Employees contribute up to 20% of their salary to their CPF accounts. In addition, they also receive up to 17% of their salaries in employer’s CPF contributions. This is how companies here play their part in building a safety net for Singapore workers in their old age.
It is also the responsibility of employers to pay both the employer’s CPF contribution and the employee’s CPF contribution. Employers are supposed to recover the employee’s share of CPF contributions from the month’s wages before paying it out.
From 1 January 2022 onwards, employers will have to make more CPF contributions for their older employees. Older employees themselves will also have to make more employee CPF contributions too. Employers will receive a CPF Offset Transition package that will offset half of their additional cost.
From now till 2030, the government also intends to progressively bring CPF contributions for older workers to a higher level.
Which Employees Are Entitled To CPF Contributions?
CPF Contributions are required for all full-time, part-time, casual, or temporary employees who are:
- Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents
- Earning more than $50 in a month
- Engaged under a contract of service
How Much Do Companies In Singapore Have To Contribute To Their Employees’ CPF Accounts?
Singapore companies contribute up to 17% of their employees’ monthly salary to their CPF accounts. This will vary depending on an employee’s age.
The amount of salary that requires CPF contributions is also capped at the first $6,000 on their monthly salary. However, this will increase to the first $8,000 by 1 January 2026. Announced in the Singapore Budget 2023, the increases in the CPF monthly contribution ceiling will be introduced in phases.
1 September 2023: First $6,300
1 January 2024: First $6,800
1 January 2025: First $7,400
1 January 2026: First $8,000
While the employer’s CPF contributions are uniform, the employee CPF contributions vary for those who earn $750 and more, and those earning more than $50 to $500 and above $500 to $750. We flash the numbers out in the tables below for greater clarity.
For employees earning $750 or more a month
| Employee’s Age | Employer’s CPF Contribution (% Of Wage) | Employee’s CPF Contribution (% Of Wage) | Total CPF Contributions(% Of Wage) |
| 55 and below | 17 | 20 | 37 |
| Above 55 to 60 | 14.5 | 15 | 29.5 |
| Above 60 to 65 | 11 | 9.5 | 20.5 |
| Above 65 to 70 | 8.5 | 7 | 15.5 |
| Above 70 | 7.5 | 5 | 12.5 |
From the table above, we can see that two employees who earn the same amount can receive different CPF contributions based on their age. Both the employer’s CPF contributions and the employee’s CPF contributions reduce with age.
With lower employer’s CPF contributions, older employees are less costly for employers, making them more competitive in the jobs market. At the same time, lower employee’s CPF contributions also allow older employees to take home more of their salary in cash.
For employees earning under $750:
| Employee’s Age | Monthly Wages | Employer’s CPF Contribution (% Of Wage) | Employee’s CPF Contribution |
| 55 and below | >$50 to >$500 | 17% | Nil |
| >$500 to >$750 | 17% | 0.6 x (Total Wage – $500) | |
| Above 55 to 60 | >$50 to >$500 | 14.5% | Nil |
| >$500 to >$750 | 14.5% | 0.45 x (Total Wage – $500) | |
| Above 60 to 65 | >$50 to >$500 | 11% | Nil |
| >$500 to >$750 | 11% | 0.285 x (Total Wage – $500) | |
| Above 65 to 70 | >$50 to >$500 | 8.5% | Nil |
| >$500 to >$750 | 8.5% | 0.21 x (Total Wage – $500) | |
| Above 70 | >$50 to >$500 | 7.5% | Nil |
| >$500 to >$750 | 7.5% | 0.15 x (Total Wage – $500) |
The employer’s CPF contribution remains the same regardless of how much an employee earns. The employee CPF contributions differ though, with those who earn under $500 paying nothing, while those who earn more than $500 to under $750 contributing a smaller portion. This is to help low-wage workers get higher take-home pay.
For employees who earn under $50 a month, there is no employer’s CPF contributions or employee’s CPF contribution required.
Besides CPF contributions on monthly Ordinary Wages (OW), employers also have to pay CPF contributions on an employee’s Additional Wage (AW).
CPF Contributions For Additional Wages (AW) In The Year
Employers cannot apply the Ordinary Wage (OW) ceiling on Additional Wages (AW) on the months that it is paid out – even if they bring the total salary payment to over $6,000 during the month.
Additional Wages include payments such as annual bonuses or leave pay, that are not paid based on an employee’s performance in the specific month. Employees are entitled to the employer’s CPF contributions and have to make their respective employee’s CPF contributions on their entire Additional Wages, subject to a cap.
The cap on Additional Wages is ($102,000 – Ordinary Wages subject to CPF contributions for the year).
Let’s take the example of a 40-year-old employee who earns $9,000 a month (Ordinary Wage) and receives a two-month bonus of $18,000 at the end of the year (Additional Wage). While his Ordinary Wage is $108,000 a year, only $72,000 ($6,000 X 12) will be subject to the monthly employer’s CPF contributions and employee’s CPF contributions.
Using the formula above, he has an AW cap of $30,000 ($102,000 – $72,000). This means that his entire $18,000 bonus will be subject to Employer’s CPF contributions and Employee’s CPF Contributions.
CPF Contributions For Permanent Residents (PRs)
CPF contributions for employees who are PRs are the same as for Singaporeans. The only difference is in the first two years when an employee obtains their PR status, both employers and employees pay a lower CPF contribution rate.
There is also no higher contribution rates for PR employees who are aged 65 and above.
