---
name: sg-zero-cgt
description: "Use this skill when asked about capital gains in Singapore. Trigger on: \"CGT Singapore\", \"capital gains Singapore\", \"sell shares Singapore\", \"Singapore no capital gains tax\", \"investment gains Singapore\", \"crypto tax Singapore\", \"Singapore property gains\", \"dispose assets Singapore\". Singapore has no capital gains tax — this skill confirms that and explains the trading income boundary."
license: "AGPL-3.0-or-later (code) / OpenAccountants Guide License v1.0 (content)"
metadata:
  source: openaccountants
  openaccountants_url: "https://www.openaccountants.com/skills/sg-zero-cgt"
  jurisdiction: "SG"
  tax_year: "2025"
  last_updated: "2026-07-13"
  review_status: "pending_review"
---

# SG Zero Cgt

## Section 1 — Quick Reference

**Section 1 — Quick Reference**

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Country | Singapore |
| Capital gains tax | **NONE** — Singapore does not levy CGT |
| Applicable to | Residents and non-residents |
| Key risk | Gains re-characterised as trading income |
| Primary legislation | Income Tax Act 1947, s.10(1) |
| Verified by | Pending — Singapore tax adviser sign-off required |

## Section 2 — Singapore Has No CGT

Singapore does **not** levy capital gains tax. Gains from the disposal of:
- Shares (Singapore or foreign companies)
- Real property
- Bonds and securities
- Crypto assets
- Business assets

…are **not subject to tax in Singapore**, provided they are capital in nature.

This applies to both residents and non-residents with Singapore assets.

- **No capital gains tax in Singapore** — Singapore does not levy capital gains tax; gains from disposal of shares, real property, bonds/securities, crypto assets, and business assets are not subject to tax in Singapore, provided they are capital in nature. Applies to both residents and non-residents with Singapore assets.  _(Income Tax Act 1947, s.10(1))_

## Section 3 — The Trading Income Boundary

The risk is that gains are re-characterised as **income from a trade**, which IS taxed under s.10(1)(a).

The IRAS applies the "badges of trade" to determine whether activity is trading:
- Frequency of transactions
- Similarity to the taxpayer's normal business
- Length of holding period
- Financing structure (leveraged purchases suggest trading)
- Whether the asset was modified/developed before sale

- **Trading income re-characterisation risk** — Gains may be re-characterised as income from a trade, which is taxed under s.10(1)(a).  _(Income Tax Act 1947, s.10(1)(a))_
- **Badges of trade** — Factors IRAS applies to determine whether activity is trading: frequency of transactions; similarity to the taxpayer's normal business; length of holding period; financing structure (leveraged purchases suggest trading); whether the asset was modified/developed before sale.  _(Income Tax Act 1947, s.10(1)(a))_

**IRAS treatment by scenario**

| Scenario | IRAS treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Long-term investor selling after years of holding | Capital — not taxed |
| Active trader buying/selling shares frequently | Trading income — taxed |
| Property developer selling units | Trading income — taxed |
| Passive investor selling investment property (long held) | Capital — generally not taxed |
| Frequent property flipping | Trading income — taxed |

## Section 4 — Specific Asset Classes

**Shares**: generally capital. IRAS has confirmed that gains from disposal of shares are not taxable for most investors. High-frequency share trading may be re-classified as trading income.

**Real property**: depends on facts. IRAS has a property disposal questionnaire. Generally, gains on investment property held long-term are not taxed. Developers' gains are trading income.

**Crypto assets**: IRAS guidance (2020) treats crypto as a digital payment token. Gains from long-term investment in crypto: generally not taxed. Crypto trading as a business: taxed.

- **Shares — treatment** — Shares are generally capital. IRAS has confirmed that gains from disposal of shares are not taxable for most investors. High-frequency share trading may be re-classified as trading income.  _(Income Tax Act 1947, s.10(1))_
- **Real property — treatment** — Depends on facts. IRAS has a property disposal questionnaire. Generally, gains on investment property held long-term are not taxed. Developers' gains are trading income.  _(Income Tax Act 1947, s.10(1))_
- **Crypto assets — treatment** — IRAS guidance (2020) treats crypto as a digital payment token. Gains from long-term investment in crypto: generally not taxed. Crypto trading as a business: taxed.  _(IRAS guidance (2020))_

## Section 5 — Sources

- Income Tax Act 1947, s.10(1)
- IRAS e-Tax Guide: Ascertainment of Income from the Business of Making Investments
- IRAS: iras.gov.sg/taxes/individual-income-tax/basics-of-individual-income-tax/what-is-taxable-what-is-not

> **Working paper only.** The trading vs capital distinction is fact-specific. High-frequency activity warrants specific advice.

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---

## Talk to a verified accountant

This guide is maintained by the OpenAccountants network — accountants who put
their name behind the tax answers AI gives people. The live, always-current
version (and the professional behind it) is at
[openaccountants.com](https://www.openaccountants.com).

- Use it in your AI: https://www.openaccountants.com/connect
- Meet the accountants: https://www.openaccountants.com/network

> **General reference only.** This document does not constitute tax, legal, or
> financial advice. Verify figures against the cited primary sources or with a
> licensed professional before relying on them.

## Today's figures and who stands behind this skill

This file is an AI skill (tax rules your AI follows) from OpenAccountants, copied on 2026-07-13. Rates, thresholds and deadlines change. For the current version of this skill, its official sources and the named accountant (if any) who stands behind it, call `get_skill` with slug `sg-zero-cgt` on the OpenAccountants connector (https://www.openaccountants.com/connect), or read https://www.openaccountants.com/skills/sg-zero-cgt. If neither is available, confirm every figure against the official source pages cited above before relying on it.
