In January 2009, IRAS and ICPAS jointly set up a $1.3 million Tax Capability Development Fund for selected structured tax training programmes. The programmes covered are:
a) Executive Tax Programme Level I & II
| - |
Income Tax - Individual |
| - |
Income Tax - Business & Corporate |
| - |
Goods & Services Tax |
B) Executive Tax Programme LeveL III
| - |
Advanced Tax Programme |
| - |
Advanced GST Programme |
Executive Tax Programme Level I & II
Currently, IRAS offers a 50% course fee subsidy to tax practitioners from SME tax agent firms* and in-house tax professionals**. ICPAS gives a 15% subsidy on course fees if the course participant is an ICPAS member. ICPAS members who qualify for the IRAS subsidy will receive a total of 65% subsidy.
To motivate and encourage course participants to do well for the course, IRAS’ subsidy rate for courses commencing from 1 January 2013 will be revised as follows:
| Two-tier subsidy structure |
Subsidy rate |
| If course participants pass the examination |
60% |
| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
| If course participants do not pass the examination |
30% |
| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Upon confirmation of the course, participants eligible for the subsidies will pay 70% of the course fees upfront. A refund of 30% of the course fees will be made to the participants upon passing of course examination subsequently.
In addition, IRAS will also be making available course fees subsidy to freelance tax agents*** for courses commencing from 1 January 2013.
With the revision, ICPAS members who qualify for the IRAS subsidy will receive a total of 75% subsidy if they pass the course examination and 45% if they do not pass the course examination.
Executive Tax Programme Level III (not subject to two-tier subsidy)
IRAS will extend a 50% subsidy on course fees to:
| (i) |
Accredited Tax Practitioners (ATPs)# admitted by the Singapore Institute of Accredited Tax Professionals (“SIATP”) |
| (ii) |
Accredited Tax Practitioners (Provisional) [ATPs (Provisional)]# admitted by the SIATP. |
Effective for courses commencing on or after 1 January 2013, IRAS will also extend the 50% subsidy to the following groups of Accredited Tax Advisors (ATAs):
| (i) |
Accredited Tax Advisors (Income Tax) [ATAs (Income Tax)]# admitted by the SIATP on course fees for Advanced GST Programme |
| (ii) |
Accredited Tax Advisors (GST) [ATAs (GST)]# admitted by the SIATP on course fees for Advanced Tax Programme |
| (iii) |
Accredited Tax Advisors (ATAs) admitted by the SITAP under transitional rules^ on course fees for Advanced Tax Programme or Advanced GST Programme. |
All ICPAS members will enjoy 15% subsidy from ICPAS. ICPAS members who qualify for the IRAS subsidy will receive a total of 65% subsidy.
| a) |
The course applicant will need to fulfil at least 75% attendance rate. |
| b) |
The course applicant will only claim subsidy once for each course. |
| c) |
For Level I & II courses, course applicants need to be a Tax Agent from an SME Tax Agent firm*, In-house Tax Professional** or Freelance Tax Agent*** at the point of registration. |
| d) |
For Level III courses, course applicants need to be Accredited Tax Practitioners (ATPs), ATPs (Provisional) or Accredited Tax Advisors (ATAs)# at the point of registration. |
* Definition of SME tax agent firm: A sole-proprietorship, partnership, or company that provides tax representation, advisory or filing services for a fee and employs less than 50 staff in the tax department.
** Definition of in-house tax professional: A sole-proprietor, a partner or an employee who performs tax work and prepares or aids in preparing the Tax Return relating to the business that he/she owns or represents.
*** Definition of freelance tax agent: A freelance tax agent refers to an independent person who provides tax representation, tax advisory or tax filing services for a fee for the past 2 years.
# For definitions of ATP, ATP (Provisional) and ATA, please refer to SIATP’s website at^ Following the official launch of the SIATP on 7 May 2010, the admission of existing tax professionals as an ATA was considered by the SIATP Board under the transitional rules for a period of six months up till
6 Nov 2010.
The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore has partnered Tax Academy to launch the Singapore Institute of Accredited Tax Professionals (SIATP). Tax Academy’s Executive Tax Programme courses are recognised towards this accreditation.
For more information on how you can be accredited, please visit the SIATP website at www.siatp.org.sg
