On or about 21 December 2018, Singapore deposited the Instrument of Ratification for the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (“the Multilateral Instrument” or “MLI”). The MLI was signed on 7 June 2017 and will take effect from 1 April 2019.
The MLI is an agreement negotiated under Action 15 of the OECD/G20 BEPS Project. It intends to allow jurisdictions to swiftly amend their tax treaties to include the tax treaty-related Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) recommendations in multiple Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs). Singapore has committed to the BEPS project and does not condone abuse of Avoidance of DTAs.
The complete list of Singapore’s reservations and notifications at the point of ratification can be downloaded from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)’s website. As of 11 January 2019, 18 countries have deposited their instrument of ratification.
The IRAS will clarify on its website how each relevant DTA will be amended by the Multilateral Instrument.
Source: MOF, 23 December 2018