How Singapore Income Tax Is Worked Out

Start with everything taxable you earned in the year: salary, bonus and other income. Take off approved donation deductions, then your personal reliefs. What is left is your chargeable income.

Tax is charged in bands. The first $20,000 of chargeable income is taxed at 0%, the next $10,000 at 2%, and so on up to 24% above $1,000,000. Only the income inside a band is taxed at that band's rate, so moving into a higher band never reduces your pay overall.

Reliefs are capped at $80,000 a year in total. Voluntary reliefs such as a CPF cash top-up or an SRS contribution lower your tax at your top band's rate, which the "rate on your next dollar" row shows. Both lock money away under their own rules, so the tax saved is only one side of that decision.