For employees who are 1st and 2nd year PRs, earning $750 or more a month:
| Singapore PR Employee’s Age | Employer’s Contribution (% Of Wage) | Employee’s Contribution (% Of Wage) | |
| 55 and below | 1st-year PRs | 4 | 5 |
| 2nd-year PRs | 9 | 15 | |
| Above 55 to 60 | 1st-year PRs | 4 | 5 |
| 2nd-year PRs | 6 | 12.5 | |
| Above 60 to 65 | 1st-year PRs | 3.5 | 5 |
| 2nd-year PRs | 3.5 | 7.5 | |
| Above 65 to 70 | 1st-year PRs | 3.5 | 5 |
| 2nd-year PRs | 3.5 | 5 | |
| Above 70 | 1st-year PRs | 3.5 | 5 |
| 2nd-year PRs | 3.5 | 5 |
Similar to Singaporeans, PRs who earn under $50 do not receive any CPF contributions, while those who earn above $50 to under $750 receive the same employer’s CPF contributions, but lower employee’s CPF contributions.
Employers have the option to make full CPF contributions for the PR employees if they choose to do so.
Once the PR employee becomes a 3rd year PR, full CPF contributions – similar to a Singapore Citizen employee – must be paid.
Read Also: Do You Need To Pay CPF For Your Singapore Employees Based Overseas?
How To Make CPF Contributions For Employees In Singapore?
Employers are encouraged to make CPF contributions via the CPF [email protected] portal, using their SingPass/CorpPass. Auto-computations of CPF contributions for employers’ and employee’s share, as well as contribution amounts based on changes in employees’ age group and residential status.
Auto-computations of Skills Development Levy (SDL) and contributions to Self-Help Groups (SHG) are provided.
Read Also: Skills Development Levy (SDL): What Is It And How Much Do Companies Need To Pay?
Employers can make payment via Direct Debit, Standing Instructions, eNETS, cheques or Diners Club card / NETS at any AXS Stations.
When Is The Due Date For Companies To Pay CPF Contributions For Their Employees?
The due date for CPF contributions is on the last day of the calendar month. However, employers have until the 14th of the following month (or the next working day if the 14th falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Public Holiday) to make payment. Failure to do so may lead to enforcement actions, including a late payment interest charged at 1.5% per month (subject to a minimum of $5) from the due date.
While the due date is on the 14th of the following month, for employers who make late payment, the interest charged will be from the 1st of the month. For example, if you pay CPF contributions on the 15th of the following month, you will have to pay the 1.5% interest payment for 15 days rather than only for the one day you were late.
CPF Contributions For Employees On National Service (NS)
For employees who are called up to National Service, employers need to continue paying their full salary, including the employer’s CPF contributions and the employee’s CPF contributions. While companies can claim the make-up pay from MINDEF/SPF/SCDF, it will only be for the employee’s salary (including employee CPF contributions). Employers have to continue bearing the full employer’s share of CPF contribution.
Read Also: How Much Can Employers Claim When Their NSmen Employees Go For In-Camp Training (ICT)
Common Mistakes For CPF Contributions On Allowances, Commissions, Incentives And Overtime Pay
The CPF Board highlights these payment types as common mistakes employers make in calculating CPF contributions.
For allowances that constitute an employee’s wage, CPF contributions are payable. This may include a monthly transport or mobile phone allowance. However, CPF contributions are not payable for costs on a reimbursement basis for work purposes.
Similarly, CPF contributions are payable for commissions, incentives and overtime pay that are given to employees due to work done in the month. They should also be classified as Ordinary Wages rather than Additional Wages.
Read Also: 10 Types Of Employee Payments (Apart From Salary) That Businesses Need To Pay CPF For
CPF Contributions For Retrenchment Benefits
CPF contributions are not payable for termination benefits for retrenchment or loss of future employment. However, CPF contributions are required for temporary lay-off benefits.
Read Also: Retrenchment Benefits: Do Employees Have To Pay Tax And CPF On Them
What Happens If The Employer Has Overpaid CPF Contributions?
For employers that realise they have overpaid CPF contributions and want a refund, we have to apply to the CPF Board to adjust the excess CPF contributions paid. Applications must be made within one year of the payment, otherwise it cannot be adjusted. We cannot simply deduct it from an employee’s salary in the following month.
What Happens If The Employer Does Not Pay CPF?
Employers are required to pay all outstanding CPF contributions. Upon detection of late payment or non-payment of CPF contributions, CPF will send companies a notice by registered post informing them that legal action will be taken.
Interest on late payment (subject to a minimum of $5) and a composition amount may be imposed on defaulting employers.
If employers still do not pay, they will be taken to court. The court will order them to pay the CPF contributions, interest as well as a court fine and/or be sentenced to imprisonment.
If employers still do not pay, a warrant will be issued to seize and sell employers’ assets. Bankruptcy or winding up proceedings may be instituted as a last resort. The penalty for employers convicted of late payment offence:
- Up to $5,000 court fine and no less than $1,000 per offence and/or up to 6 months imprisonment for 1st conviction
- Up to $10,000 court fine and no less than $2,000 per offence and/or up to 12 months imprisonment for subsequent convictions
Employers who have recovered the employee’s share of CPF contributions but fail to pay the contributions to the CPF Board may be fined up to $10,000 and/or up to 7 years’ imprisonment.
This article was first published on 15 March 2021 and has been updated with the latest information.
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