How to Register GST for Companies in Singapore [2025 Guide]

If you have a business in Singapore you may need to register for GST (goods and services tax) - or you might choose to register voluntarily if you’re eligible but not required to register. This guide walks through the basics of GST in Singapore including what it is, which businesses are required to register and which may choose to, and how to register GST for a company in Singapore.

We’ll also touch on Wise Business as a financial solution to help you streamline your international business transactions, making them simple, seamless and cost-effective.

This guide is for information only - if you’re unsure about what taxes you may need to pay for your Singapore business, take professional advice to make sure you comply with the law.

What is the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Singapore?

Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Singapore is a broad consumption tax¹, which is levied on imported goods, and goods and services supplied in Singapore. This tax is known as value added tax in some other countries.

GST in Singapore is set at 9% at present², a rise from 7% in 2022.

This rise in rate was announced back in 2022, and the funds generated are used to fund healthcare and senior care in Singapore. Some goods and services are exempt from GST, and goods which are exported out of Singapore are also exempt or zero rated.

Not all businesses in Singapore need to register for GST³.

There are some reasons when this would be mandatory - based on company turnover for example - and some companies also choose to register voluntarily. There are also special registration rules for some companies which work with overseas suppliers, and importers of low value goods.

This may mean that mandatory registration applies, even if your business isn’t at the registration threshold for turnover just yet.

If a business is GST registered - either through mandatory registration or voluntary registration - it will need to charge GST on all taxable supplies, and pass the funds collected to IRAS within a month from the end of the accounting period. You can also claim GST incurred on business purchases including imports, and expenses. This is offset against any payment you need to make to IRAS.

Registering for GST, and filing and paying any GST collected, is all done electronically for convenience.

Do all Singapore registered companies need to register for GST?

No. Not all Singapore registered companies need to register for GST. Whether or not you need to register is usually dictated by your business turnover and a few other important eligibility considerations.

Singapore businesses must register for GST if their turnover is 1 million SGD or more. You may also need to register through the Reverse Charge and Overseas Vendor Registration regimes. If you fail to register for GST and are obligated to do so, the GST registration date will be back dated to take into account when registration was required.

Some businesses which are not required to register for GST still choose to do so - but as there are pros and cons to this, IRAS recommends you take advice on the benefits and drawbacks before you choose this step⁴.

Not all businesses are eligible to register for GST, even through the voluntary scheme. Once registered your business can claim the GST incurred on your purchases, but there are a few important steps to complete before you sign up, including an elearning course and getting registered for PayNow. You may also have to provide a guarantee, and registration is for a minimum of 2 years. During this time you must file GST even if there’s a zero balance, which can increase your administration time and costs if you’re not sure whether or not you’ll be selling GST eligible goods or services.

Reverse Charge and Overseas Vendor Registration

You might find you’re required by law to register for GST through the reverse charges and overseas vendor⁵ route. This rule primarily concerns companies that deal with overseas suppliers, or that import low-value products. It can also be relevant for overseas suppliers or local or overseas electronic marketplace operators.

There are 2 scenarios in which this may apply:

• Reverse charge for Business-to-Business imports where Singapore GST- registered businesses which are not entitled to full input tax claims must account for GST, as if they were the supplier on some imported goods and services
• Overseas vendor registration for Business-to-Consumer supplies where GST-registered overseas vendors account for GST on supplies of some goods and services made to customers in Singapore

If you think that you may need to register your Singapore business for GST under either of these rules, you should take advice or contact IRAS directly to make sure you’re fulfilling all of your obligations here.

If you handle overseas suppliers or are an overseas supplier yourself, you likely will need to transact in foreign currencies frequently with your suppliers, contractors and customers. Managing money across currencies can be complex - and expensive.

To keep the costs of currency conversion down for your company, check out Wise Business, which offers 40+ supported currencies with mid-market exchange rates, low fees and easy ways to pay and get paid all around the world.

Pros and cons of GST registration

Registering for GST might be a requirement if your company has a taxable turnover of 1 million SGD or above, or based on your business activities.

However, even without mandatory requirements, some Singapore business owners choose to register for GST. IRAS advises that voluntary registration should only be done after careful consideration - here are a few pros and cons to think about if you’re considering it.

How to register for GST for your business in Singapore

If you’ve hit the GST turnover threshold and need to register - or if after consideration you’ve decided to register voluntarily - you’ll be glad to learn that the process for registration is pretty simple and all done online.

Here’s an overview of the steps you’ll need to follow to register your business for GST in Singapore⁶:

1. Understand if you’re applying for compulsory or voluntary GST registration
2. Complete the GST elearning course - this is mandatory for voluntary registration, and advised for all
3. Get registered for GST through Corppass
4. Ensure you have a GIRO enabled business account if you’re registering voluntarily
5. Log into your IRAS MyTax⁷ account and complete the registration steps there

Most applications are processed in 10 days, with almost all being completed in 30 days.

Once registration is completed you’re informed of your GST number and the date it becomes effective from, and can start charging GST for your business. You must not charge for GST before the effective date, which is usually within 2 weeks of getting your letter for voluntary registration.

If you’re late applying for GST registration, the requirement to charge GST is backdated to the date your business became required to register.

How to file GST in Singapore

You can manage your GST fairly easily yourself if you want to, or you can have an agent manage the filing process on your behalf. There’s a fee for using an agent so make sure you've weighed up the costs and benefits if you decide to go down this route. The basic outline to the process to file GST electronically in Singapore is as follows⁸:

1. Authorise the person who will file GST using Corppass
2. Log into the IRAS tax portal using Singpass under ‘Business tax matters’
3. Follow the prompts to enter your GST details
4. Save the acknowledgement that your GST filing is complete
5. Make your GST payment, following the instructions you’re given

Ultimately the amount you need to pay IRAS - or the amount you’re entitled to as a refund - is calculated based on the GST you’ve charged, and the GST you’ve paid to other businesses on eligible purchases.

You’ll file and pay GST quarterly. The due dates for payment are a bit different depending on whether you have Giro set up or not. Without Giro you must file and pay by 30th April, 31st July, 31st October and 31st January annually. If you have Giro you’re given an extra couple of weeks after the filing due date to make the payment to IRAS.

Conclusion

Registering for GST as a business in Singapore is an important step in ensuring compliance with local tax regulations. However, the process can be somewhat involved, requiring careful preparation and understanding of the necessary documentation and requirements. Remember - not all companies need to register, and there are pros and cons to registering voluntarily which you’ll need to consider.

• Hold and manage 40+ for all your international transactions
• Pay suppliers and receive payments internationally without the hefty foreign transaction fees
• Always get the mid-market rate with zero markup
• Seamless integrations with popular accounting software
• Say goodbye to monthly fees

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Sources checked on: 18th March 2025