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March 3, 2021 Singapore updates guidance on tax residence status and determination of a permanent establishment due to COVID-19 Executive summary The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) updated its COVID-19 Support Measures and Tax Guidance on 29 January 2021. In this update, the application period for tax residence status and permanent establishment (PE) is extended. In addition, guidance is provided on the interpretation of the provisions of Singapore’s Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs), and determining whether the PE threshold for building sites, construction, installation and assembly projects has been satisfied. This Alert summarizes the guidance issued by the IRAS to date for companies. Detailed discussion Tax residence of a company The IRAS is prepared to consider a company as a Singapore tax resident for the Year of Assessment (YA) 2021 and/or YA 20221 where the company is not able to hold its board of directors meeting2 in Singapore due to the travel restrictions relating to COVID-19, provided it meets all the following conditions:
Conversely, IRAS will consider a company as a nonresident for YA 2021 and/or YA 2022, provided it meets all the following conditions:
Permanent establishment of a foreign company The IRAS will consider that the presence of a foreign company’s employees remaining in Singapore due to travel restrictions relating to COVID-19 does not result in the creation of a PE in Singapore for the foreign company for YA 2021 and/or YA 2022 (see endnote 1), provided it meets all the following conditions:
To support the tax residence status and the position that there is no PE in Singapore, companies should keep relevant documentation and records and provide such information to the IRAS upon request. Interpretation of the provisions of Singapore’s Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs) For the interpretation of the provisions of Singapore’s DTAs, the IRAS has indicated that references may be made to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Secretariat analysis and guidance of tax treaties and the impact of the COVID-19 crisis published on 3 April 20205 and on 21 January 2021.6 Determining whether the PE threshold for building sites, construction, installation and assembly projects has been satisfied The IRAS has decided to “stop the clock” for determining whether the construction PE threshold has been exceeded during certain periods where operations are suspended as a public health measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Specifically, the IRAS will not count the 122 days during the lock-down period from 7 April 2020 to 6 August 2020, provided that the nonresident enterprise meets all the following conditions:
Implications The updated tax guidance is a positive development and will provide certainty and clarity for businesses on tax residency and PE matters, especially since the previous guidance was only applicable for the relevant period up to 31 December 2020. Foreign enterprises that created a PE in 2020 arising from construction contracts in Singapore should review whether they are entitled to exclude the period from 7 April 2020 to 6 August 2020 in computing their PE threshold. To the extent that this results in a no PE assessment, they should seek a refund of the withholding tax paid. It is crucial that companies maintain relevant documentation and records to support their claims relating to their tax residence or PE matters, and to provide them to the IRAS upon request. As the COVID-19 situation is constantly evolving, companies should continue to monitor this topic for any updated guidance issued by the IRAS. _________________________________________ For additional information with respect to this Alert, please contact the following: Ernst & Young Solutions LLP, International Tax and Transaction Services – International Corporate Tax Advisory, Singapore
Ernst & Young LLP (United States), Singapore Tax Desk, Chicago
Ernst & Young LLP (United States), Asia Pacific Business Group, New York
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