Singapore: Overview | Research Credit Integrity Alliance

At a glance

Scheme: R&D deductions under sections 14C and 14D of the Income Tax Act 1947, enhanced by the Enterprise Innovation Scheme (EIS) for YA 2024 to YA 2028.
Tax authority: The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) administers R&D deductions and the Enterprise Innovation Scheme.
Claim notification: No advance notification is required; R&D deductions are claimed in the annual return, with an R&D Claim Form filed with Form C or kept for IRAS.
Rules on adviser fees: No statutory cap or ban on contingent fees was identified; the Act penalizes anyone who assists another to obtain an EIS cash payout they are not entitled to.
Preparer identification: Form C-S asks for details of the person who reviewed the return; the R&D Claim Form asks for a technical contact but not the adviser or the fee.
Professional body rules: The ISCA Code treats contingent fees as a possible threat to objectivity and bans them for audits; the SCTP Code does not address them directly.

This page summarizes how research and development (R&D) tax claims in Singapore are made, what the rules say about the advisers who help prepare them, and where the official record is silent. It describes the rules as they stand. It makes no recommendation for Singapore.

The relief and the authority

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) administers the R&D tax measures, which are set out in the Income Tax Act 1947. Section 14C allows a deduction for R&D expenditure, and section 14D allows a further deduction on qualifying expenditure for R&D undertaken in Singapore.1 Section 14D was previously numbered section 14DA.2

For each Year of Assessment (YA) from YA 2024 to YA 2028, the Enterprise Innovation Scheme (EIS) adds a further 150 percent deduction on the first $400,000 of qualifying R&D expenditure on R&D undertaken in Singapore. With the 100 percent base deduction and the 150 percent additional deduction, IRAS states that a total deduction of 400 percent is available on that first $400,000.3 Qualifying R&D expenditure for these purposes is staff costs (excluding directors' fees) and consumables.3

In place of deductions, an eligible business may convert up to $100,000 of qualifying expenditure across the EIS activities each YA into a cash payout at a conversion rate of 20 percent, so the payout is capped at $20,000 a year.3 The cash payout is the subject of separate statutory conditions and penalties in sections 37R and 37S of the Act.4

IRAS reported that in 2018 about 520 companies claimed enhanced R&D benefits, and that small and medium enterprises made up 85 percent of R&D claims.5

How advisers are paid

No official Singapore source reviewed for this page reports how many R&D or EIS claims are prepared by advisers, how those advisers are paid, or the level of their fees.

The official record does describe fee arrangements in two settings. The Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) states that contingent fees are used for certain types of non-assurance services.6 And in describing fraudulent claims under the former Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) scheme, IRAS stated that a promoter who facilitated false claims "may take a cut from the PIC cash pay-outs given to the claimants".7 That statement describes fraudulent arrangements that led to convictions. It does not describe fee arrangements in general.

What the rules say

Legislation. No provision of the Income Tax Act 1947 that caps, prohibits or requires disclosure of contingent fees for preparing R&D or EIS claims was identified for this page. The Act does reach advisers in other ways. Section 37S makes it an offence to give false information in an EIS cash payout election, including where a person acts willfully to "assist another person to obtain" a payout that person is not entitled to.4 See Fee rules.

Registration. IRAS describes the Singapore Chartered Tax Professionals (SCTP) as the accreditation body for tax professionals in Singapore. Accreditation is something tax professionals "may apply" for.8 No statutory registration or licensing scheme for paid tax advisers was identified for this page. See Adviser registration and Accredited tax professionals.

Professional bodies. The ISCA Code is mandatory for ISCA members. It says contingent fees might create a self-interest threat to objectivity, and it prohibits a firm from charging a contingent fee for an audit engagement.6 The SCTP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct does not use the term "contingent fee". It requires members to disclose any commission or other advantage received from a third party, and strongly recommends an engagement letter that sets out the basis on which fees are charged.9 See Professional body rules.

