The Ultimate GST Guide
Your comprehensive guide to Goods and Services Tax compliance in Singapore.
GST 101: Taxable & Non-Taxable Supplies
Supplies of goods and services in Singapore are classified into two broad categories: Taxable Supplies and Non-Taxable Supplies.
1. Taxable Supplies
Taxable supplies are transactions on which GST is charged. They can be standard-rated or zero-rated:
- Standard-Rated Supplies (Prevailing 9%): Most local sales of goods and services in Singapore fall under this category (e.g., retail products, professional consulting, utilities).
- Zero-Rated Supplies (0%): Applies to the export of physical goods and the provision of international services (e.g., international flights, cross-border shipping).
2. Non-Taxable Supplies
Non-taxable supplies are transactions where no GST is charged. They include:
- Exempt Supplies: Transactions explicitly exempted by IRAS, such as provision of financial services, sale/lease of residential properties, and import/local supply of investment precious metals.
- Out-of-Scope Supplies: Transactions outside the scope of the GST Act, such as third-party sales (goods shipped from overseas directly to another overseas location) and Transfer of a Business as a Going Concern (TOGC).
