Industry guides
Tax Internships in Singapore
Tax internships in Singapore span corporate tax, GST, transfer pricing, and personal tax at Big 4 firms and IRAS. This guide covers the types of tax work available to interns, CTA qualification, and typical pay of SGD 1,200–2,000/month.
Tax Internships in Singapore
Tax internships in Singapore offer a surprisingly diverse range of technical work — from corporate income tax compliance and GST returns to transfer pricing documentation and international tax advisory. Singapore's status as a low-tax jurisdiction with an extensive double tax treaty network makes it a significant centre for international tax work.
Singapore's Tax Landscape
| Tax Type | Governing Body | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate Income Tax | IRAS | 17% headline rate; effective rates often lower via incentives |
| Goods & Services Tax (GST) | IRAS | 9% (raised from 8% in 2024) |
| Personal Income Tax | IRAS | Progressive 0–24% |
| Withholding Tax | IRAS | Applied to certain cross-border payments |
| Transfer Pricing | IRAS | OECD guidelines adopted; TP documentation mandatory for related-party transactions |
| Stamp Duty | IRAS | Buyer's Stamp Duty (BSD) + Additional BSD (ABSD) for property |
| Customs / GST at import | Singapore Customs | Dutiable goods, import GST |
Types of Tax Work Available to Interns
| Sub-Division | What You Do |
|---|---|
| Corporate Tax Compliance | Prepare tax computations for company clients, file ECI/tax returns |
| GST | Register clients for GST, prepare returns, handle IRAS queries |
| Transfer Pricing | Prepare TP documentation (benchmarking studies, master file, local file) |
| International Tax | Tax structuring for cross-border investments, double tax treaty analysis |
| Tax Advisory | Research opinions on specific tax issues, draft advice memos |
| M&A Tax | Due diligence, tax structuring for deals |
| Personal Tax | Expatriate tax compliance, equity award taxation |
Top Tax Employers
Big 4 Tax Practices
| Firm | Tax Strengths | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Deloitte Tax | TP, international tax, financial services tax | SGD 1,500–2,000 |
| EY Tax | Corporate tax, GST, TP | SGD 1,500–2,000 |
| KPMG Tax | Financial services, TP, corporate tax | SGD 1,400–1,900 |
| PwC Tax | Corporate tax, GST, M&A tax | SGD 1,500–2,000 |
Mid-Tier Tax Firms
| Firm | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|
| BDO Singapore Tax | SGD 1,200–1,600 |
| Baker Tilly Tax | SGD 1,100–1,500 |
| RSM Tax | SGD 1,100–1,500 |
| Crowe Singapore | SGD 1,000–1,400 |
Government — IRAS
| Role | Details | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|---|
| IRAS Internship | Policy, compliance, data analytics | SGD 1,200–1,800 |
| IRAS Policy Division | Tax policy research, legislative drafting support | SGD 1,200–1,800 |
IRAS internships are highly educational — you see tax from the regulator's perspective, which is invaluable for a future in tax advisory.
CTA — Chartered Tax Adviser
The Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification is administered by the Tax Academy of Singapore (TAS) in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT):
- SCTP (Singapore Chartered Tax Professional): Local Singapore tax qualification
- CTA: International qualification recognised by CIOT
For interns, simply knowing these qualifications exist and understanding their relevance signals genuine career interest in tax.
What Tax Interns Actually Learn
Corporate Tax Compliance (Most Common)
- Prepare tax computations: Start from accounting profit, make tax adjustments (add backs, deductions)
- Understand capital allowances, writing-down allowances (WDA)
- File Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) — due within 3 months of financial year end
- Handle IRAS notices and queries
GST
- Prepare quarterly GST returns (Output tax less Input tax)
- Apply GST rules to specific transactions (mixed supplies, exempt supplies)
- Manage IRAS GST audits
Transfer Pricing
- Compile related-party transactions summary
- Apply arm's length principle
- Prepare benchmarking analysis using Bureau van Dijk (Orbis) database
- Draft local file documentation to IRAS TP guidelines
Salary Benchmarks
| Firm | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|
| Big 4 | SGD 1,400–2,000 |
| Mid-tier | SGD 1,000–1,600 |
| IRAS | SGD 1,200–1,800 |
| Boutique tax firms | SGD 800–1,200 |
Application Tips
- Big 4 tax vs audit: Tax internships are less competitive to get than audit internships at Big 4 (smaller intake, fewer applicants) — this makes them a strategic choice for accounting students who want Big 4 experience
- IRAS internship is excellent for students interested in tax policy or who plan to work in the public sector — apply through careers.gov.sg by March
- Transfer pricing is growing fastest: TP documentation requirements have expanded; students who understand OECD TP guidelines have a strong value proposition
- Tax Advisory divisions at Big 4 work on more interesting projects than compliance divisions — if you have the grades, express preference for advisory in your interview
- Cross-subject knowledge matters: A tax internship combined with understanding of corporate finance (how M&A deals are structured) makes you a much more useful intern for M&A tax teams
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