What a claim must include

No advance notification or approval is needed. IRAS states that a taxpayer need not apply to any government agency for the R&D tax measures, and must self-assess whether its activities qualify.10 The claim is made in the annual Corporate Income Tax Return with an R&D Claim Form. Companies filing Form C submit the form with the return; companies filing Form C-S keep it and submit it on request.10 See Claim form requirements and Claim integrity measures.

The R&D Claim Form asks for a person to contact on technical questions about each project and is declared by an authorized person of the company. It does not ask who prepared the claim or how that person is paid.2 Form C-S asks for the particulars of the person who reviewed the return, including an SCTP membership number where that person is accredited.11 See Preparer identification.

A business that wants the cash payout must apply through a separate IRAS digital service after filing its return and before the filing due date, with the R&D Claim Form where the payout relates to R&D. Only one application is allowed for each YA, and the election is irrevocable.12 See Cash payout controls.

Review, penalties and appeals

IRAS reviews R&D claims first on the information in the R&D Claim Form and may ask for more. It may consult IPOS International and refer a case to its Technical Advisory Panel, but IRAS makes the final decision.10 IRAS lists the EIS among the focus areas of its upcoming compliance programs.13

Section 95 of the Act provides for a penalty equal to double the tax undercharged, with liability to a fine or imprisonment, where an incorrect return is made without reasonable excuse or through negligence, and section 96A provides for a penalty of four times the tax undercharged for willful evasion involving false records or fraud.14 Section 37S applies parallel penalties, measured against the cash payout, to false information given to obtain an EIS cash payout.4 Under IRAS' Voluntary Disclosure Programme, no penalty is imposed on a qualifying disclosure made within one year of the statutory filing deadline.15

A company that disagrees with an assessment may object within two months, and then appeal to the Income Tax Board of Review and, on a question of law, to the General Division of the High Court.16 See Reviews and audits, Penalties, Voluntary disclosure programme and Disputes and appeals.

Open questions

The official record leaves several points open:

Fee data. IRAS publishes some figures on R&D claims, but none reviewed for this page show whether claims were prepared by an adviser or how the adviser was paid.5
Fee disclosure to IRAS. The R&D Claim Form and the Form C-S reviewer field do not ask for the basis or amount of any adviser's fee.211
Competence. Accreditation by SCTP is voluntary, and IRAS states that it uses the reviewer information in Form C-S for profiling purposes.817
Cash payout applications. The official guidance reviewed for this page does not say whether the EIS cash payout application asks who prepared it.

Every source used for Singapore is listed on Sources.

