- Cancel your GST registration within 30 days of ceasing taxable supplies, selling or transferring the business, or changing entity structure. Voluntary registrants can only deregister after two years.
- After cancellation, file a final GST return (Form F8), settle any outstanding GST, and account for output tax on business assets over S$10,000 where you previously claimed input tax.
- Keep all GST records for five years, even after the business closes, because IRAS can still audit past filings.
Knowing how to deregister for GST matters the moment your business winds down, changes structure, or stops crossing the S$1 million turnover mark. Cancellation is not automatic, and IRAS still expects a few things from you after you cancel: a final return, any outstanding tax, and records kept for years.
This guide walks you through it step by step, so you can deregister with confidence and avoid any hidden surprises down the road.
Inside, you’ll learn:
- When GST no longer applies to your business
- How to stop charging and reporting GST
- What to submit to IRAS and when
- What you still owe after cancelling
- What to keep in case of an audit
How do you deregister for GST in Singapore?
You must deregister for GST when your business stops making taxable supplies, and you may deregister voluntarily once your taxable turnover for the next 12 months is expected to stay at S$1 million or less. Either way, you apply to IRAS through myTax Portal, file a final GST return (Form F8), and account for GST on business assets you still hold at cancellation. Compulsory cancellations have to be lodged within 30 days of the triggering change. This is the reverse of GST registration; it reverses the eligibility test, so the eligibility test runs the other way.
The table below is the quick version. Each point is unpacked further down, alongside the IRAS rules on GST.
Deregistration at a glance | What applies |
|---|---|
When you must cancel | Within 30 days of ceasing taxable supplies, selling or transferring the business, or changing your entity structure |
When you may cancel voluntarily | When taxable turnover for the next 12 months is expected to be S$1 million or less (voluntary registrants must have been registered for at least two years) |
How you apply | Online via myTax Portal using Corppass: GST, then Cancel GST Registration |
What you do after approval | File a final GST return (Form F8), settle outstanding GST, and account for output tax on assets over S$10,000 where input tax was claimed |
What you keep | All GST records for five years from the last transaction |
In short: check whether cancellation is compulsory or voluntary, apply through myTax Portal, then close out the final return and your assets. The rest of this guide takes each step in turn.
When is GST deregistration compulsory, and when is it voluntary?
Whether you must cancel or simply may cancel depends on why your GST liability has changed. You are required to cancel within 30 days if your business has ceased, you have stopped making taxable supplies, you have sold or transferred the whole business, or you have changed entity structure, for example from a sole proprietorship to a Pte Ltd. If you close the company on ACRA Bizfile, you still cancel the GST registration separately with IRAS: the two are not linked.
Voluntary cancellation is your call. You can apply once you are no longer liable to be registered and you expect taxable turnover for the next 12 months to be S$1 million or less. One catch trips people up: if you first registered voluntarily, you must stay registered for at least two years before you can cancel. It also helps to know which supplies are GST-exempt, since those do not count towards the taxable turnover you are measuring.
Criteria | Compulsory deregistration | Voluntary deregistration |
|---|---|---|
Trigger | Ceased business, no more taxable supplies, business sold or transferred, or entity structure changed | Taxable turnover for the next 12 months expected to be S$1 million or less |
Timing | Notify IRAS within 30 days of the change | Any time you are no longer liable, but only after at least two years if you first registered voluntarily |
Your obligation | File a final return, settle outstanding GST, account for assets on hand | Same final-return duties once approved |
Risk if you get it wrong | Penalties and continued GST obligations for cancelling late | Forced re-registration if turnover climbs back above S$1 million |
Best for | Businesses closing, restructuring, or sold | Small or side businesses no longer benefiting from registration |
The practical read: compulsory cancellations are driven by a hard event and a 30-day clock, while voluntary cancellations are a judgement call about whether staying registered still earns its keep.
Check the Notices and Letters section of myTax Portal for your official cancellation date. Do not rely on email or post, and keep charging and filing GST until that effective date lands.
What is the GST deregistration process, step by step?
The application itself is short. Most of the friction comes from the forms and from not knowing what happens next. Here is the sequence.
- Log in to myTax Portal with your Corppass.
- Go to GST, then Apply for Cancellation of GST Registration.
- State your reason (ceased business, turnover drop) and your proposed effective date.
- Upload any supporting documents, for example profit and loss statements for a voluntary cancellation.
- Submit the application online.
- Wait for IRAS to process and confirm your effective cancellation date.
IRAS typically confirms within about 10 working days, though there is no fixed service standard published for deregistration. Until you receive the official notice, you must carry on charging GST and filing returns as normal.
Compulsory vs Voluntary GST deregistration
Different business situations trigger either mandatory or optional GST deregistration. Use the table below to check what applies to your case and how soon you need to act.
