Withdrawal from SRS account by foreigner or SPR is subject to withholding tax.

Example

If a foreigner or Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) has $300,000 in his SRS account by the retirement age of 62 and decides to withdraw the whole amount, he will be taxed on half of the amount withdrawn.

SRS Withdrawn

Amount Subject to Tax

Withholding Tax At 24%*

Actual Amount Received

$300,000

50% x $300,000 = $150,000

24% x $150,000 = $36,000

$300,000 - $36,000 = $264,000

*Effective 1 Jul 2014, the concessionary withholding tax rate of 15% will apply if the following conditions are met:

  1. Cumulative amount withdrawn by the SRS account holder in the calendar year does not exceed $200,000
  2. The SRS account holder does not have any other income besides the SRS withdrawal(s) during the calendar year when the withdrawal(s) are made.

To enjoy this concession, the SRS account holder must declare that he fulfils the two conditions above to his SRS Operators.

Withholding tax is not the final tax

No. If the foreigner or SPR is a Singapore tax resident, the actual tax payable on the SRS withdrawal will be based on the progressive resident rates.

For a non-resident, the actual tax payable on the SRS withdrawal will be 15% or the progressive resident rates, whichever is higher.

Claiming refunds on withholding tax

Tax withheld on the withdrawal is a tax credit that will be used to offset your actual tax liability. Any unused tax credit will be refunded to you.

In the example, assuming the actual tax rate applicable to the SRS withdrawal is finally determined to be 15% and you have no other tax liability, the refund you will receive is calculated as follows:

SRS WithdrawnAmount Subject To TaxWithholding Tax At 24%Actual Tax Rate Applicable: 15%Amount To Be Refunded

$300,000

50% x $300,000 = $150,000

24% x $150,000 = $36,000

15% x $150,000 = $22,500

$36,000 - $22,500 = $13,500

For tax refund claims, please provide IRAS with details of your name, tax reference number and forwarding address.