Summary Of
Singapore Budget 2018

1. CORPORATE INCOME TAX (CIT) REBATE FOR YAS 2013 TO 2019

To ease business costs and support restructuring by companies, the Minister for Finance announced in Budget 2018 that the CIT Rebate for YA 2018 will be raised to 40% of the corporate tax payable subject to a cap of $15,000. This is an increase from the previously announced rebate of 20% of tax payable, subject to a cap of $10,000. In addition, the CIT Rebate will be extended to YA 2019 at 20% of the corporate tax payable, subject to a cap of $10,000.

2. ADJUSTMENT TO THE START-UP TAX EXEMPTION (“SUTE”) SCHEME

There is an adjustment of the tax exemption under the SUTE scheme to:

a) 75% exemption on the first $100,000 of normal chargeable income; and
b) 50% exemption on the next $100,000 of normal chargeable income.

All other conditions of the scheme remain unchanged.

This change will take effect on or after YA2020 for all qualifying companies under the scheme. For example, if a qualifying company’s first YA is 2019, the current SUTE parameters will apply in YA2019 while the new parameters will apply in YAs 2020 and 2021.

3. ADJUSTMENT TO THE PARTIAL TAX EXEMPTION (“PTE”) SCHEME

There is an adjustment of the tax exemption under the PTE scheme to:

a) 75% exemption on the first $10,000 of normal chargeable income; and
b) 50% exemption on the next $190,000 of normal chargeable income.

All other conditions of the scheme remain unchanged.

This change will take effect on or after YA2020 for all companies (excluding those that qualify for the SUTE scheme) and bodies of persons.

4. REGISTRATION COSTS FOR PATENTS, TRADEMARKS, DESIGNS AND PLANT VARIETIES

The expiry of the PIC scheme after YA 2018 would mean that only 100% tax deduction will be allowable to a person who has incurred the qualifying IP registration costs from YA 2019 to YA 2020.

To encourage businesses, in particular smaller ones, to register and protect their IPs, the Minister for Finance announced in Budget 2018 that the tax deduction for qualifying IP registration costs will be:

a) Extended till YA 2025;
b) Enhanced from 100% to 200% on up to $100,000 of qualifying IP registration costs incurred for each YA from YA 2019 to YA 2025. 100% tax deduction will continue to be allowable on qualifying IP registration costs incurred in excess of $100,000 for each YA from YA 2019 to YA 2025.

5. TAX DEDUCTION FOR QUALIFYING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES

The tax deduction for staff costs and consumables incurred on qualifying research and development (R&D) projects done in Singapore will be increased from 150% to 250% from YA 2019 to YA 2025. All other conditions of the scheme remain unchanged.

6. TAX DEDUCTION FOR LICENSING PAYMENTS

With the expiry of the PIC Scheme, the tax deduction for intellectual property (IP) in-licensing costs has reverted to 100%. This tax deduction will be increased to 200% for the first $100,000 of qualifying IP in-licensing costs per YA from YA 2019 to YA 2025.

Qualifying IP in-licensing costs include payments made by a qualifying person to publicly funded research performers or other businesses, but exclude related party licensing payments, or payments for IP where any allowance was previously made to that person.

7. DOUBLE TAX DEDUCTION FOR INTERNATIONALISATION

The amount of internationalisation expenses that can automatically qualify for double tax deduction without prior approval from the International Enterprise (IE) Singapore or the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will be increased from $100,000 to $150,000 per YA, in respect of expenses incurred from YA 2019. Businesses can continue to apply to the IE Singapore or STB on qualifying expenses exceeding $150,000, or on expenses incurred on other qualifying activities. All other conditions of the scheme remain the same.

The IE Singapore and STB will release further details by April 2018.

8. BUSINESS AND INSTITUTIONS OF A PUBLIC CHARACTER PARTNERSHIP SCHEME

The 250% tax deduction on wages and incidental expenses incurred when business send their staff to volunteer and provide services to Institutions of a Public Character (IPC) under the Business and Institutions of a Public Character Partnership Scheme (BIPS) will be extended for three more years to 31 December 2021.

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) are reviewing the administrative processes for the BIPS based on feedback and suggestions received. Details of any change will be announced in the second half of 2018. The administrative processes for the BIPS remain the same in the interim.