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Accommodation and Related Benefits

Accommodation and related benefits, including hotel accommodation provided to employees during their employment in Singapore, are part of employment income and subject to income tax.
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Basis of Computing Accommodation Benefits

Accommodation benefits derived from your employment are part of your income.

IRAS determines the taxable value of accommodation benefits based on the following:

  1. Annual value (AV) of the property or market rent of the property
  2. Level of furniture and fittings, i.e. fully furnished or partially furnished
  3. Number of days accommodation is provided by the employer
  4. Number of employees living / sharing the accommodation
  5. Rent paid by employee (if any)
  6. Type of accommodation (e.g. apartment or hotel)
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Taxable Value of Accommodation Benefits From YA 2020

Type of Accommodation BenefitHow It Is Taxed

Residence or Serviced Apartment not within Hotel Building

If the property is rented by the employer, it is the total annual rent (including the rent for furniture and fittings) paid by the employer less total annual rent paid by employee. 

Otherwise, the taxable value of accommodation benefit is the AV of the property less total annual rent paid by employee.  

See: Examples 1 to 3

Furniture and Fittings in Residence or Serviced Apartment

If the property is rented by the employer, the rent for furniture and fittings should be included in the total annual rent paid by the employer.

Otherwise, furniture and fittings in a residence or serviced apartment are valued as:

  • 40% of the AV if the property is partially furnished; or
  • 50% of the AV if the property is fully furnished.

Partially furnished - Only fittings (e.g. lighting, air- conditioners/ceiling fans, water-heater) are provided.

Fully furnished - Both fittings and furniture / household appliances are provided.

Utilities and Housekeeping Costs in Residence or Serviced Apartment

Utilities, telephone and cable bills will be taxed based on the actual amount paid by the employer.

Gardening/Upkeep of compound and housekeeping costs will be taxed based on actual wages paid by employer to the gardener and domestic helper.

Hotel Accommodation or Serviced Apartment within Hotel Building

The actual costs incurred by the employer for the hotel stay less the amount paid by employee.

See: Example 4

Housing Allowance

Housing allowance is taxed in full.

Where the employee signs a rental agreement but the employer pays the rent to the landlord, the actual rental amount paid by the employer will be taxed in full.

The rental agreement between the employee and the landlord will not affect the tax treatment.

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Taxable Value of Accommodation Benefits From YA 2015 Till YA 2019

Type of Accommodation BenefitHow It Is Taxed

Residence or Serviced Apartment not within Hotel Building

It is the AV of the property less total annual rent paid by employee.

Where AV is not available, take the market rent paid by the employer (including the rent paid for the furniture and fittings) minus the rent paid by employee.

See: Examples 1 to 3

Furniture and Fittings in Residence or Serviced Apartment

Furniture and fittings in a residence or serviced apartment are valued as:

  • 40% of the AV if the property is partially furnished; or
  • 50% of the AV if the property is fully furnished.

Partially furnished - Only fittings (e.g. lighting, air- conditioners/ceiling fans, water-heater) are provided.

Fully furnished - Both fittings and furniture / household appliances are provided.

See: Examples 1 to 3

Utilities and Housekeeping Costs in Residence or Serviced Apartment

Utilities, telephone and cable bills will be taxed based on the actual amount paid by the employer.

Gardening/Upkeep of compound and housekeeping costs will be taxed based on actual wages paid by employer to the gardener and domestic helper.

Hotel Accommodation or Serviced Apartment within Hotel Building

The actual costs incurred by the employer for the hotel stay less the amount paid by employee.

See: Example 4

Housing Allowance

Housing allowance is taxed in full.

Where the employee signs a rental agreement but the employer pays the rent to the landlord, the actual rental amount paid by the employer will be taxed in full.

The rental agreement between the employee and the landlord will not affect the tax treatment.

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Examples

Example 1: Employee Provided with Fully Furnished Accommodation

An employee was provided with fully furnished accommodation (i.e. a residential apartment) with an AV of $30,000 from 1 Jan to 31 Dec. The total rent (inclusive of rent for furniture and fittings) paid by the employer in the year was $50,000. The total rent paid by the employee in the year was $6,000.

The taxable value for accommodation as well as furniture and fittings are computed as follows:

From YA 2020
Total Rent (Inclusive of Rent for Furniture and Fittings) Paid by Employer $50,000
 Less: Rent Paid by Employee $6,000
 Taxable Value of Accommodation Benefit  = $44,000 (i.e. $50,000 - $6,000) 
From YA 2015 Till YA 2019
AV of Fully Furnished Residential Apartment

$30,000

Value of Furniture and Fittings

As the apartment is fully furnished, value of furniture and fittings is $15,000 ($30,000 x 50%)

Total Value of Fully Furnished Accommodation

= $45,000 ($30,000 + $15,000)

Less: Rent Paid by Employee

$6,000

Taxable Value of Accommodation Benefit

= $39,000 (i.e. $45,000 - $6,000)

 

 

Example 2: Two or More Employees Share the Same Accommodation

Assume similar circumstances as in Example 1 except that the apartment is shared with another employee.

