Your employer has to seek tax clearance if you are a:
Singapore Permanent Resident:
- posted to work in an overseas location; or
- leaving Singapore permanently after you have ceased employment.
Non-Singapore Citizen:
- ceasing your employment in Singapore; or
- posted to work in an overseas location; or
- leaving Singapore for any other reasons for any period exceeding three months.
Find out more on your employer's responsibilties.
When will my Form IR21 be processed
You should check with your employer whether the Form IR21 has been submitted. Generally, tax clearance will be processed:
- within 7 working days if the Form IR21 is submitted via efiling; or
- within 21 days if the Form IR21 is submitted via paper filing.
Settle your payment promptly
You are required to settle your tax before you leave Singapore or at the time you leave your job, whichever is earlier. Any instalment arrangement you may have with IRAS will also be cancelled automatically upon tax clearance.
IRAS may appoint your bank or the CPF Board as an agent for tax recovery purposes. You may be prevented from leaving Singapore by a stop order certificate. In such instance, you will need a release letter from IRAS.
Payment should be made in cash or cashier's order. Personal cheque and payment made via vPOST are not acceptable for tax clearance purpose.