Singapore Rental Property Income Tax Guide 2026

Renting out real estate properties or individual rooms in Singapore produces taxable income. Whether you own HDB flats, private condominiums, landed properties, or commercial real estate, understanding how the IRAS taxes rental income, allowable rental expenses, and the 15% deemed expense option is vital for landlords.

1. How Rental Income is Taxed in Singapore

Gross rental income includes basic rent, maintenance fee charges paid by tenants, and furniture/fittings rental fees. Net rental income is added to your other personal income and taxed at progressive resident rates (0% to 24%).

2. The 15% Deemed Expense Deduction Scheme

To simplify tax filing for residential landlords, IRAS permits individuals to claim a flat 15% deemed expense deduction based on gross rental income, plus actual interest paid on housing loans secured for the property:

3. Claiming Actual Rental Expenses

If actual maintenance expenses exceed 15%, landlords can opt to claim actual allowable expenses instead of the 15% flat deduction. Allowable expenses include property tax paid, fire insurance premiums, agent commission fees for tenant renewal, and repair expenses incurred during tenancy.

4. Room Rental Income Rules (HDB & Private)

Renting out spare bedrooms in HDB flats or private apartments generates taxable income. Landlords must declare room rental receipts on their annual personal income tax return.

5. Rental Income Tax vs Property Tax

It is important to distinguish between Income Tax on Rental Income (tax on net profit derived from renting) and Property Tax (an annual wealth tax levied on property ownership based on Annual Value). Property buyers can compute acquisition stamp duty using our Singapore Stamp Duty Calculator.

6. Frequently Asked Questions