Criteria | Mandatory Deregistration | Voluntary Deregistration |
Taxable Supplies | Stopped completely | Still ongoing |
Turnover | Doesn’t matter | Below S$1 million |
GST-registered Period | Any duration | Must be ≥ 2 years (if voluntary registration) |
Example | Ceased business or transferred to another entity | Downsized business, voluntary registrant no longer benefitting |
Need a quick reference?
Download this side-by-side comparison of mandatory vs voluntary GST deregistration as an image for easy access or sharing.
What happens after GST deregistration is approved?
Once IRAS approves your cancellation, your business is no longer GST-registered, but you’re not done yet. There are a few final steps to complete to stay compliant.
1. Stop charging GST immediately
- Remove GST from your invoices, receipts, website, and product listings
- You must not issue tax invoices with GST after the effective cancellation date
- Update your accounting software (e.g., Xero, QuickBooks, etc.) to reflect non-GST status
Note: Charging GST after cancellation can lead to penalties or corrective filings.
2. File your final GST return (Form F8)
Once IRAS approves your cancellation, you must file a final GST return (Form F8) via the myTax Portal.
Timeline: You’ll need to submit this return within 1 month after the end of your final GST accounting period. For instance, if your effective cancellation date is 1 Jan 2026, your final GST return will cover the period up to 31 Dec 2025, i.e., the last day your business was GST-registered.
What to include in your final return:
- GST on business assets (e.g., unsold inventory, fixed assets, or goods held for business use on the date of cancellation), but only if you previously claimed input tax on them (or are deemed to have under schemes like MES). This only applies if the total value exceeds S$10,000.
Remember: These assets must be valued at their open market value on the last day of registration, not their original purchase price. - Any outstanding GST on supplies made before cancellation that haven’t yet been invoiced or paid.
- Adjustments for past GST filings, if needed.
3. Settle any outstanding GST
- Make sure any GST you still owe is paid on time
- IRAS may apply late payment penalties if payment is delayed
What records must you keep after deregistering for GST?
Yes, the paperwork outlives the registration. IRAS requires you to keep all GST-related records for five years from the date of the last transaction, even if the company has stopped operating, you have deregistered with ACRA, or you were a freelancer or sole proprietor winding down.
Keep the following:
- Filed GST returns, including your final Form F8.
- Tax invoices and receipts issued before deregistration.
- Records of sales, purchases, imports, and exports.
- Valuations of business assets and stock declared to IRAS.
Physical and digital formats are both fine as long as records are accurate, complete, and easily retrievable. This matters because IRAS can still audit past filings after cancellation, and missing records can lead to penalties. Staying tidy here is the same discipline as staying GST-compliant while registered.
When should you deregister, and what mistakes should you avoid?
Timing is where the real cost sits. Deregister too early, on the back of a quiet quarter or a seasonal dip, and you risk crossing S$1 million again and having to re-register. Deregister too late, after the business has clearly ceased, and you risk penalties for missing the 30-day window. Only cancel if turnover will likely stay below the threshold, not just during a slow patch. These are among the more expensive GST mistakes to avoid.
One point that is new for 2026: if you deregister and later cross S$1 million again, re-registering from April 2026 onwards means you must use InvoiceNow-ready (Peppol) accounting software to transmit invoice data to IRAS. Worth factoring in before you cancel a registration you may need back.
How Sleek helps with GST deregistration
GST deregistration looks like a single checkbox, but a missed step can mean IRAS penalties, a rejected application, or getting billed for GST you should not be collecting. Sleek can check whether your business is eligible to cancel, prepare and submit the IRAS application, and file your final Form F8 with assets correctly valued. Our accountants who handle GST filings can also keep the rest of your other tax filings on track, so the exit does not create new problems during a later IRAS check.
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FAQs on deregistering for GST in Singapore
When must I deregister for GST in Singapore?
You must deregister within 30 days if your business has stopped operating, no longer makes taxable supplies, has been sold or transferred, or has changed structure, for example from a sole proprietorship to a Pte Ltd. Missing the 30-day deadline can bring penalties or continued tax obligations, so review your status as soon as circumstances change.
Can I deregister voluntarily if my revenue is under S$1 million?
Yes. You can apply to cancel voluntarily when your taxable turnover for the next 12 months is expected to be S$1 million or less, and you are no longer liable to register. One condition: if you first registered voluntarily, you must have been GST-registered for at least two years before you can cancel.
What is the fastest way to deregister for GST?
Apply online through myTax Portal using your Corppass, under GST, then Cancel GST Registration. Give your reason and effective date and attach any supporting documents. IRAS typically confirms within about 10 working days, and you keep charging GST until the effective date.
Do I need to file anything after IRAS approves deregistration?
Yes. You file a final GST return (Form F8) within one month of the end of your final accounting period, and you settle any outstanding GST. The final return is required even if you have not traded recently.
