Over 3,000 taxpayers made false claims for employment expenses; IRAS warns of misleading messages

IRAS said that taxpayers with valid, accurate and verifiable claims do not need to worry that their claims will be rejected.

PHOTO: INLAND REVENUE AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE

Published Oct 21, 2026, 11:06 PM

Updated Oct 21, 2026, 11:06 PM

SINGAPORE – More than 3,000 taxpayers have made false claims for employment expenses, said the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS), which added that it is aware that misleading messages on how to reduce income tax have been circulating.

In a statement on Oct 21 , IRAS said it had identified the taxpayers through ongoing compliance reviews.

In the messages that were being circulated, taxpayers were encouraged to make false claims for employment expenses that were not incurred or incorrect claims for expenses that are not allowable as tax deductions.

Employment expenses are those that are incurred in the course of carrying out one’s work. Some of these expenses may be deducted from employment income, which reduces the amount that is subject to tax.

The authority advised taxpayers that they should not rely on misleading information.

Instead, they should ensure that the claims made in their tax returns are valid, accurate and properly substantiated, it said.

Those whose claims require further review will be contacted to verify the accuracy of their claims and to provide supporting documentation, IRAS said, adding that unsupported claims will not be allowed.

Taxpayers with valid, accurate and verifiable claims do not need to worry that their claims will be rejected, it added.

In its statement, IRAS reminded taxpayers that only qualifying employment expenses are tax-deductible.

These expenses must be i ncurred while carrying out official duties, must not be reimbursed by the employer and must be supported by proper records.

Employment expenses that are not tax-deductible include:

Personal meals, housing rent, subscription fees and phone bills;

Public transport expenses between work and home;

Private car expenses, even if the car is used for work purposes; and

Buying electronic devices, such as mobile phones and computers, for work purposes.

Taxpayers should also keep relevant supporting documents, such as receipts and invoices, to substantiate their claims, IRAS said.

Claims based on estimates are not acceptable, it said.

The authority said that those who have made incorrect or unsupported employment expense claims should amend or withdraw their claims through the Amend Tax Bill digital service.

If they are not able to do so, they can submit their request to withdraw the claims through an online form or contact IRAS through live chat.

Anyone found to have made false, incorrect or unsupported claims could face additional tax and penalties of up to three times the tax undercharged.

Those charged in court could also be jailed for up to three years, fined up to $10,000, or both .

IRAS urged taxpayers not to rely on unverified tax advice circulating online or from unofficial sources.

Members of the public are also advised not to create, circulate or act on information that encourages false claims, the authority said.

新加坡税务局表示，拥有有效、准确和可核实申报材料的纳税人无需担心其申报会被驳回。

图片来源：新加坡税务局

发布于 2026 年 10 月 21 日晚上 11:06

更新于2026年10月21日晚上11:06

新加坡——新加坡税务局（IRAS）表示，超过3000名纳税人虚报就业支出，并补充说，他们已经注意到有关如何减少所得税的误导性信息正在流传。

新加坡税务局在10月21日发表声明称，已通过持续的合规审查确定了这些纳税人。

在流传的信息中，纳税人被鼓励虚报未发生的就业支出，或虚报不符合税收抵扣条件的支出。

就业支出是指在履行工作职责过程中产生的费用。其中一些支出可以从就业收入中扣除，从而减少应纳税额。

税务部门建议纳税人不要轻信误导性信息。

相反，他们应该确保纳税申报表中所作的申报是有效、准确且有充分证据支持的。

新加坡税务局表示，对于需要进一步审查的索赔申请，税务局将联系申请人以核实其索赔的准确性并提供支持文件，并补充说，没有证明文件的索赔申请将不被允许。

声明还补充说，拥有有效、准确和可核实申报材料的纳税人无需担心他们的申报会被驳回。

新加坡税务局在声明中提醒纳税人，只有符合条件的雇佣支出才能享受税收减免。

这些费用必须是在履行公务期间发生的，不得由雇主报销，并且必须有适当的记录证明。

不可抵扣税款的雇佣支出包括：

个人餐费、住房租金、订阅费和电话费；

往返工作地点和家之间的公共交通费用；

即使车辆用于工作目的，也需支付私家车费用；

购买电子设备，例如手机和电脑，用于工作用途。

新加坡税务局表示，纳税人还应保留相关的证明文件，例如收据和发票，以证实其申报内容。

声明称，基于估算的说法是不可接受的。

该部门表示，那些提交了不正确或无依据的就业费用申报的人应该通过修改税单数字服务修改或撤回他们的申报。

如果他们无法做到这一点，他们可以通过在线表格提交撤回索赔的请求，或者通过在线聊天联系新加坡税务局。

任何被发现做出虚假、不正确或无根据的申报的人，都可能面临额外税款和罚款，最高可达少缴税款的三倍。

被控告者最高可被判处三年监禁，或处以最高 1 万美元的罚款，或两者并罚。

新加坡税务局敦促纳税人不要依赖网上或非官方渠道流传的未经核实的税务建议。

该机构还建议公众不要制造、传播或根据鼓励虚假声明的信息采取行动。