Prior to 1990

1989 

• Information Management System, a new computer system for income tax and property tax, is rolled out.

1987 

• Corporate income tax rate comes down from 40% to 33%, in the first major reduction.

1986 

• Inland Revenue Department (IRD) hosts the 16th SGATAR meeting.

1985 

• Payroll tax is suspended.

1983 

• IRD administers the Charities Act.

1982 

• Payment of individual income tax in instalments can be made through the GIRO scheme.

1976 

• IRD hosts the 6th meeting of the Study Group on Asian Tax Administration and Research (SGATAR).

1972 

• The first computer, an IBM 360, is brought in to replace the accounting machines.

1970 

• IRD is headed by its first local Commissioner, Hsu Tse-Kwang.

1967 

• The Economic Expansion Incentives Act is introduced.

1965 

• Payroll tax is introduced and administered by IRD.

1961 

• Property tax comes under the purview of the IRD.
• The first avoidance of double taxation agreement is signed.

1960 

• The Singapore Income Tax Department becomes the IRD, with stamp duty, estate duty, private lotteries and betting and sweepstake duties coming under the department’s purview.
• N.V. Casey becomes the first Commissioner of Inland Revenue.

1959 

• The Pioneer Industries (Relief from Income Tax) Ordinance is introduced.

1956 

• G.T. Holloway is the Income Tax Department’s second comptroller.

1948 

• The Singapore Income Tax Department is formed with D.H. Tudor as Singapore’s first Comptroller of Income Tax.

1947

•  The Income Tax Ordinance is passed.