Payroll requirements in Singapore, explained
Payroll in Singapore is more than transferring salaries. Salary must be paid within seven days of the end of the salary period, with an itemised payslip every month showing basic salary, allowances, deductions, and Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions.
For Singapore citizens and permanent residents, CPF has to be calculated on the correct rates for age and wage band, covering both the employer's share and the employee's deducted share, and submitted monthly with a grace period to the 14th of the following month. The Skills Development Levy is payable for all employees, including foreign staff. Each year, employee earnings are reported to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) via AIS/IR8A, and IR21 tax clearance is needed before a foreign employee leaves Singapore.
Each of these carries penalties if you get it wrong, which is why payroll works best as a fixed monthly routine.
How we set your payroll up
We implement a full monthly process with agreed timelines and cut-offs, so everyone knows when data is due and when payday happens. Company and employee details come in through forms we send you, or you simply export them from whatever platform you use today and we take it from there.
From the first run onwards we work through the details with you: proration, allowances, leave, new joiners. Within a couple of cycles the whole thing runs like a well-oiled machine every month, without you thinking about it.
Who it's for
- Companies with their first hires who want payroll and CPF right from day one.
- Teams tired of manual CPF calculations, payslips, and AIS submissions.
- Businesses that want leave tracking in the same platform as payroll.
What you get
Monthly payroll runs
Salaries, deductions, and contributions calculated each month via Talenox or Payboy, with the platform included.
Online payslips
Employees receive compliant payslips online every month.
CPF handled
CPF contributions calculated and submitted to the CPF Board; we can also make the payments on your behalf as an add-on.
Bank-ready pay runs
Detailed pay-run reports including upload files for your banking platform.
IRAS employment filings
AIS registration and yearly IR8A submissions; IR21 tax clearance for departing foreign employees as needed.
How it works
Platform setup
We set up your company and employees on Talenox or Payboy, including leave policies if selected.
Monthly cycle
You confirm changes (new joiners, bonuses, leave); we run payroll, issue payslips, and prepare the bank file.
Statutory filings
CPF is submitted every month and IRAS year-end filings happen automatically.
Timeline & Pricing
Timeline
Payroll processed monthly to your pay-run calendar.
Cost
S$25 per employee per month for basic payroll, or S$33 with leave management. Monthly minimums of S$100 and S$150 respectively, each of which includes three employees.
Monthly packages
| Basic PayrollS$100 monthly minimum, which includes three employees. | S$25 / employee / month |
| Basic Payroll + Leave ManagementS$150 monthly minimum, which includes three employees. | S$33 / employee / month |
Add-ons
| Payment of CPF contributions on your behalf | 5% surcharge |
| IR8A submission | S$100 / employee |
| IR21 tax clearanceRequired when a foreign employee leaves Singapore. | S$100 / employee |
Outsourcing vs running payroll in-house
For a handful of employees, in-house payroll usually means a founder and a spreadsheet. That works until the first CPF rate-band mistake, missed submission, or mid-month resignation with proration questions. Late CPF attracts interest and penalties, and payroll errors are the kind employees notice immediately.
At S$100 a month including the payroll platform, outsourcing costs less than the hour of founder time it replaces. Your team gets proper payslips and self-service access, CPF is calculated and submitted on the right rates every month, and the IRAS year-end filings happen without anyone needing to remember them. If we also do your accounting, payroll data flows straight into the books.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which payroll platform do you use?
Talenox or Payboy, depending on fit. The platform licence is included in the package price, and your team gets self-service access to payslips.
What is IR8A and do I need it?
IR8A is the annual return of employee earnings that every Singapore employer must file with IRAS. We register you for AIS and file it for each employee.
What is CPF and who pays it?
The Central Provident Fund is Singapore’s mandatory savings scheme. For citizens and PRs, both employer and employee contribute a percentage of wages, with rates depending on age and wage band. The employer calculates, deducts, and submits both shares monthly. Foreign employees on work passes aren’t in CPF.
How often must payroll be processed?
At least monthly. Salary must be paid within seven days of the end of each salary period, with an itemised payslip. We run your payroll to a fixed monthly calendar with CPF submitted on time.
What penalties apply to payroll mistakes?
Late or missing CPF contributions attract interest and penalties from the CPF Board, late salary payment breaches the Employment Act, and missed IRAS filings carry their own fines. A fixed monthly process exists precisely so none of these come up.
If you're comparing providers, we've written up the market in Best Payroll Service Provider Singapore: Top 12 Solutions.