GST Offset Package - GST Credits

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GST Credits Overview

GST Credits will help Singaporeans with the impact of the GST increase. All adult Singaporeans will receive GST Credits over 4 years. Those who earn less or live in smaller homes will receive more GST Credits.

Who can receive GST Credits?

To receive GST Credits, you must:

Be a Singapore citizen;
Be aged 21 or above in the year of payout; and
Sign up by 31 December of the year of payout.*

*You only need to sign up once to receive your GST Credits for that year and subsequent years that you qualify.

How much GST Credits can I receive?

The amount of GST Credits you can receive depends on:

(i) The Annual Value (AV) of your home in 2007 if your NRIC address has not changed since 31 December 2007*; and

(ii) Your Assessable Income (AI) for the Year of Assessment preceding the year of payout (for example, your 2007 payout depends on your AI for Year of Assessment 2006, which is the income you earned in calendar year 2005 as assessed by IRAS); and

(iii) NS Status (All NSF/NSmen will be entitled to a once-off bonus of $100).

* If your NRIC address changes in 2008 or you newly qualify for these payouts (i.e. new citizen or newly turned 21) in 2009, the AV of your home in 2008 will be used to determine your 2009 payout.

As announced in Budget 2009, the Government will double the amount of GST Credits that Singaporeans will receive in 2009 to help them cope with living expenses during the current economic downturn. Singaporeans will receive the additional payout on 1 March 2009.

* Figures in brackets show the additional GST Credits to be paid out in March 2009. This was announced in Budget 2009.

+ If an individual has already received a payout in previous years, he will not receive the $100. NSFs/NSmen will receive the $100 in the year that they first qualify.

# If your NRIC address changes in 2008 or you newly qualify for these payouts (i.e. new citizen or newly turned 21) in 2009, the AV of your home in 2008 and AV cut-off of $6,000 and $11,000 will be used to determine your 2009 payout.

Can I donate my GST Credits/Senior Citizens' Bonus to a charity?

You can donate your GST Credits/Senior Citizens' Bonus to a charity of your choice.

If you have signed up for your GST Credits in 2007 and wish to donate your 2009 GST Credits/Senior Citizens' Bonus, you may do so from 15 February to 23 June 2009 at www.gstoffset.gov.sg.

Those who have not signed up for their GST Credits can donate their 2009 GST Credits when they sign up for their 2009 GST Credits.

Calendar of important dates for 2009

2009
From 13 February 2009	Singaporeans receive notification letters from the CPF Board informing them of their 2009 GST Credits and Senior Citizens' Bonus.
15 February 2009	Singaporeans who have not signed up in 2007 can start to sign up through the website and hard copy forms.
20 February 2009	Deadline to sign up using website and hardcopy forms to receive 1 March 2009 payout of GST Credits and Senior Citizens' Bonus.
1 March 2009	Singaporeans who signed up by the above deadline (or had signed up in earlier years) will receive their first payment of 2009 GST Credits and Senior Citizens' Bonus payout.
21 June 2009	Deadline to sign up using hard copy sign-up forms to receive 1 July 2009 payout of GST Credits and Senior Citizens' Bonus.
23 June 2009	Deadline to sign up using website to receive 1 July 2009 payout of GST Credits and Senior Citizens' Bonus.
1 July 2009	Singaporeans who signed up by the above deadlines (or had signed up in earlier years) will receive their second payment of 2009 GST Credits and Senior Citizens' Bonus payout.
31 December 2009	Last day to sign up for 2009 GST Credits and Senior Citizens' Bonus