The taxable value of the accommodation as well as furniture and fittings for each employee are computed as follows:

From YA 2020
 Total Rent (Inclusive of Rent for Furniture and Fittings) Paid by Employer $50,000
 Rent Paid by Employer for each Employee = $25,000 ($50,000/2) 
 Less: Rent Paid by each Employee $6,000
 Taxable Value of Shared Accommodation = $19,000 (i.e. $25,000 - $6,000) 
   From YA 2015 Till YA 2019
AV of Fully Furnished Residential Apartment

$30,000

Taxable Value of Accommodation

= $15,000 ($30,000 / 2)

Value of Furniture and Fittings

= $ 7,500 ($15,000 x 50%)

Total Value of Fully Furnished  Accommodation

= $22,500 ($15,000 + $ 7,500)

Less: Rent Paid by each Employee

$6,000

Taxable Value of Shared Accommodation

= $16,500 (i.e. $22,500 - $6,000)

Example 3: Fully Furnished Accommodation is Provided by Employer for Less than a Year
Employment Period 365 days 
 Accommodation Provided for 90 days
 Annual Value of Property $40,000
Total Rent (Inclusive of Rent for Furniture and Fittings) Paid by Employer $15,000
 Utilities Bill $250
 Rent Paid by Employee $2,000
 Number of Employees Sharing the Premises 1

 

The taxable value for accommodation as well as furniture and fittings are computed as follows: 

 From YA 2020
 Total Rent (Inclusive of Rent for Furniture and Fittings) Paid by Employer $15,000
 Less: Rent Paid by Employee $2,000
 Taxable Value of Accommodation Benefit = $13,000 ($15,000 - $2,000) 
   From YA 2015 Till YA 2019
AV of Property $40,000
Taxable Value of Accommodation                                      =$9,863 ($40,000 x 90/365) 
Value of Furniture and Fittings  =$4,931 ($9,862 x 50%)
 Less: Rent Paid by Employee $2,000
 Taxable Value of Accommodation Benefit =$12,794 ($9,863 + $4,931 - $2,000)

Note: The actual utilities bills of $250 is to be reported separately.

Example 4: Hotel Accommodation Provided to Employee

An employer provided hotel accommodation to one of its employees, his wife and child aged 5 years from 1 Jan to 31 Jan.

The total actual costs incurred by the employer for the hotel stay was $6,200 and the employee paid $500 to the employer. 

From YA 2015

Total Cost of Hotel Stay Paid by Employer

$6,200

Cost of Hotel Stay Paid by Employee

$500

Taxable Value of Hotel Accommodation Benefit

=$5,700 ($6,200 - $500)

The taxable value is the actual costs incurred by the employer less amount paid by employee. The taxable value of hotel accommodation is $5,700 ($6,200 - $500).

 

 

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  • Where can I get information on the AV of the property?

    The AV is the estimated annual rent of the property if it is rented out, excluding the furniture, furnishings and maintenance fees. The annual value of a property can be found on the property tax bill or via IRAS' e-Valuation List service.

    While IRAS usually reviews the AV yearly, if there is an adjustment of AV during the year, you have to take into account of the changes in determining the AV for the purpose of computing the taxable value of accommodation.

  • How are the 40% and 50% arrived at as the basis of computing the value of furnishing for the partially furnished and fully furnished property?

    The percentages are determined based on inputs gathered from a survey conducted for key industry players on the provision of furniture and fittings.

  • The landlord has provided lighting fixtures but not an air-conditioner or fan. Is this unit considered unfurnished or partially furnished?

    A partially furnished unit is defined as one that is provided with fittings such as lightings, water-heater, air-conditioner and/or ceiling fan. A unit that is fitted with any of these or similar items will be considered as partially furnished.

    Therefore, the value of furniture and fittings of this unit is to be determined based on 40% of AV of the unit .

  • Can employers use the actual rent paid instead of AV of the property to report the accommodation benefits?

    From YA 2015 till YA 2019, employers are required to use the AV to compute taxable accommodation benefits. Instead of AV, employers may also use the actual market rent paid for the accommodation to report the housing benefit, if it is administratively more convenient to do so. This also applies to cases where the AV is unavailable.

    From YA 2020 onwards, employers are required to use the actual rent paid to report the accommodation benefits if the property is rented by the employer. Alternatively, if the employers do not pay any rent (e.g. where the property is owned by the employer), employers can continue to use AV of the property to report the accommodation benefits and the value of furniture and fittings is to be determined based on 40% (partially furnished) or 50% (fully furnished) of AV of the property.

    Reporting actual rent

    If employers use the actual rent paid for furnished units, they are to report the full rent for the property (including furniture and fittings). 

    Example 1: Actual rent and  amount of furniture and fittings are provided

    Where a tenancy agreement stipulates that the monthly rental is $3,000 for the property and $1,600 for the furniture and fittings, the amount to be reported as actual rent paid by employer would be $4,600. If the period of occupation is 10 months, the total amount of rent paid to be reported would be $46,000 (i.e. $4,600 x 10). The taxable value for the accommodation benefit is $46,000.

    Example 2: Only monthly rental amount is provided

    Where the monthly rental is $5,000 and there is no breakdown of the rental paid for the property and furniture and fittings, the amount to be reported as actual rent paid by employer would be $5,000. If the period of occupation is 12 months, the total amount of rent paid to be reported would be $60,000 (i.e. $5,000 x 12). The taxable value of the accommodation benefit is $60,000.

    Example 3: Additional cost for rental of furniture and fittings

    Where the monthly rental is $5,000 and the landlord provides some furniture and fittings at the property and the employer incurs a monthly rental of $500 for leasing additional furniture and fittings for the unit, the amount to be reported as actual rent paid by employer would be $5,500. This is regardless of whether the rental of the additional furniture and fittings is paid by the employer directly or by the employee but reimbursed by the employer. If the period of occupation is 12 months, the taxable value of the accommodation benefit is $5,500 per month and $66,000 (i.e. $5,500 x 12) per year.

    For all the three scenarios, employers are not required to report the value of benefit for furniture and fittings separately as the gross rent (or together with the separate leasing of furniture and fittings) is inclusive of the value for the furniture and fittings.