Do I need to register for GST?

GST is a broad-based excise tax levied on the import of goods (levied by Singapore Customs) and on the supply of almost all goods and services in Singapore. In some countries, GST is known as Value Added Tax (VAT).

Mandatory registration

Your GST registration liability depends on the value of your taxable turnover. This refers to the value of the goods and services you provide that are considered taxable supplies for GST.

You must register for Goods and Services Tax (GST) if:

Review view

Taxable turnover in excess of S$1 million at the end of the calendar quarter before 1 January 2019 (i.e. the 3 months ending March, June, September or December) and for the past three quarters.

If your taxable turnover in the past 12 months exceeds S$1 million, you must monitor at the end of each calendar quarter until 31 December 2018 and register for GST. You are encouraged to use the GST Registration Calculator (prior to 2019) (XLSX, 3.19MB) to help you monitor your registration responsibilities.

Your taxable turnover exceeds S$1 million at the end of any calendar year on or after 1 January 2019.

For periods on or after 1 January 2019, the taxable turnover should be calculated on a calendar year basis to determine the registration liability. If your annual taxable turnover exceeds S$1 million, you must monitor and register for GST at the end of each calendar year (i.e. 31 December). You are encouraged to use the GST registration calculator (from 2019) to help you determine your GST registration liabilities.

Forward view

If at any time, you can reasonably expect your taxable turnover to exceed S$1 million for the next 12 months.

If you are sure that your taxable turnover will exceed S$1 million in the next 12 months, you must register for GST. You must have supporting documentation to support the predicted value of $1 million. E.g:

sign a contract or agreement

Quotation accepted by customer or confirmed purchase order

Invoices to customers for a fixed monthly fee

Profit and loss statement shows that revenue for the past 12 months is already close to S$1 million, with an upward trend in annual turnover

On the other hand, if there is no certainty in your forecast, you do not need to register for GST. For example, you made forecasts based on market assessments, business plans or sales targets.

Step 1: Determine the type of GST registration

Step 2: Completion of the e-learning course (voluntary registration only)

For voluntary registration, company directors/sole proprietors/partners/trustees/preparers of GST returns must complete two e-learning courses, 'GST Registration' and 'GST Overview', and pass a quiz. You don't need to do this if:

The company’s corporate director/sole proprietor/partner/trustee has experience managing other existing GST-registered businesses; or

The person preparing the GST return is an Approved Tax Adviser (ATA) or an Approved Tax Practitioner (ATP); or

The business is applying for registration under the Simplified Fee-Only Registration System for Overseas Suppliers.

Step 3: Submit an application for GST registration

All GST registration applications will be submitted online through the myTax portal.

Precautions:

To access the GST registration e-service on the myTax Portal, you must first obtain a CorpPass authorization for your business. Authorization can be used to access any IRAS electronic service (eg, corporate tax e-filing/employment income e-filing).

At the end of the application process, you will need to attach supporting documents (910KB). Before starting your application, prepare the required softcopy documents.

Businesses that voluntarily register for GST are required to make GST payments and refunds under the GIRO scheme. After submitting your application online, please post your original completed GIRO application form to 55 Newton Road Singapore 307987.

Step 4: GST registration application is being processed

For your convenience in processing your application, please ensure that your application has been completed correctly and accompanied by the necessary supporting documents.

We usually take 10 working days to process your application.

We may subsequently request additional information and supporting documents via email or letter. Applications with incomplete information or insufficient supporting documents will be considered withdrawn.

If your application is approved, you will be notified of GST registration.

You will also be notified of approval via SMS or email if you have provided a local mobile number or email address in the app. You can refer to this sample email notification.

Processing of GIRO Forms

The submitted GIRO application form will be sent to your bank for approval. The approval process can take two to four weeks. If the bank rejects your application, we will notify you separately by letter.

Most banks usually notify applicants directly of their accepted GIRO applications. For approved applications, IRAS will not send any correspondence.

Step 5: Receive notification of effective date of registration

If your application is successful, a letter will be sent to your registered address notifying you that you are already registered for GST.

The letter will provide the following details:

Your GST registration number

This is the number you must print on invoices, credit notes and receipts; and

Effective date of GST registration

This is the date you must start charging and levying GST on taxable supplies. You may not collect or collect GST before the effective date of GST registration.

You can also retrieve a copy of the notification letter by logging into the myTax portal (select "Notice/Letter")

If your mandatory registration application is late, your valid registration date will be retroactive to the date you should have been registered. It depends on when your GST registration is due.

If you registered voluntarily, you will be registered within two to three weeks from the date of the approval letter. The registration date will not be retroactive for claiming input tax.

Please contact the customer for a list of documents to be provided