Scope and source transition
This FAQ explains electronic refunds for Corporate Income Tax and Clubs and Associations Tax, starting the source’s 2025 transition, with remaining cheque refunds removed from September and full cessation by December 2025; CIT cheque refunds had already ceased. Deposits avoid cheque loss, replacement and handling, and credit the bank account directly. The dates describe this PDF edition rather than a new future rollout.
GIRO and PayNow priority
If eligible own-name GIRO and PayNow arrangements use different accounts, the refund goes to GIRO. Otherwise PayNow uses the entity’s UEN without a suffix; registering with the bank does not require separate notification to IRAS. A mobile-number PayNow proxy is not accepted for these tax refunds.
No setup or a third-party payment account
Set up an eligible own-name GIRO account or the correct PayNow proxy. Without a refund arrangement, credits remain in the tax account; the FAQ does not promise late-refund interest where setup is missing or an account closure causes failure. A third party’s account used to pay tax does not qualify to receive the taxpayer’s refund. The account-holder name must match the taxpayer.
Overseas and foreign-currency accounts
Use a Telegraphic Transfer request under Tax Refunds via Telegraphic Transfer on IRAS’ refunds page for an overseas account or a Singapore foreign-currency account. Taxpayers bear related transfer costs; exchange-rate movements can affect the sum received. GIRO and PayNow avoid cheque-handling costs.
Changing or closing accounts
Changing GIRO requires a new application. Re-register the appropriate PayNow identifier with the new own-name account. Where the FAQ instructs, deregister the old bank’s proxy first. Put the replacement in place before closing the old account; otherwise a refund fails and IRAS sends a letter to apply for electronic refund.
Company and organisation routing
Entity includes companies and clubs or associations. Where CIT or C&A and GST have separate entity-owned GIRO accounts, the refund follows the corresponding CIT or C&A account. Where a company has CIT and GST but only GST GIRO, CIT refunds use that GST GIRO. PayNow uses bare UEN, not a three-character suffix proxy such as 201812345X0A1. No UEN means no PayNow Corporate; use own-name GIRO or TT. Check registration with the bank. No account means credits offset future liabilities; a director’s account is not an alternative. IRAS’ refunds page also lists circumstances when automatic refunds are not made.
Official source
This article independently explains the substantive contents of the official PDF, including the relevant conditions, procedures and annexes. The linked document remains the authoritative source for its original wording, and later changes should be checked separately.
Read the official PDF ↗