The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has published a guidance page on 20 February 2026 for GST-registered companies under liquidation. It explains the GST obligations of both companies and liquidators, covering filing responsibilities, asset disposals, expense claims, payment procedures, GST registration cancellation, and the use of Corppass for managing digital services.
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has issued a new guidance page titled GST Registered Companies Under Liquidation on 20 February 2026, designed to assist both GST-registered companies and their liquidators in understanding the GST obligations that arise during the liquidation process. The guidance outlines the key requirements and also includes examples and FAQs for reference.
It outlines the regulatory framework and administrative procedures for Singaporean companies undergoing liquidation, specifically regarding their GST obligations. It clarifies the division of responsibilities between the insolvent company and the appointed liquidator, who must manage digital access via Corppass and ensure timely tax filing. The documentation details how to account for business expenses, the disposal of assets, and the specific duties of third parties recovering debts. Furthermore, it provides a timeline for canceling GST registration once a business ceases to operate and highlights the necessity of retaining records for five years. Finally, the source offers practical guidance through FAQs and links to various digital services maintained by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore.
When a company enters liquidation, specific GST obligations apply to both the company and its liquidator, who must manage correct filing, payment, and record-keeping throughout the process. Once a liquidator’s appointment is filed with ACRA via BizFile, IRAS is automatically updated, but the liquidator must still set up Corppass access to manage digital services for the company.
Filing and accounting obligations
The responsibility for filing GST returns is divided based on the date of liquidation:
- The Company: Must file returns for accounting periods up to one day before the liquidation date. These are due within one month of the liquidation date.
- The Liquidator: Must file returns for all accounting periods starting from the date of liquidation. These are due within one month after the end of each respective accounting period. Upon the completion of liquidation, the liquidator is further required to check the myTax Portal to ensure all taxes are paid and must retain all records for five years following the company’s dissolution.
Handling expenses and assets
- Winding-up expenses: Liquidators can claim input tax on expenses like legal or liquidation fees if they are directly attributable to taxable supplies. If expenses relate to both taxable and exempt supplies, the input tax must be apportioned.
- Asset Disposals: The liquidator is responsible for accounting for GST on any business assets sold, transferred, or given away.
- Third-Party Recoveries: If a third party (such as a mortgagee) sells the company’s assets to recover debts, that third party must charge and pay GST to IRAS within 21 days. The liquidator does not account for this specific GST in the company’s return.
Payments and GIRO management
The company must settle outstanding taxes incurred prior to liquidation and manually terminate any existing GIRO arrangements with its bank. The liquidator is responsible for taxes arising from the date of liquidation and may apply for a new GIRO arrangement. However, any outstanding pre-liquidation taxes should be settled before the liquidator applies for GIRO to avoid having those debts deducted from the liquidator’s bank account.
Cancellation of GST registration
The liquidator must apply to cancel GST registration within 30 days of the business ceasing. Once IRAS approves the cancellation, the liquidator must:
- File a final GST F8 return and any other outstanding returns.
- Account for output tax on business assets held on the last day of registration if their total open market value exceeds SGD 10,000 and input tax was previously claimed on them.
Administrative access (Corppass)
To manage these filings, liquidators must be assigned the “GST (Payment)” and “GST (Filing and Applications)” roles in Corppass. If the company already has the maximum of two Corppass Admins (CPAs), at least one must be terminated before the liquidator can register as a new CPA to grant themselves or their firm the necessary access. Individual liquidators not associated with a firm who lack Corppass access must contact IRAS directly via myTax Mail for assistance.
