U.S. tax services for Americans in Singapore
Tailored U.S. tax filing, FBAR compliance, and streamlined catch-up for Singapore expats, Pte Ltd owners, and long-term non-filers.
Jump to: Individual Tax Business & Trusts
- No US–Singapore treaty — FEIE & FTC specialists
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Form 5471/ Pte Ltd specialists - CPF & SRS tax position analysis
- Streamlined catch-up for non-filers
Individual Tax for Americans in Singapore
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Click a card to see the forms involved, common issues, and how we handle each situation.
Americans and Green Card Holders in Singapore
The U.S. and Singapore do not have an income tax treaty. For U.S. citizens and green card holders living in Singapore, U.S. tax is generally managed through the foreign earned income exclusion and foreign tax credit, depending on your circumstances.
Singapore’s tax rates are generally lower than U.S. rates, and not all types of income are taxed in Singapore. As a result, you may still have U.S. tax to pay even after taking foreign income and taxes into account.
How We Help
We prepare your U.S. tax return based on your income, residency, and tax position in both countries. This can include reporting Singapore CPF and SRS accounts, investment income, equity compensation, and foreign financial accounts.
Get started on an individual returnForms and Tax Rules
Common Issues
- No U.S.–Singapore income tax treaty: Tax relief generally comes through the foreign earned income exclusion and foreign tax credit rather than treaty provisions.
- Different tax systems: Singapore does not tax all types of foreign income in the same way as the U.S., which can result in U.S. tax even when little or no Singapore tax is paid.
- Income beyond salary: Investment income, bonuses, and equity compensation may not receive the same treatment as regular employment income and can create additional U.S. tax.
US Owners of Singapore Pte Ltd Companies
If you are a U.S. citizen or green card holder who owns a Singapore Pte Ltd company, the company may be treated as a controlled foreign corporation (CFC) for U.S. tax purposes. This can result in additional U.S. reporting and tax, including GILTI and Subpart F income.
How We Help
We handle the U.S. tax reporting for your Singapore company and look at the available elections and planning options based on your situation. This may include Section 962 and the high-tax exception, where applicable. We can also assist with U.S. reporting when a Singapore company has operations or investments in the United States.
Get started on Pte Ltd reportingForms and Tax Rules
Common Issues
- CFC reporting: A Singapore Pte Ltd owned by a U.S. person may be treated as a CFC, which can create additional U.S. reporting and tax requirements.
- GILTI and Subpart F: Certain types of income may be taxable in the U.S. even if the profits are kept in the Singapore company.
- Available elections: Elections such as Section 962 or the high-tax exception may affect how the income is taxed in the U.S. Their availability and benefits depend on the facts.
Expats Holding CPF, SRS, Unit Trusts and ILPs
CPF, SRS, unit trusts, and investment-linked policies do not always fit neatly into the U.S. tax rules. The U.S. tax treatment can depend on the type of account, the underlying investments, and how the income is earned.
How We Help
We review each account and its underlying investments to determine the appropriate U.S. tax treatment. We also consider the reporting requirements and document the position taken on the return.
CPF is different from Hong Kong MPF because CPF itself does not invest in funds. As a result, the PFIC issues that can arise with MPF funds generally do not apply to CPF itself.
Get started on a CPF / SRS reviewForms and Tax Rules
Common Issues
- CPF interest: The U.S. tax treatment of interest credited to CPF can depend on how the account is classified for U.S. tax purposes.
- SRS accounts: Singapore tax deferral does not necessarily apply for U.S. tax purposes. The investments held within an SRS account may also create additional U.S. reporting or PFIC considerations.
- Unit trusts and ILPs: Singapore unit trusts and some investments held through investment-linked policies may be treated as PFICs for U.S. tax purposes. Certain insurance policies may also need to be reviewed under the U.S. life insurance rules.
Long-Term Non-Filers
Some U.S. citizens and green card holders living in Singapore only become aware of their U.S. tax filing obligations after living abroad for many years. This may happen when a Singapore bank asks for U.S. tax or FATCA information.
How We Help
If you have not filed U.S. tax returns while living in Singapore, we first review your filing history and circumstances. If you qualify for the Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures, the process generally involves filing the required tax returns and reporting foreign financial accounts for the applicable years.
We review your situation and prepare the required filings to bring your U.S. tax reporting up to date.
Get started on catching upForms and Tax Rules
Common Issues
- Late discovery: Some U.S. citizens and green card holders only learn about their U.S. filing obligations after a bank requests FATCA information.
