How to donate to charity in Singapore and claim tax relief

1. Check it is an IPC

An IPC (Institution of a Public Character) is a registered charity approved to issue tax-deductible receipts. Only IPCs can issue them, so gifts to charities without IPC status get no tax deduction.

To check a charity, search for it on the Charity Portal (opens in a new tab). Its record shows its IPC status and IPC period; look for a status of Live and a period that has not ended.

Every one of the 309 charities on Block 220 was checked against the Charity Portal’s IPC list, most recently on 12 Nov 2026, and a charity drops off the site when its recorded IPC period ends.

2. Claim the tax deduction

A qualifying donation to an IPC earns a tax deduction of 2.5 times the amount (250%). Give $100 and $250 comes off the income you are taxed on.

1. Give your NRIC or FIN to the charity when you donate. The charity reports your gift to IRAS, and the deduction appears in your tax assessment on its own. You do not declare it, and IRAS does not accept claims from receipts.
2. Give by 31 December 2026. Gifts made in 2026 count for the Year of Assessment 2027.
3. Look for “Tax Deductible” on your receipt; IPCs print it on receipts for qualifying gifts.

The 250% rate applies to gifts made up to 31 December 2026. Budget 2026 proposes keeping it until 31 December 2029; that was a proposal (opens in a new tab) when this page was checked, not yet law.

Common questions

Is it a tax rebate?

No, it is a deduction. It lowers your income before personal reliefs are taken off, so what you save depends on your tax rate, not the full 250%.

Is there a cap?

The $80,000 cap on personal income tax reliefs does not apply, because the donation deduction is not a relief (MOF (opens in a new tab)). If the deduction is more than your income, the unused part for local causes carries forward for up to five years.

Can I give anonymously?

Yes. Without your NRIC or FIN there is no deduction, but if you change your mind later, give your tax reference number to the charity and it will resubmit your gift to IRAS.

What counts as a qualifying donation?

Cash gifts to an IPC for local causes are the usual case; some gifts of shares, artefacts and property also qualify. Gifts of everyday goods do not, nor does money given in exchange for something, such as a purchase. A gift with a benefit attached, like a charity dinner ticket, has its own rules; see IRAS (opens in a new tab).

3. Avoid charity scams

The Commissioner of Charities asks donors to Better Ask, Better Check, Give Better:

• Ask how your donation will be used and who it helps.
• Check the organisation on the Charity Portal, scan the QR code on a collector’s appeal letter, SMS “FR” and the organisation’s name to 79777, or call the Charities Unit on 6337 6597.
• Give on the charity’s own website or its page on a known giving platform, and never feel pressured. Report concerns to mccy_charities@mccy.gov.sg, and file a police report if you suspect a scam.

Block 220 links only to each charity’s own donation page or its profile on Giving.sg or Give.asia, and takes no money. More on Safer Giving (opens in a new tab).

IPC charities by cause

Choose a cause to see its IPC charities, A to Z, each with its IPC end date and a link to donate.

• Children's charities in Singapore to donate to
• Charities helping families in need in Singapore
• Elderly charities in Singapore to donate to
• Disability and special needs charities in Singapore
• Mental health charities in Singapore to donate to
• Cancer, hospice and illness charities in Singapore
• Ex-offender, recovery and homeless charities in Singapore
• Migrant worker charities in Singapore to donate to
• Animal shelter and rescue charities in Singapore