Sources

Attorney-General's Chambers, Income Tax Act 1947 (Singapore Statutes Online, current version), sections 14C(1) and 14D(1), (1A) and (11). https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/ITA1947?ProvIds=pr14D- (accessed 11 October 2026). Back
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, Research and Development (R&D) Claim Form (YA 2019 and onwards), Part 1 (note 1), Part 4 "Declaration" and Part 5, item 5O. https://www.iras.gov.sg/docs/default-source/uploadedfiles/pdf/rnd-claim-form-(ya-2019-n-after).pdf?sfvrsn=72929970_40 (accessed 11 October 2026). Back
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, IRAS e-Tax Guide: Enterprise Innovation Scheme (Third Edition, published 31 August 2026), paragraphs 2.1, 4.1 to 4.5 and 5.8, and Annex A, paragraphs 1.1 to 1.3 and 2.1. https://www.iras.gov.sg/docs/default-source/e-tax/etaxguide_cit_enterprise-innovation-scheme.pdf?sfvrsn=3a36afd3_12 (accessed 11 October 2026). Back
Attorney-General's Chambers, Income Tax Act 1947 (Singapore Statutes Online, current version), sections 37R(1), (3) and (34) and 37S(1) to (4). https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/ITA1947?ProvIds=pr37S- (accessed 11 October 2026). Back
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, Research & Development (R&D) Tax Measures (last updated 13 August 2026), section "What Qualifies for R&D Tax Deductions". https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/corporate-income-tax/income-deductions-for-companies/business-expenses/research-development-(r-d)-tax-measures (accessed 11 October 2026). Back
Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants, Ethics Pronouncement 100: Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics (effective 1 July 2025), paragraphs SG010.1, 330.4 A1 and R410.9. https://isca.org.sg/docs/default-source/ep-100/eps-100/code-of-ethics-for-isca-ep-100-(effective-1-jul-25).pdf (accessed 11 October 2026). Back
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, news release on the conviction of a promoter of fraudulent PIC claims (12 February 2018), section "PIC Promoters Abusing the PIC Scheme". https://www.iras.gov.sg/news-events/newsroom/promoter-of-pic-scam-jailed-7-months-for-fraudulent-pic-claims (accessed 11 October 2026). Back
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, Enhanced IRAS-tax agent Relationship Framework (last updated 28 January 2026), section "Accreditation for tax professionals". https://www.iras.gov.sg/quick-links/tax-agents/iras-tax-agent-relationship (accessed 11 October 2026). Back
Singapore Chartered Tax Professionals, Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (effective 1 September 2026), paragraphs 2.2, 3.10 and 8.18. https://www.sctp.org.sg/Ethics-Code.pdf (accessed 11 October 2026). Back
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, IRAS e-Tax Guide: Research and Development Tax Measures (Eighth Edition, published 30 January 2026), paragraphs 2.2, 11.1 (with footnote 21), 13.1 to 13.5 (with footnote 23). https://www.iras.gov.sg/docs/default-source/e-tax/research-and-development-tax-measures-etax-guide_6th-edition.pdf?sfvrsn=1f38a2e8_27 (accessed 11 October 2026). Back
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, Explanatory Notes to Form C-S for Year of Assessment (YA) 2026, section "Particulars of Person who Reviewed the Return". https://www.iras.gov.sg/docs/default-source/uploadedfiles/pdf/explanatory-notes-to-ya-2026-form-c-s.pdf?sfvrsn=1d2386c1_20 (accessed 11 October 2026). Back
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, Enterprise Innovation Scheme (EIS) (last updated 23 September 2026), sections "Option to Convert Qualifying Expenditure into a Cash Payout" and "How & When to Claim the EIS Benefits". https://www.iras.gov.sg/schemes/disbursement-schemes/enterprise-innovation-scheme-(eis) (accessed 11 October 2026). Back
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, Getting Companies to Comply (last updated 17 July 2026), section "Upcoming Areas of Focus for Compliance", item 1. https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/corporate-income-tax/corporate-income-tax-compliance/getting-companies-to-comply (accessed 11 October 2026). Back
Attorney-General's Chambers, Income Tax Act 1947 (Singapore Statutes Online, current version), sections 95(2) and 96A(1). https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/ITA1947?ProvIds=pr95- (accessed 11 October 2026). Back
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, IRAS e-Tax Guide: IRAS' Voluntary Disclosure Programme (Thirteenth Edition, published 30 January 2026), paragraphs 2.1 and 2.2. https://www.iras.gov.sg/docs/default-source/e-tax/etaxguides_iras-voluntary-disclosure-programme.pdf?sfvrsn=7eac3cc6_37 (accessed 11 October 2026). Back
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, IRAS e-Tax Guide: Corporate Income Tax: Objection and Appeal Process (Fourth Edition, published 30 January 2026), paragraphs 2.1, 3.3, 6.1 and 6.2. https://www.iras.gov.sg/media/docs/default-source/e-tax/e-tax-guide_cit_objection-and-appeal-process.pdf?sfvrsn=83675467_11 (accessed 11 October 2026). Back
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Filing of Form C-S/ Form C-S (Lite) (updated 15 May 2026), questions 12 and 13. https://www.iras.gov.sg/docs/default-source/uploadedfiles/pdf/faqs---file-form-c-s.pdf?sfvrsn=7b435b8f_52 (accessed 11 October 2026). Back