The tax relief deadline is 31 December 2026. A CPF cash top-up, an SRS contribution or a donation to an approved charity has to be made by then to reduce your tax for Year of Assessment (YA) 2027, the tax bill you receive in 2027 on income earned in 2026.
Miss the date and the same money counts a year later, in YA 2028. Here is what qualifies, the limits that apply, and how much each dollar is worth in tax saved.
What the 31 December Tax Relief Deadline Covers
Three things have a hard year-end cut-off for individuals:
| Action | Limit for YA 2027 | Tax effect |
|---|---|---|
| CPF cash top-up to yourself | Up to S$8,000 of relief | Relief, within the $80,000 cap |
| CPF cash top-up to family members | Up to $8,000 of relief | Relief, within the $80,000 cap |
| SRS contribution | $15,300 (citizens and PRs), $35,700 (foreigners) | Relief, within the $80,000 cap |
| Donation to an approved IPC | No fixed limit | 250% deduction, outside the cap |
The figures come from IRAS’s pages on CPF Cash Top-up Relief, SRS relief and donations.
The short version: Money in by 31 December 2026 cuts your YA 2027 tax at your top marginal rate. It is locked away for retirement (CPF and SRS) or given away (donations), and there are no refunds.
CPF Cash Top-Ups: $8,000 for You, $8,000 for Family
IRAS gives relief on cash top-ups made under the Retirement Sum Topping-Up Scheme and to MediSave accounts. For YA 2027 that means top-ups made in 2026.
- Yourself: relief up to $8,000 for top-ups to your own Special Account (below 55), Retirement Account (55 and above) or MediSave Account.
- Family: a further $8,000 in total for top-ups to parents, parents-in-law, grandparents, grandparents-in-law, a spouse or siblings.
- Spouse and siblings: they must not have had annual income of more than $8,000 in 2025, the year before the top-up. This does not apply to a spouse or sibling with a disability, or to parents and grandparents.
Two catches matter this year:
- Matching grants. IRAS says top-ups that attract the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme (MRSS) grant have not qualified for relief since YA 2026. Top-ups made from 1 January 2026 that attract the Matched MediSave Scheme (MMSS) grant do not qualify from YA 2027.
- Top-up limits. For YA 2027, IRAS computes relief only up to the 2026 Full Retirement Sum of $220,400 for Special or Retirement Account top-ups, and up to the 2026 Basic Healthcare Sum of $79,000 for MediSave.
Transfers from your own CPF accounts do not count. Only cash does. Our guides to top-ups before 55 and topping up a parent’s or spouse’s CPF cover the CPF side.
SRS Contributions: Check Your Bank’s Cut-Off
IRAS says SRS contributions must be made by 31 December, or by an earlier cut-off your SRS operator sets, to count for the following YA. The annual cap is $15,300 for Singapore Citizens and PRs and $35,700 for foreigners.
Relief is not given on any amount you contribute and withdraw in the same year. The SRS explainer covers withdrawal ages and the 50% concession on withdrawals.
Donations: 250% Deduction, Outside the Relief Cap
Cash donations to approved Institutions of a Public Character (IPCs) or the Singapore Government get a deduction of 2.5 times the amount. IRAS’s own example: a $10,000 donation in 2026 gives a $25,000 deduction in YA 2027.
You do not claim it yourself. Give your NRIC or FIN to the charity and IRAS includes the deduction automatically. Donations are a deduction, not a relief, so the Ministry of Finance says the $80,000 cap does not apply.
The 250% rate was due to end with donations made in 2026. Budget 2026 extended it to qualifying local donations made from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2029.
What Each Dollar Saves: The Maths
Relief is worth your top marginal tax rate. IRAS’s resident rates (YA 2024 onwards, unchanged for YA 2027) put the band at:
- 3.5% on chargeable income from $30,001 to $40,000
- 7% from $40,001 to $80,000
- 11.5% from $80,001 to $120,000
- 15% from $120,001 to $160,000
Illustration only. Someone with chargeable income of $95,000 who tops up $8,000 to their own Special Account and $8,000 to a parent’s Retirement Account cuts chargeable income to $79,000.
- $15,000 of the relief comes off the 11.5% band: $1,725 saved.
- $1,000 comes off the 7% band: $70 saved.
- Total saved: about $1,795 on $16,000 put into CPF.
That $16,000 stays in CPF for retirement and earns CPF’s guaranteed interest, but it cannot be taken back as cash on demand. Use our CPF top-up tax relief calculator to run your own figures, and the income tax calculator to find your band.
The $80,000 Relief Cap
All your personal reliefs together are capped at $80,000 per YA. CPF cash top-up relief and SRS relief count towards it. IRAS states there is no refund of top-ups or SRS contributions if your reliefs already exceed the cap.
Most people are well below it. Working mothers claiming large Working Mother’s Child Relief amounts, or high earners with several reliefs, may want to add up their reliefs before topping up. Our full list of personal tax reliefs sets out each one.
What To Do Next
- Estimate your 2026 chargeable income and marginal rate with the income tax calculator.
- Check your CPF top-up limits on the CPF Board’s Retirement Dashboard, and whether a family member is eligible for MRSS or MMSS matching.
- Ask your SRS operator for its year-end cut-off date.
- Give your NRIC or FIN when donating to an IPC.
- For a complex situation, check with IRAS or a qualified tax professional before committing money you cannot take back.
