There are 2 types of GST registration:

1. Compulsory registration

2. Voluntary registration

Compulsory registration

As a business, it is required by law to register for GST when:

• Your taxable turnover for the past 12 months ending Mar, Jun, Sep or Dec (referred to as “quarter”) is more than $1  million; or

• You are making or intend to make taxable supplies and you can reasonably expect your taxable turnover in the next 12 months to be more than $1 million (e.g. signing of a sales contract or business agreement).

Voluntary registration

For businesses that have an annual turnover that is less than $1million, it is not required by law to register for GST but can voluntarily do so. Once registered, businesses must stay registered for a minimum of 2 years.

To qualify for voluntary registration, you can check the requirement here.

Company directors are also required to complete and pass 2 Elearning courses –  “Registering for GST” and “Overview of GST”, before registering for GST.

Content Menu
1. Type of GST Registration In Singapore
2. GST Registration for Overseas Businesses via Overseas Vendor Registration (OVR) regime
3. Required Information For GST Registration In Singapore
4. GST Registration Process in Singapore
5. How To Calculate GST?
6. GST Refund/Claiming Back GST in Singapore (Input Tax)
7. What Are The Benefits of GST Registration?
8. Drawbacks
9. What Would Happen If Your Business Is Late In GST Registration In Singapore?
10. Late Payment or Non-Payment of GST
11. Are there any GST Schemes to help businesses?
12. What Does GST Registration Mean For A Business Owner In Singapore?
13. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

From January 1st 2020,  overseas business who sold digital goods and services in Singapore will have to charge GST. This change is to level the GST treatment between local and overseas business. This GST rule was further extended to non-digital services and low-value goods for overseas businesses starting 1 Jan 2023.

Overseas businesses are required to register for GST if you

1. Have an annual global turnover exceeding $1 million.

2. Make B2C supplies of digital services to customers in Singapore exceeding $100,000.

Upon registration for GST, overseas businesses will have to start charging GST on digital, non-digital and low-value goods in Singapore.

You can watch an educational video on the Extended Overseas Vendor Registration Regime here, created by IRAS (Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore).

Before registering online for GST in myTax Portal or submitting forms offline, please get ready the following information:

1. Company’s name and registration number;

2. Business Activities of the company;

3. Financial Year End;

4. Issued and Paid-Up capital;

5. Size of the company;

6. How the company intends to prepare its GST returns

Once all the information are ready, let’s continue to the registration process. You will need to upload a soft copy of these supporting documents at the end of the application process.

Step 1: Know Your Business Registration Type
Assess if your business exceeds the mandatory GST registration threshold (usually SGD 1 million in annual taxable turnover).
Check the latest threshold updates from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).

Step 2: Take the e-Learning Course
Complete the e-learning course on GST at IRAS.
The course covers GST fundamentals, return filing, compliance, and tax liabilities.
For voluntary registrants, you must pass the “Overview of GST” course quiz.

Step 3: Apply Online at IRAS Website
Register and log in to your CorpPass or SingPass account on the IRAS website.
Access e-Services for GST registration.
Complete GST F1 form with accurate business information.
Attach required supporting documents (in PDF format, max 223 KB).

Step 4: Await Approval
IRAS will notify you of your registration’s effective date via email or SMS.
You’ll receive a GST registration number.
Approval typically takes a few days to weeks.

For GST-registered businesses that make purchases on taxable supplies, you are liable to pay GST (Input Tax) too. However, you are able to claim back GST or get a GST refund as a GST-registered business. You can claim input tax incurred when the following conditions are met:

• The goods or services are supplied to you or imported by you (imports are supported by import permits that verify that you the the importer of the goods).

• You purchased the goods or services for your business.

• You keep the tax invoice of your purchases.

• The input tax claims are not disallowed by regulations 26 & 27.

• The goods or services are taxable supplies or out-of-scope supplies that would be taxable if it is made in Singapore.

• You have ensure that it is not part of a Missing Trader Fraud arrangement.

To goverment:

• It provides reliable and predictable income tax regardless of economic conditions, whether the result is good or bad.

• It is an efficient tax because the administration and collection costs are relatively low.

• It allows the government to reduce business and personal income taxes, which promotes greater foreign direct investment. This contributes to overall economic growth.

To business:

• Claiming Input Tax: One of the primary benefits of GST registration is the ability to claim input tax credit. This means that you can recover the GST you paid on business expenses such as rent, utilities, and purchases. This can significantly reduce your overall tax liability.

• Credibility: GST registration lends credibility to your business. It signals to customers and partners that you are a legitimate and compliant entity, which can enhance your reputation in the market.

• International Trade: If your business is involved in international trade, GST registration is often a requirement for customs clearance and export-related transactions.

While GST registration brings advantages, it also have drawbacks:

• The increased administrative responsibilities, such as filing regular GST returns, can be time-consuming and require a meticulous approach to record-keeping.

• Businesses must stay updated on changes in GST regulations to avoid inadvertent non-compliance.

• Being a GST registered company means you have to increase your selling price by 9%. This means your customers who are not GST registered would not be able to recover the GST.

Your effective GST registration date will be backdated to the time when you are liable to register for GST. You are required to pay GST from your effective registration date even when you have not started collecting GST from your customers.

For late registration or failure to register GST, you are liable to be fined for up to $10,000 and a penalty of 10% of the tax due. IRAS may waive the penalties if businesses come forward promptly.

IRAS may take the following actions if you fail to pay by the due date:

1. Penalties for late payments.

2. Appoint agents to reclaim the delinquent tax, such as your bank, employer, tenant, or lawyer (if you are selling any of your property).

3. IRAS can issue a Travel Restriction Order (TRO) to prevent sole proprietors or partners from leaving Singapore.

4. Take legal action.

• Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS): allows tourists and visitors to claim a refund on the GST paid on goods purchased in Singapore and subsequently exported out of the country. This scheme promotes tourism and encourages spending in the local economy.

• Major Exporter Scheme (MES): The MES simplifies the GST reporting for qualifying businesses engaged in substantial export activities. Businesses under this scheme can enjoy certain benefits, such as the suspension of GST on imported goods and the ability to file quarterly GST returns instead of monthly.

• Zero GST Warehouse Scheme: Businesses operating zero GST warehouses can import goods into these facilities without paying GST upfront. GST is only payable when the goods are released for local consumption, providing cash flow benefits to businesses involved in warehousing and distribution.

• Import GST Deferment Scheme (IGDS): This scheme enables GST registered businesses to defer payment of GST on imported non-dutiable goods at the point of importation. Instead of paying GST upfront at the time of import, businesses can account for it in their GST return.

• Discounted Sale Price Scheme: allowing you to charge 50% GST on a used vehicle.

• Approved Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Company Scheme: This scheme allows qualifying 3PL companies to import goods on behalf of their customers without paying GST upfront. Instead, GST is accounted for when the goods are supplied locally, helping to improve cash flow for businesses.

• Gross Margin Scheme: GST is chargeable only on the gross margin of your goods.

• Other Industry-Specific Scheme: the Government also has various GST schemes for different industries such as marine, logistics, etc.