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Sitecore Context Id: 6b8c24b8-eadc-40a0-b1b8-9d21f9039732;
NTUC and its Freelancers and Self-Employed Unit (U FSE) will be assisting the Ministry of Manpower to administer applications and appeals for the Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme (SIRS).
Singaporean Self-Employed Person (SEPs) who are aged 37 and above as at 31 December 2020 and meet all the eligibility criteria and have filed their net trade income (NTI) with Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) / CPF Board (CPFB) for Work Year 2018 will automatically receive SIRS. They will be notified by SMS and letter from CPFB and automatically receive their first payout in end-May 2020. There is no need for this group of SEPs to apply. Around 100,000 SEPs are expected to automatically receive SIRS.
The following groups are eligible for SIRS but will not automatically receive their payouts. They will need to apply to NTUC from 27 April 2020 onwards:
i. Meet all the eligibility criteria and are aged 37 (as at 31 Dec 2020) and above but did not declare Net Trade Income for work year 2018; or
ii. Meet all the eligibility criteria but are aged 21 to 36 (as at 31 Dec 2020)
SEPs who have marginally missed one of the eligibility criteria AND are facing difficult circumstances now can also submit an application to NTUC for consideration.
SEPs submitting applications to NTUC must file their tax returns for income earned between 1 January and 31 December 2019 beforehand. They should also ensure that they have a valid SingPass login for ease of application. All applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
SEPs: CHECK. PREPARE. APPLY
STEP 1. CHECK
Use the Online Eligibility Checker
SEPs may use the online eligibility checker at
https://www.ntuc.com.sg/SIRS to check their eligibility, if they will receive the payout automatically, or if they need to apply.
If they have further enquiries, they can also make use of the NTUC SIRS hotline (+65 6713 5777) and Virtual Assistant which have been in operation since 22 April 2020. These will operate from Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm. Alternatively, they may email NTUC at SIRS@ntuc.org.sg
STEP 2. PREPARE
Prepare Supporting Documents
SEPs must ensure that they have done the following prior to applying:
i. Filed their tax returns for income earned from 1 January to 31 December 2019. (The tax filing deadline has been extended to 31 May 2020, as announced by IRAS on 4 April 2020.)
ii. Ensure they have a valid SingPass login.
They will also have to prepare the following documents to support their applications:
i. If you are an SEP before 1 January 2020:
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Annual Net Trade Income in Year of Assessment (YA) 2020
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Documents required
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Less than $6,000
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Copy of acknowledgement after submitting IRAS Form 144 for Work Year 2019
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+
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Proof of income as an SEP from Jan to Mar 2020
e.g. contracts for service, tax invoices billed to service buyers or receipts issued for services
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Above $6,000
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Copy of your IRAS Notice of Assessment (NOA) or Consolidated Statement Form B for Work Year 2019
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ii. If you are an SEP from 1 January 2020 onward (but on or before 25 March 2020):
Proof of income from self-employment e.g. contracts for service, tax invoices billed to service buyers or receipts issued for services provided for period 1 Jan – 25 Mar 2020.
iii. If you are married:
Spouse’s IRAS Notice of Assessment/ Consolidated Statement Form B/ Consolidated Statement Form B1 for Year of Assessment 2020 and any income documents for Jan-Mar 2020 (e.g. pay slip, contract for service etc.).
iv. Other documents to show financial hardships (if any)
STEP 3. APPLY
If you will not be automatically receiving your payout, you can apply from 27 April 2020
Backend checks will be conducted to ensure that all information submitted is accurate. All SEPs will be notified about the outcome of their application within 30 days of their submission. Successful applicants will receive the payouts directly credited into applicants’ bank accounts.
As payments will be progressively made as and when applications are approved, SEPs do not have to rush to submit their applications.
NTUC affirms commitment to freelancers and self-employed persons
During these difficult times, NTUC, together with U FSE, remain committed in helping self-employed workers and will continue to support, engage, and reach out to them.
NTUC will do our best to process these applications and we are ramping up our efforts to help more SEPs like you, and SIRS is but one of several programmes that we have put in place. SEPs can also tap on the other assistance available such as our NTUC Care Fund (COVID-19) and the NTUC Training Fund (SEPs). The SEP community in Singapore is a growing proportion of our workforce and we hope more SEPs will join us in NTUC so that we can build a community helping fellow SEPs better their livelihoods
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