Scope and source transition
This FAQ explains electronic refunds for Withholding Tax, starting progressively from September 2025, with cheque refunds ending by December 2025 and no cheque issue from 1 January 2026. 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 payer’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.
Payer-borne versus non-resident-borne tax
The payer-borne rules above use its business bank account; GIRO and PayNow refunds have no charges. A non-UEN entity cannot use PayNow Corporate and must use own-name GIRO or request TT at its cost. Ask the bank to check PayNow registration. If an amended form produces a credit belonging to the non-resident, IRAS sends the payer a notice asking it to facilitate refund by TT to the non-resident’s overseas account. Refunds under S$100 generally are not sent by TT because of charges, but the non-resident can still request TT through the form.
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 ↗