Corporate Income Tax must be paid within 1 month from the date of the Notice of Assessment, or NOA.
GIRO is IRAS’s preferred payment method. Companies can also pay through PayNow QR, AXS, internet banking and other approved electronic methods.
An objection or revision does not pause the payment deadline. Pay the assessed amount first. IRAS will refund any excess if the assessment is later reduced.
When does a company need to pay Corporate Income Tax?
IRAS issues an NOA after processing an ECI or annual Corporate Income Tax Return. The notice states the amount assessed and the payment due date.
The payment deadline is 1 month from the NOA date. This applies to both estimated and final assessments unless an approved GIRO instalment plan is already in place.
ECI and the annual return are filing obligations. The NOA is what creates the tax payment deadline.
See our Singapore Corporate Tax filing guide for the full sequence from accounting records to assessment and payment.
How can the company pay?
| Method | Best used for | What to note |
|---|---|---|
| GIRO | Automatic deductions and eligible ECI instalment plans | The arrangement must be approved before the due date. |
| PayNow QR | Immediate payment through a participating bank app | Generate the QR code through myTax Portal to ensure the payment is matched correctly. |
| AXS | Payment through AXS e-Station or m-Station | Start from the Pay Taxes function in myTax Portal. |
| Internet banking | Bill payment or another approved bank channel | Use the correct tax reference or payment slip number. |
Check the current options and processing times on IRAS’s tax payment page.
Do not leave the payment to the last day. A payment initiated on time can still be late if it is not credited by the due date.
How do GIRO instalments work after ECI?
Singapore-registered companies that file their first ECI within 3 months after FYE and have an approved Corporate Income Tax GIRO arrangement can receive an instalment plan.
| First ECI filed within | Instalments |
|---|---|
| 1 month after FYE | 10 |
| 2 months after FYE | 8 |
| 3 months after FYE | 6 |
| After 3 months | No ECI instalment plan |
The instalment plan is subject to a minimum monthly GIRO deduction of S$50. If GIRO is not approved before the payment due date, the estimated tax must be paid in full within 1 month from the NOA.
Our ECI guide explains the filing deadline, waiver and instalment rules.
How do you check whether IRAS received the payment?
Log in to myTax Portal and use the company’s account summary or payment-status functions. IRAS also provides a Corporate Tax Payment Status Checker.
Keep the bank or payment confirmation until the amount appears in the tax account. If the payment was made with the wrong reference, contact IRAS promptly with the transaction details.
A GIRO deduction can fail because of insufficient funds, an inactive arrangement or a bank-account issue. Check the deduction rather than assuming it was completed.
What if the company cannot pay by the deadline?
Contact IRAS before the due date and review the available payment-support options. A request does not automatically suspend the deadline, and IRAS may ask for financial information before approving an arrangement.
Do not ignore the NOA while waiting for a revision, objection or cash inflow.
What happens if payment is late?
IRAS imposes a 5% penalty when the full tax is not received by the due date.
If the tax remains unpaid 60 days after that penalty is imposed, IRAS can add 1% for each completed month of continued non-payment, up to 12% of the unpaid tax.
IRAS can also recover the debt through appointed agents, such as the company’s bank, and may take further enforcement action.
See IRAS’s late-payment guidance for the current penalty and recovery rules.
Common questions
When is Corporate Income Tax due?
Within 1 month from the date of the Notice of Assessment.
Does an objection pause the payment deadline?
No. The assessed tax remains payable while the objection is being reviewed.
Can every company pay by ECI instalments?
No. The company must be Singapore-registered, file its first ECI within 3 months after FYE and have an approved Corporate Income Tax GIRO arrangement.
What is the first late-payment penalty?
5% of the unpaid tax.
How do I confirm that payment was credited?
Check the company’s account summary or payment status through myTax Portal or the Corporate Tax Payment Status Checker.
Need help with the filing and assessment?
Leftright Corporate can prepare the tax computation, file the relevant returns and help review the NOA and payment position.
