The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has formally issued the annual Section 68(2) Notice to Employers for the year 2024. Published in the Government Gazette on 21 June 2024, the notice mandates all employers operating in Singapore, including non-resident entities, to submit prescribed income returns for specific categories of personnel employed during the 2024 calendar year.
Key Requirements:
- Who Must File: All employers (resident and non-resident) who employed individuals in Singapore at any point during 2024.
- Forms Required: Employers must provide the relevant returns for covered individuals, specifically:
- Form IR8A
- Appendix 8A
- Appendix 8B
- Form IR8S
- Covered Individuals: The requirement applies to a broad range of personnel, including:
- Full-time resident employees
- Part-time resident employees
- Non-resident employees (including overseas-based staff rendering services in Singapore)
- Company directors (resident and non-resident)
- Board Members receiving Board/Committee fees
- Pensioners
- Former employees who received income in 2024 (e.g., gains from stock options exercised post-departure).
- Non-Resident Employee Reporting Clarification: Employers who have already obtained tax clearance for non-resident employees by filing Form IR21 must exclude the income declared in IR21 from Form IR8A for those employees. If the non-resident employee’s only Singapore-sourced income is what was declared via IR21, the employer is exempt from filing Form IR8A for that individual.
- Mandatory Electronic Filing: Employers meeting either criterion below must file electronically and be registered for the Auto Inclusion Scheme (AIS):
- Employed 5 or more staff throughout the entire year ending 31 December 2024.
- Received a specific “Notice to File Employment Income Of Employees Electronically” from IRAS.
- Residency Definition: For tax purposes, an individual is considered a resident in Singapore for a Year of Assessment if, in the preceding calendar year, they resided in Singapore with only temporary absences, or were physically present/exercising employment (excluding directorship) in Singapore for 183 days or more.
While the notice itself was published on 21 June 2024, employers should refer to IRAS guidelines (typically early 2025) for the specific submission deadline for the 2024 employment income returns (e.g., 1 March 2025).
Source: Government Gazette, 21 June 2024. Detailed filing instructions and forms are available on the official IRAS website. Employers are advised to consult IRAS resources for complete guidance.