most GST-registered businesses file quarterly, within a month of the end of each accounting period. We prepare and file each return from your books and remind you of the payment.
What happens if I register for GST late?
IRAS can backdate your registration to when you should have registered, making you liable for GST on sales you never charged it on, and impose penalties on top. If you think you may have crossed the threshold, it’s worth checking immediately.
If you're comparing providers, we've written up the market in Best GST Registration Services for Businesses in Singapore.