Question 1

What is the Enterprise Innovation Scheme (EIS)?

Accepted Answer

The Enterprise Innovation Scheme (EIS) is a Singapore government initiative that provides enhanced tax deductions of 400% or a non-taxable cash payout of up to $20,000 per year to businesses that invest in qualifying activities, including SSG-approved staff training. It is administered by IRAS and was introduced at Budget 2023.

Question 2

Who is eligible to claim EIS?

Accepted Answer

Any business that is registered and operating in Singapore can claim the 400% tax deduction. To qualify for the cash payout option, your business must additionally have at least 3 full-time local employees (Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents) who you have been contributing CPF to for at least 6 months.

Question 3

What is the difference between the tax deduction and the cash payout option?

Accepted Answer

The 400% tax deduction reduces your chargeable income, which lowers the amount of corporate tax you pay. The cash payout option gives you a direct 20% non-taxable cash refund on qualifying expenditure, capped at $20,000 per Year of Assessment. The cash payout is designed for businesses with little or no taxable income, such as early-stage companies or SMEs in a loss position. You must make an irrevocable election to choose the cash payout; you cannot switch back to the tax deduction for the same expenditure.

Question 4

Can I claim EIS if my company is not profitable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If your business has little or no taxable income, you can opt for the cash payout instead of the tax deduction. This makes EIS accessible even to startups and SMEs that are not yet generating significant profit.

Question 5

Can I claim the EIS cash payout if I don't have 3 local employees?

Accepted Answer

No. The minimum of 3 full-time local employees with at least 6 months of CPF contributions is a strict requirement for the cash payout option. However, you can still opt for the 400% enhanced tax deduction even if your business does not meet this headcount threshold.

Question 6

How much can I claim under EIS for training?

Accepted Answer

You can claim 400% tax deductions on qualifying training expenditure up to $400,000 per Year of Assessment. If you opt for the cash payout, you receive 20% of qualifying expenditure as a non-taxable cash refund, capped at $20,000 per year across all qualifying EIS activities combined.

Question 7

Can EIS be combined with other subsidies like SSG or SFEC?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and this is one of the most powerful aspects of EIS. You can first reduce your course fees using SSG subsidies and SFEC, and then claim EIS on the remaining net expenditure. This means your business can effectively benefit from multiple layers of government support for the same training investment.

Question 8

When and how do I submit my EIS claim?

Accepted Answer

You submit your EIS claim as part of your corporate income tax filing via IRAS myTax Portal using CorpPass. If you are opting for the cash payout, you must make the irrevocable election during the filing for the relevant Year of Assessment. IRAS will process and disburse the cash payout after your tax return is assessed.

Claim a 400% tax deduction or 20% cash payout with EIS

What is the Enterprise Innovation Scheme (EIS)?

What makes EIS different from other subsidies?

Who can claim EIS, and how to get the tax benefit

You're eligible if you

Have ready

How EIS pays

Then claim in 3 steps

Eligible courses for EIS Subsidy

Generative AI Course for Automation & Productivity

Building Harnesses for Reliable Generative AI Systems

Data Analytics with SQL & Tableau

Python Programming and Data Visualisation

Applied Machine Learning

Cybersecurity Essentials

Responsive Web Development

Digital Marketing with AI

FAQs on EIS

Have questions about EIS?

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Drop us an email

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Claim a 400% tax deduction or 20% cash payout with EIS

What is the Enterprise Innovation Scheme (EIS)?

What makes EIS different from other subsidies?

Who can claim EIS, and how to get the tax benefit

You're eligible if you

Have ready

How EIS pays

Then claim in 3 steps

Eligible courses for EIS Subsidy

Generative AI Course for Automation & Productivity

Building Harnesses for Reliable Generative AI Systems

Data Analytics with SQL & Tableau

Python Programming and Data Visualisation

Applied Machine Learning

Cybersecurity Essentials

Responsive Web Development

Digital Marketing with AI

FAQs on EIS

Have questions about EIS?

As featured on

Find the right course for you and your team

Drop us an email

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