The Business Times
business-time-50

Is Singapore still competitive in a world with a global minimum tax?

The Republic still has an edge – it just needs to make that clear

Summarise
google-preferred-sourceAdd BT as a preferred source
    • There are still many features of the Singapore tax system which might be considered unwieldy, uncertain or disproportionate in comparison with other countries. 
    • There are still many features of the Singapore tax system which might be considered unwieldy, uncertain or disproportionate in comparison with other countries.  PHOTO: YEN MENG JIIN, BT

    Sunil Agarwal

    Published Thu, Jul 30, 2026 · 07:00 AM

    BURIED in the latest June 2026 edition of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore’s (Iras) Transfer Pricing Guidelines is a technical amendment on how share-based compensation is treated when a Singapore subsidiary provides services to its foreign parent. 

    It is one of the more revealing signals we have had in some time about the pressure Singapore’s tax system is now under, and about a question the Republic can no longer avoid.

    In a world where a global minimum tax has diminished the tax incentives that long flattered our regime, is Singapore still as competitive as it needs to be?

    Tax incentivesTaxesIRASInternational tax reformGlobal minimum tax

    TRENDING NOW

    The hiring push comes as Singapore’s banks expand their wealth franchises across Asia.

    Singapore banks’ battle for wealth talent goes beyond private bankers

    From left: Media personality and panel moderator Charmaine Yee, actor Tay Ping Hui and fitness instructor Vicsland Poh at The Business Times Longevity Forum.

    Keep moving, keep learning, live fully: Lessons from actor Tay Ping Hui and a ‘granfluencer’ 

    Yeoh Pei Xien is the youngest grandchild of Yeoh Tiong Lay, who founded Malaysian multinational conglomerate YTL Corporation.

    Yeoh Pei Xien: YTL’s third-gen scion with a pastor’s heart

    Singtel says both options remain at an exploratory level for now.

    Singtel explores Nasdaq-SGX dual listing for data centre arm Nxera, local data centre Reit

    Latest T-bills Treasury Bills Results & Interest NewsLatest SSB Singapore Savings Bonds NewsLatest COE Certificate of Entitlement News
    Latest Johor-Singapore SEZ NewsLatest BTO Build To Order & Sales of Balance NewsLatest STI Straits Times Index NewsLatest SGX Dividends, Share Price NewsLatest Bonds Market NewsLatest Singapore Stocks To Buy NewsLatest Singapore Economy News
    View More