U.S. and Singapore taxes, prepared to agree
Singapore’s low personal tax rates and startup ecosystem draw Americans as employees, founders, and investors. With no U.S.–Singapore treaty, the U.S. return relies on the exclusion and credits — and Singapore companies and funds need their own U.S. reporting.
Who this is for
Americans employed in Singapore
Singapore-based founders with U.S. companies, U.S. investors, or U.S. co-founders
Americans holding Singapore company shares or stock options
Families with Singapore accounts, provident fund balances, and property
Where these files go wrong
- 01
Low Singapore tax assumed to cover the U.S. side — leaving U.S. tax due with little credit
- 02
A Singapore company owned by a U.S. person with no Form 5471
- 03
Singapore funds and unit trusts reported without the passive foreign investment company analysis
- 04
Stock options and founder shares taxed on different timelines in each country, never reconciled
- 05
Singapore accounts and provident fund balances left off FBAR and Form 8938
Working between the U.S. and Singapore
On the U.S. side
- Annual returnAnnual U.S. return for citizens and green-card holders in Singapore
- Exclusion and creditForeign earned income exclusion where eligible, foreign tax credit for Singapore tax
- TreatyNo treaty, so no treaty positions
- ReportingReporting of Singapore accounts, companies, funds, and provident fund balances
On the Singapore side
- Personal taxRelatively low personal income tax, residency-based
- Capital gainsGenerally no tax on capital gains
- Treaty and totalizationNo income tax treaty and no totalization agreement with the U.S.
- Local filingLocal filing by a Singapore adviser, coordinated with ours
General orientation, not advice — confirmed for your facts in the engagement.
What we handle, start to finish
U.S. returns for expats and new residents
Forms 1040 and 1040-NR, dual-status years, foreign earned income exclusion (Form 2555), foreign tax credit (Form 1116)
Foreign account and asset reporting
FBAR (FinCEN 114) and Form 8938
Foreign company and partnership reporting
Forms 5471, 5472, 8858, and 8865
Treaty positions
Form 8833 and withholding coordination, where a treaty exists
Foreign trusts, pensions, and funds
Forms 3520 and 3520-A, PFIC analysis (Form 8621)
Catch-up filings
The Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures for people who didn’t know they had to file
U.S. taxpayer numbers and real estate
Coordination with the foreign return
Whoever prepares the other country’s return, we make sure credits, dates, and positions match before either is filed
Three kinds of returns. One team that makes them agree.
We handle U.S. domestic returns, cross-border (U.S.–Canada) returns, and international tax returns. When a case calls for deeper expertise — in any country — we bring in hand-picked specialists who work under our lead. One team, one point of contact, one plan — and returns that agree.
- You know who is working on your file
- One plan and one price, quoted in writing
- Both returns reviewed together before anything is filed
How your file is staffed
- U.S. domestic returnsour U.S. Tax Desk
- Cross-border (U.S.–Canada)our U.S. and Canadian Tax Desks, together
- Internationalhand-picked country specialists, under our lead
- Your single point of contactFairlight
From first call to filed, on both sides
A free fit call
Fifteen minutes. Which countries, which years, what’s been filed. We tell you honestly what’s needed and whether we can coordinate the foreign side.
A written scope and price
The U.S. work and the coordination, quoted in writing before anything starts. No hourly meter.
Both sides prepared together
Each return is prepared with the same facts, and credits, dates, and positions are matched before either is filed.
Filed, and on a schedule
Both returns filed, deadlines tracked, and the next year planned — not just the one behind you.
U.S.–Singapore tax, up front
Is there a tax treaty between the U.S. and Singapore?
No income tax treaty. The exclusion, the foreign tax credit, and U.S. reporting of Singapore holdings are the tools.
Singapore tax is low. Will I owe U.S. tax on top?
Often some, because there’s less foreign tax to credit. The exclusion helps for earned income; investment income needs planning.
I founded a Singapore company. What does the U.S. want?
Form 5471 and related disclosures each year, plus attention to how the company’s income is treated for U.S. purposes. If U.S. investors are involved, their reporting matters too.
How is my Singapore provident fund treated in the U.S.?
As a foreign account for reporting, with its own questions on timing and taxation. We review it before filing rather than assuming it works like a U.S. retirement plan.
What does it cost?
It depends on the countries, the years, and the forms involved, so we quote it in writing after a short call — fixed, before any work begins. No hourly meter and no surprise add-ons.
How do we get started?
Book a free 15-minute fit call. Bring your last filed returns if you have them; if you don’t, book anyway.
An American living outside the U.S.? See U.S. expat returns for the filing rules that apply wherever you live, or all international tax.
Read our guide: U.S. Expat Taxes in Singapore — What Americans Need to Know →
Ties to Singapore? Start here.
A free 15-minute call, then a written scope and price. No payment until after.
The content on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional tax advice. International tax requirements depend on individual facts and circumstances and are subject to change. Foreign-country rules summarized here are general and change; your situation is confirmed in the engagement. See our full legal disclaimer.