Singapore Rental Income Tax 2026: IRAS Filing Guide

Who Needs to File Rental Income Tax in Singapore?

If you own residential or commercial property in Singapore and receive rental income, you are required to declare this income to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). This applies to all property owners — whether you own an HDB flat, a private condominium, landed property, or commercial space.

Rental income is taxed as part of your total personal income and is subject to Singapore's progressive tax rates, which range from 0% to 24% depending on your total chargeable income. There is no separate "rental tax" — it is simply added to your other income sources such as employment income, business income, or investment income.

Even if you are renting out just one room in your HDB flat, that rental income must be declared. Failure to do so can result in penalties, back taxes, and interest charges from IRAS.

Understanding Taxable Rental Income

Your taxable rental income is not simply the total rent collected. IRAS allows you to deduct certain expenses incurred in producing that rental income. The formula is straightforward:

Taxable Rental Income = Gross Rent Received − Allowable Deductions

Gross rent includes all payments received from tenants, including advance rent, lump sum payments, and any rental top-ups (e.g., if the tenant pays your property tax or maintenance fees as part of the arrangement, IRAS considers those as part of gross rent).

Allowable Deductions: What You Can Claim

IRAS permits the following deductions against your rental income. Each must be directly related to the production of rental income during the year of assessment:

1. Property Tax

The annual property tax paid on the rented-out property is fully deductible. For a condominium valued at $36,000 annual value, this could be around $2,400–$3,600 depending on the owner-occupier or non-owner-occupier rate applied.

2. Mortgage Interest (Not Principal)

Interest paid on your home loan for the rental property is deductible, but the principal repayment portion is not. If your monthly mortgage payment is $2,500 and $1,200 is interest, only $1,200/month ($14,400/year) is deductible. You can obtain an interest statement from your bank for exact figures.

3. Repairs and Maintenance

Costs for repairing and maintaining the property in its current condition are deductible. This includes plumbing repairs, repainting, replacing broken fixtures, servicing air-conditioning units, and general upkeep. However, improvements or renovations that enhance the property beyond its original state are not deductible.

4. Fire Insurance

Premiums paid for fire insurance on the rental property are deductible. This is typically $200–$500 per year for most residential properties.

5. Agent Commission

If you engage a property agent to find tenants, the commission paid (typically 0.5 months' rent for a 1-year lease, or 1 month's rent for a 2-year lease) is deductible in the year it is incurred.

6. HDB Subletting Fees

If you're subletting an HDB flat, the administrative fee paid to HDB for the subletting application is deductible.

7. Costs of Securing Tenants

Advertising costs, legal fees for drafting tenancy agreements, and stamp duty paid on the tenancy agreement (if borne by the landlord) are all deductible expenses.

Non-Deductible Items

The following expenses are not allowable deductions:

• Renovation costs: Adding new built-in wardrobes, kitchen renovation, or bathroom upgrades are capital expenditure and not deductible.
• Furniture purchases: Buying furniture for the rental unit is a capital expense. However, you may claim capital allowance (depreciation) on furniture and fittings over their useful life.
• Loan principal repayment: Only the interest portion of your mortgage is deductible.
• Personal expenses: Any costs not directly related to producing rental income.
• Cost of vacant periods: Expenses incurred when the property is not rented out may not be deductible unless you can show active efforts to find a tenant.

Worked Example: Calculating Your Taxable Rental Income

Let's work through a realistic example for a landlord renting out a condominium in Singapore:

Item	Amount (SGD)
Gross Annual Rent ($3,500/month × 12)	$42,000
Less: Allowable Deductions
Property Tax	($2,400)
Mortgage Interest ($1,100/month × 12)	($13,200)
Repairs & Maintenance (aircon servicing, plumbing)	($1,200)
Fire Insurance	($350)
Agent Commission (0.5 months' rent)	($1,750)
Stamp Duty on Tenancy Agreement	($67)
Total Deductions	($18,967)
Taxable Rental Income	$23,033

This $23,033 is then added to your other income (e.g., employment income) and taxed at the applicable marginal rate. If your total income puts you in the 11.5% bracket, the additional tax on the rental portion would be approximately $2,649.

Filing Deadline and Process

The deadline for filing your personal income tax return (Form B or B1) is 15 April each year for the preceding year's income. For example, rental income earned from 1 January to 31 December 2025 must be filed by 15 April 2026.

How to File

1. Log in to the myTax Portal at mytax.iras.gov.sg using your SingPass.
2. Navigate to "File Income Tax Return".
3. Under "Other Income", select "Rent from Property".
4. Enter your property address, gross rent received, and total allowable deductions.
5. If you have multiple rental properties, report each property separately.
6. Submit your return and keep all supporting documents (receipts, bank statements, agent invoices) for at least 5 years.

Common Mistakes Landlords Make

Based on IRAS enforcement cases and common audit findings, here are the most frequent mistakes:

• Not declaring rental income at all: IRAS cross-references stamp duty records with tax filings. If you stamped a tenancy agreement but didn't declare rental income, expect a query.
• Claiming mortgage principal as a deduction: Only interest is deductible. Many landlords claim the full mortgage payment by mistake.
• Claiming renovation as repairs: There's a meaningful difference between repairing a broken item (deductible) and upgrading or improving it (not deductible).
• Forgetting to include tenant-paid expenses: If your tenant pays your property tax or condo maintenance fees, these are considered part of your gross rent.
• Not keeping receipts: IRAS may audit your deductions. Without proper documentation, claims can be disallowed.

Track Your Rental Income and Expenses Automatically

Managing rental income and deductions across multiple properties quickly becomes complex, especially at tax time. Try our free IRAS Rental Tax Calculator to estimate your 2026 tax liability in 30 seconds — enter rent, deductions, and other income to see your exact taxable amount.

For stamp duty on new leases, use the Stamp Duty Calculator. If you're subletting an HDB flat, read our complete HDB subletting rules guide to stay compliant with 2026 HDB rules.

Or use Zurently to automatically track rental payments, categorise expenses by tax-deductible status, and generate IRAS-ready reports — compare it against other property management apps for Singapore landlords to see how it stacks up.