The majority of companies pay their taxes on time. The payment due date is 1 month from the date of the Notice of Assessment (Tax Bill). Your company will incur penalties and face recovery actions for late or non-payment of taxes.
On this page:
Consequences for late payment or non-payment of taxes
IRAS may take the following actions if you fail to pay by the due date:
- Impose late payment penalties
- Appoint agents like your company’s bank, tenant or lawyer (handling the sale of any of your property) to recover the overdue tax
- Take legal action
The above list is not exhaustive.
Late payment penalty
A 5% late payment penalty will be imposed on the unpaid tax if full payment is not received by the due date of the NOA.
Example 1: Penalty imposed for late payment
Company X received an NOA dated 1 Jun 2024. The due date for the tax payable of $10,000 is 1 Jul 2024 (one month from the date of NOA). As Company X did not pay the tax by 1 Jul 2024, a 5% late payment penalty of $500 (i.e. 5% x $10,000) was imposed.
| Date of NOA | Corporate Income Tax Due Date | Tax Payable | 5% Late Payment Penalty Imposed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jun 2024 | 1 Jul 2024 | $10,000 | $500 |
If you have filed an objection and are awaiting the outcome, you still must pay the tax assessed as shown in the NOA. Excess payment will be refunded to your company if the assessment is revised.
Example 2: Penalties and refunds when an objection is filed
Company Y received an estimated NOA, with a tax payable of $10,000, dated 2 Aug 2024. The due date for payment is 2 Sep 2024 (one month from the date of NOA).
The company filed an objection and did not pay the tax. As no payment was received by the due date, a 5% late payment penalty of $500 was imposed.
The company paid the tax and penalty on 30 Sep 2024. On 9 Oct 2024, the Assessment was amended to $1,300 and the late payment penalty was revised to $65 (5% late payment penalty on $1,300) accordingly. A refund of $9,135 was made to the company.
| Date of NOA | Due Date on NOA | Tax Amount | 5% Late Payment Penalty Imposed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Aug 2024 | 2 Sep 2024 | $10,000 | $500 |
| 9 Oct 2024 | 2 Sep 2024 | ($8,700) | ($435) |
| Revised Tax and 5% Penalty | $1,300 | $65 |
If the tax remains unpaid 60 days after the imposition of the 5% late payment penalty, an additional penalty of 1% per month may be imposed for every completed month that the tax remains unpaid, up to a maximum of 12% of the unpaid tax.
Example 3: Penalty imposed for continued late payment
Company Z did not pay the tax payable of $10,000 by the due date on the NOA, and received a late payment penalty notice dated 2 Jul 2024 informing the company of the overdue tax and the 5% late payment penalty.
The due date for payment of tax and penalty (i.e. $10,500) on the notice was 2 Aug 2024 (one month from the date of the late payment penalty notice).
As the tax was unpaid for 1 completed month after 60 days from the late payment penalty notice due date, a 1% additional penalty was imposed on 2 Oct 2024. 1% penalty will continue to be imposed for each additional month that the tax remained unpaid.
Company Z eventually paid the tax and penalties on 15 Nov 2024.
The total penalty imposed was $700 (i.e. 5% penalty x $10,000 plus 1% additional penalty x $10,000 x 2 months).
| Late Payment Penalty Notice Date | Payment Date | 5% Late Payment Penalty Imposed | Additional 1% Penalty Impose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul 2024 | 15 Nov 2024 | $500 ($10,000 x 5%) | $200 ($10,000 x 1% x 2 months) |
Appealing for waiver of late payment penalty
Appeals must be made online via our Appeal Penalty Waiver digital service at mytax.iras.gov.sg.
You will need the following information to complete the appeal for waiver of penalty request online:
- Year of Assessment
- Designation
- Contact number
- Email Address
Appeals will only be considered if:
- You have paid the overdue tax in full*, by the due date as stated in the late payment penalty notice; and
- No waiver has been granted in the past 2 calendar years up to date
*Payment must be reflected in your tax account.
You can refer to Corporate Income Tax payments for the various payment modes and processing times.
Appointment of agents
If the tax remains unpaid, IRAS may appoint agents like your company’s bank, tenant, lawyer or other 3rd parties with money due to you to recover the taxes owing.
When your company’s bank is appointed as the agent, you will experience inconvenience in using the bank accounts (e.g. being unable to access the bank accounts) until you have fully paid your Corporate Income Tax.
Requests made for release of your banks from the agent appointment after 12pm on weekdays will only be processed on the next working day while requests cannot be processed on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
Agents will be released from the appointment only after the tax and penalties have been paid in full.
Checking tax balance and making payment
To check your current balance, log in to mytax.iras.gov.sg and select "View Account Summary”. You can make Corporate Income Tax payments through various payment modes. The payment will be processed after 3 working days.
Difficulty paying your tax
If you face difficulties with your tax payment, you may apply for a longer payment plan via the Apply/Manage GIRO Plan digital service at mytax.iras.gov.sg.
If your payment plan is approved, you must follow the payment plan schedule. Otherwise, the plan will be cancelled and actions will be taken to recover the tax.
GIRO cancellation or termination
You are advised to maintain enough funds in your bank account. If your GIRO deduction is unsuccessful due to insufficient funds in the bank account, or incorrect limits set, etc., IRAS will cancel your GIRO plan. The balance of the unpaid taxes becomes due and payable immediately. You may be imposed a penalty if you do not settle the unpaid taxes promptly.
If you repeatedly default on your payment plan, IRAS may disallow your subsequent requests for a payment arrangement.
FAQs
I have appointed a tax agent. Who is responsible for my company’s tax matters?
As the director of the company, you are still responsible and liable for filing and payment issues, even if your agent fails to settle the filing and payment issues promptly.
Why is my company penalized for not paying the tax when I have objected to the tax?
The tax is still payable pending the outcome of your objection to the tax assessed. If the assessment is subsequently amended, any excess tax paid will be refunded to your company.
Why was my company imposed with a 5% late payment penalty when I have arranged for GIRO payment?
Your GIRO application must be approved before the payment due date (i.e. 1 month from the date of the Notice of Assessment) to avoid late payment penalties from being imposed.
The processing time required for GIRO arrangements to be set up are as follows:
- within the next working day for re-activation of GIRO via myTax Portal (for taxpayers with previous arrangement set up with IRAS)
- within 3 working days for new online applications via myTax Portal, internet banking and AXS stations
- within 3 weeks for new applications via hardcopy GIRO application forms
Why are agents appointed to pay my tax?
If you fail to make payment for your overdue tax, IRAS may appoint your banks, tenant, lawyer, etc. as an agent to recover the unpaid tax.
Your appointed agent(s) will be required to pay moneys due to you to the Comptroller to settle your tax liabilities. The appointment will be released when the overdue tax is settled in full.