- Foreign accounts and investments: Catching up may involve more than filing tax returns. Foreign bank accounts, investments, and other assets may have separate U.S. reporting requirements.
- Streamlined filing: Eligibility depends on the facts and circumstances, including whether the failure to comply was non-willful.
Scope
What we handle
US expat returns, FBAR and FATCA, CPF, PFIC and streamlined filing for Singapore. We scope every engagement in writing before work begins.
Discuss your situation- US expat returns (Form 1040) with the foreign earned income exclusion and foreign housing exclusion
- Foreign tax credit planning where no US–Singapore treaty exists and territorial taxation leaves little credit
- US treatment of CPF: vesting of employer contributions and the deliberate position on government-credited interest
- SRS analysis, including PFIC exposure where the account is invested in funds
- FBAR and Form 8938 reporting of CPF, SRS, Singapore bank and brokerage accounts
- PFIC analysis and Form 8621 for Singapore unit trusts and investment-linked insurance, plus section 7702 review
- Singapore Pte Ltd companies owned by US persons: Form 5471, GILTI and Subpart F
- US market entry for Singapore businesses: entity choice, Form 5472, Form 1120, Form 1120-F
- Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures for non-filers in Singapore
- ITIN applications (Form W-7) for non-US investors and family members
Business & trust services in Singapore
U.S. Tax for Singapore Businesses & Foreign Trusts
In addition to personal returns, we handle Controlled Foreign Corporation reporting for Singapore Pte Ltds and foreign trust disclosures.
Singapore Pte Ltds and U.S. Business Tax
U.S. owners of Singapore Pte Ltd companies may have additional U.S. reporting and tax requirements, including Form 5471, GILTI, Subpart F, and Section 962. If the company also operates or invests in the U.S., there may be additional U.S. business filings.
How We Help
We prepare the annual Form 5471 reporting and review GILTI, Subpart F, and available elections such as Section 962 and the high-tax exception. When a Singapore company has U.S. activities, we also handle the applicable U.S. business filings, including Forms 5472, 1120, and 1120-F.
Get started on Pte Ltd reportingForms and Tax Rules
Common Issues
- CFC reporting: A Singapore Pte Ltd owned by a U.S. person may be treated as a controlled foreign corporation (CFC), which can create additional U.S. reporting and tax requirements.
- GILTI and Subpart F: Certain types of income may be taxable to the U.S. owner even when the profits remain in the Singapore company.
- Tax elections: Elections such as Section 962 and the high-tax exception may affect the U.S. tax treatment, depending on the circumstances.
- U.S. operations: A Singapore company doing business in the U.S. may have additional U.S. filing requirements, including Form 5472 for certain related-party transactions.
Foreign Trusts and Estates
U.S. citizens and green card holders with Singapore family trusts or other foreign trusts may have additional U.S. reporting requirements. This can include trust distributions, gifts or bequests from non-U.S. persons, and reporting by U.S. beneficiaries.
How We Help
We review the trust structure and determine the U.S. reporting requirements based on how the trust is treated for U.S. tax purposes. We prepare the required trust and beneficiary filings, review distributions, and can also assist with late filings and reasonable-cause statements where applicable.
Get started on trust reportingForms and Tax Rules
Common Issues
- Foreign gifts and bequests: Certain gifts or bequests from non-U.S. persons may need to be reported on Form 3520. Reporting a gift does not generally make the gift itself taxable, but penalties can apply when required reporting is missed.
- Trust classification: Whether a foreign trust is treated as a grantor or non-grantor trust can affect the U.S. reporting and tax treatment, including how distributions are handled.
- Late Form 3520-A filings: If a foreign trust does not file Form 3520-A when required, the U.S. owner may need to file a substitute Form 3520-A with the required information.
Scope
What we handle for Singapore Pte Ltds
Form 5471 reporting, GILTI and Subpart F, the elections that change the result, and the filings that follow when you expand into the US market. We scope every engagement in writing before work begins.
Discuss your situation- Form 5471 reporting for Singapore Pte Ltd companies owned by US persons, year by year
- GILTI and Subpart F computations, including Form 8992 and Form 8993
- Section 962 and high-tax election modelling before the return is filed
- US corporation and partnership returns for a US arm: Form 1120, Form 1120-S, Form 1065 with Schedules K-2 and K-3
- Foreign-owned US entities: Form 5472 with pro forma Form 1120, and Form 1120-F where a foreign company has US business
- Entity classification elections (Form 8832) with late-election relief, foreign partnerships (Form 8865) and transfers to a foreign corporation (Form 926)
Scope
What we handle for foreign trusts
Form 3520 and 3520-A reporting, owner and beneficiary statements, and the distribution analysis for US beneficiaries. We scope every engagement in writing before work begins.
