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CPF rates depend on the employee's age, residency and monthly wage. The headline figure is 37% for most working-age citizens and PRs: 17% from you and 20% from them. This page gives the full CPF Board table, the effective dates, the wage ceilings and two worked sums. Checked on .
What are the CPF contribution rates by age?
These rates took effect on . They apply to Singapore citizens and to PRs from the third year of PR status, on monthly wages above S$750.
| Employee age | Employer | Employee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 and below | 17% | 20% | 37% |
| Above 55 to 60 | 16% | 18% | 34% |
| Above 60 to 65 | 12.5% | 12.5% | 25% |
| Above 65 to 70 | 9% | 7.5% | 16.5% |
| Above 70 | 7.5% | 5% | 12.5% |
A new rate starts on the first day of the month after the employee's 55th, 60th, 65th or 70th birthday. The CPF Board also publishes tables for PRs in their first and second year, who contribute at graduated rates. Those tables are in a PDF on the CPF Board site and we do not repeat them here.
What changes on 1 January next year?
The CPF Board announced higher rates for employees aged above 55 to 65, for wages earned from .
| Employee age | Employer now | Employer after rise | Employee now | Employee after rise | Total after rise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Above 55 to 60 | 16% | 16.5% | 18% | 19% | 35.5% |
| Above 60 to 65 | 12.5% | 13% | 12.5% | 13% | 26% |
The extra amount goes to the employee's Retirement Account until the Full Retirement Sum is reached, then to the Ordinary Account. Senior workers earning over S$500 up to S$750 see their phased-in rates rise in proportion. Rates for first and second year PRs do not change.
Which wages count, and what is the ceiling?
CPF is worked out on Total Wages for the calendar month, which is Ordinary Wages plus Additional Wages. Each has a ceiling.
- Ordinary Wage ceiling: S$8,000 a month from , up from S$7,400 the year before.
- Annual ceiling: S$102,000.
- Additional Wage ceiling: S$102,000 less the Ordinary Wages subject to CPF in the year.
So an employee on S$9,000 a month pays CPF on S$8,000 only. At 37% that gives S$2,960 in total.
Which wage bands change the rate?
| Monthly wage | What you pay |
|---|---|
| S$50 or less | No CPF |
| Over S$50 up to S$500 | Employer share only |
| Over S$500 up to S$750 | Employer share plus a phased-in employee share |
| Over S$750 | Full rates in the age table |
The CPF Board says employers must pay CPF for citizens and PRs earning more than S$50 in total wages a month.
How do you work out the amount?
Apply the rate to Total Wages up to the ceiling, then add the shares. Round the total to the nearest dollar. For the employee's share, always drop the cents.
Example, age 55 and below, S$5,000 a month: employer 17% is S$850, employee 20% is S$1,000. Total S$1,850.
Example, age above 55 to 60, S$5,000 a month, after the rise: employer 16.5% is S$825, employee 19% is S$950. Total S$1,775.
You pay the whole amount to the CPF Board and take the employee's share out of the salary for that month. The CPF Board has a calculator, and CPF EZPay computes the amounts for you.
When is CPF due, and what if you are late?
CPF is due by the last day of the calendar month. The CPF Board's enforcement threshold is the 14th of the following month, or the next working day if that falls on a weekend or public holiday. Late payment interest is 1.5% a month from the day after the due date, with a minimum of S$5. The CPF Board may also add a composition amount and can prosecute employers who do not settle.
How do new PRs differ?
A new PR is on graduated rates for two years. The CPF Board counts the first year from the day of PR conversion. The second year starts on the first day of the month after the first anniversary, and the third year on the first day of the month after the second anniversary. Ask each PR employee for the conversion date. You and the employee can also apply jointly to contribute at a higher rate during those two years. The options are full rates for both of you, or full rates from you while the employee stays on graduated rates. The CPF Board's rate tables show each case.
Who does CPF not apply to?
The rule follows status, not nationality of the company. CPF applies to employees who are Singapore citizens or PRs. If you hire a foreign employee on a work pass, the CPF Board's definition does not include them. If that person later becomes a PR, ask them for the date, because the rate changes with the year of PR status. Our pages on CPF for employers and CPF registration cover registration and filing, and the payroll guide covers outsourcing.
For help with payroll, use the quote form on the next page and we pass your request to suitable providers. We are an independent guide, not the CPF Board.
Sources
- CPF Board: How much CPF contributions to pay: current rate table, thresholds and computation steps.
- CPF Board: Increase in CPF contribution rates for older employees: rate changes for older employees.
- CPF Board: Ordinary Wage ceiling: ceilings by period.
- CPF Board: What constitutes wages for CPF contributions: Additional Wage ceiling.
- CPF Board: Enforcement and penalties: late payment interest.
- CPF Board: Who should receive CPF contributions: citizens and PRs, wage threshold.
