Enterprise Innovation Scheme

Who qualifies

• Only sole-proprietorships, partnerships, companies (including registered business trusts), registered branches, and subsidiaries of a foreign parent or holding company are eligible for EIS enhanced deductions/allowances and cash payout.

What it funds

• R&D, product development, prototyping, IP
• Adopting digital tools, software, e-commerce, cybersecurity
• Employee training, upskilling, course fees

Costs covered: Third-party consultant or professional service fees; Hardware, machinery, IT equipment; IP registration and licensing costs; Course fees and trainer costs.

Maximum support: up to 20%.

The EIS cash-payout option converts qualifying expenditure into cash at a 20% conversion rate; separately, qualifying expenditure gets up to 400% enhanced tax deductions/allowances. AI adoption qualifies for 400% deductions in YA 2027 and YA 2028 but not cash conversion.

Recorded cap: S$20,000.

Cash payout is capped at S$100,000 of qualifying expenditure per YA converted at 20% (max S$20,000 cash); this cap does not apply to the enhanced tax-deduction option.

Payment: Delivered as a tax deduction, allowance or credit.

How to apply

File the relevant Income Tax Return, then use the Apply for EIS Cash Payout digital service after filing and before the filing due date for the relevant Year of Assessment; enhanced deductions and allowances are claimed in the Income Tax Return and recorded through the Submit EIS Enhanced Deduction/Allowance Records digital service.

The official page names the relevant digital services and Income Tax Return but does not name an upload-document list beyond the return itself.

1. Carry on an active business in Singapore and incur qualifying expenditure during the basis period of the qualifying Year of Assessment.
2. File the Income Tax Return for the relevant Year of Assessment before its statutory filing due date.
3. For EIS cash payout, e-file through the Apply for EIS Cash Payout digital service after filing the Income Tax Return and before the filing due date.
4. For enhanced deductions or allowances, submit details through the Submit EIS Enhanced Deduction/Allowance Records digital service and declare them in the Corporate Income Tax Return.

Before applying

• EIS cash payout applicants must incur at least $400 of qualifying expenditure during the relevant basis period.
• The business must make CPF contributions for at least 3 full-time local employees for at least 6 months during the basis period of the qualifying YA.
• Each counted employee must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident earning at least $1,400 gross monthly under a contract of service for at least 35 hours weekly; sole proprietors, partners and shareholder-directors are excluded.
• The business must remain active at cash-payout disbursement and must not have ceased business operations.
• The same expenditure cannot be used for both the cash payout and enhanced deductions or allowances.

Documents

• Income Tax Return — Must be filed before the EIS cash payout digital service becomes available and before the statutory filing due date.
• Research and Development (R&D) Claim Form (YA 2019 onwards) (if applicable) — Submit together with the EIS cash payout application if claiming qualifying R&D undertaken in Singapore.
• Instalment Arrangement Template for Acquisition of IPRs (if applicable) — Submit together with the EIS cash payout application if claiming acquisition of IPRs under an instalment agreement.

Processing time: Generally processed within 3 months after receiving the completed application online and all other supporting documents as may be requested.

Claiming support

Claim enhanced deductions or allowances in the Income Tax Return by the applicable filing due date, or submit the EIS cash payout application through the digital service after filing the Income Tax Return and before the filing due date.

18 Apr for Sole Proprietorships and Partnerships; 30 Nov for Companies.

Application window: The EIS is available for YA 2024 to YA 2028. Cash-payout filing due dates for the final YA2028 window are 18 Apr 2028 (sole proprietorships/partnerships) and 30 Nov 2028 (companies).

Closes: 2028-11-30