Discuss your situation- Transactions with foreign trusts: Form 3520 for contributions, distributions, and large gifts or bequests from non-US persons
- Foreign grantor trust returns on Form 3520-A, or a substitute 3520-A where a foreign trustee will not file
- Owner and beneficiary statements for the trust’s US owners and beneficiaries
- Grantor and non-grantor classification, which determines every filing that follows
- Distributions to US beneficiaries: DNI / UNI analysis, the throwback rules and Form 4970
- Catch-up and penalty response: delinquent Form 3520 and 3520-A filings with reasonable-cause statements
IRS Compliance Tool
Which U.S. tax forms apply to your Singapore setup?
Select the items that match your financial footprint in Singapore to preview your likely U.S. reporting requirements and foreign disclosure forms.
FAQ
US tax in Singapore: common questions
Singapore tax is low and territorial, so will I still owe U.S. tax as an American here?
Bottom line Often, yes. Singapore and the U.S. do not have an income tax treaty, so U.S. citizens generally need to rely on the foreign earned income exclusion and foreign tax credit to reduce their U.S. tax.
Singapore’s tax rates are generally lower than U.S. rates, and some types of foreign income may not be taxed in Singapore. This can mean there is little Singapore tax available to offset your U.S. tax liability. The foreign earned income exclusion can reduce U.S. tax on qualifying employment income, but investment income and certain bonuses or equity compensation may still be taxable in the U.S.
The result depends on your income and circumstances, so it is important to look at both your Singapore and U.S. tax position together.
Is my CPF taxable in the U.S.?
Bottom line CPF can have U.S. tax and reporting implications, but the treatment depends on the type of CPF income and the position taken for U.S. tax purposes.
Employer contributions and the interest credited to your CPF may require separate analysis. There are different views on how CPF interest should be treated for U.S. tax purposes, including whether it can be deferred until withdrawal or should be reported as it is credited.
CPF itself does not hold investment funds, so the PFIC issues that can arise with some other foreign retirement or investment accounts generally do not apply to the CPF account itself.
We review your Ordinary, Special, MediSave, and Retirement accounts and determine the appropriate U.S. tax treatment based on your circumstances.
What about my SRS account — how is it treated for U.S. tax?
Bottom line The Singapore tax treatment of an SRS account does not automatically apply for U.S. tax purposes, and the investments held in the account may create additional U.S. tax and reporting requirements.
SRS is a voluntary retirement savings scheme, but the U.S. does not necessarily provide the same tax treatment as Singapore. The investments held within the account also need to be reviewed. If the SRS holds unit trusts or other foreign investment funds, they may be treated as PFICs for U.S. tax purposes and may require Form 8621.
We review the SRS account and its underlying investments to determine the appropriate U.S. tax treatment and reporting requirements.
I own a Singapore Pte Ltd. What do I have to report to the IRS?
Bottom line You may need to file Form 5471, and your Singapore company may create additional U.S. tax reporting such as GILTI or Subpart F income.
If you are a U.S. citizen or green card holder who owns a Singapore Pte Ltd, the company may be treated as a controlled foreign corporation (CFC) for U.S. tax purposes. This can require Form 5471 reporting and may result in GILTI or Subpart F income being reported by the U.S. owner.
Depending on your circumstances, elections such as Section 962 or the high-tax exception may affect the U.S. tax treatment. We review the company structure, income, and ownership to determine the applicable reporting and planning options.
I have not filed U.S. returns since moving to Singapore. How serious is it?
Bottom line If your failure to file was non-willful and you meet the other requirements, you may be able to use the Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures to catch up.
Many U.S. citizens and green card holders living in Singapore only become aware of their U.S. filing obligations after a bank requests FATCA information. If you qualify for the Streamlined procedures, you generally need to file three years of tax returns and six years of FBARs, along with any other required international information reporting.
We review your filing history and circumstances to determine which filing procedure may apply and prepare the required filings.
Work with us
US tax obligations in Singapore?
- 01 You describe the situation in a few sentences.
- 02 We respond within one business day and tell you which US filings it involves.
- 03 We scope and quote the work in writing before it begins.
Prefer email? info@lcwtax.com
Prefer to call? +852 3008 8218 (Hong Kong) +1 437 837 1029 (Toronto)
