CPF Allocation (OA, SA, MA) in Singapore: 5 Mistakes to Avoid
Shows how each month's 37% CPF contribution is split between your Ordinary, Special and MediSave accounts by age group. The maths is not complicated, but a handful of errors come up again and again in this and related cpf & salary calculations. Here is what to watch for.
The Employment Act sets out how hourly and daily rates are calculated for overtime, public holiday work and salary deductions. These formulas use the monthly basic rate of pay rather than gross salary, which is why the numbers can look lower than a simple division of your salary by hours worked.
Payslips must be itemised, showing basic pay, allowances, overtime, deductions and CPF. Comparing a payslip against an independent calculation is the easiest way to catch mistakes, especially in the first month of a new job, after a pay rise, or when you cross an age band.
1. Forgetting rounding rules
Total CPF is rounded to the nearest dollar and the employee share drops cents, so results can differ by a dollar from a simple multiplication.
2. Using the wrong age band
Rates change at 55, 60, 65 and 70, and the new rate applies from the first day of the month after the birthday.
3. Mixing up gross and basic salary
Overtime and many MOM formulas use basic salary, while CPF uses total ordinary wages including fixed allowances.
4. Applying CPF to the full salary above the ceiling
Only the first S$8,000 of monthly ordinary wages attracts CPF. Applying the rate to a S$10,000 salary overstates CPF by S$740 a month for those 55 and below.
5. Ignoring the graduated band below S$750
Employees earning between S$500 and S$750 pay a phased-in contribution, not the full rate.
The correct method
Each account receives a fixed percentage of wages: for 35 and below it is 23% OA, 6% SA and 8% MA, with more shifting to SA and MA as you get older.
For example, with these inputs:
- Monthly salary (S$): 5,000
- Age group: 35 and below
the calculator returns:
- Ordinary Account: S$1,150.00
- Special Account: S$300.00
- MediSave Account: S$400.00
- Total: S$1,850.00
For simplicity this uses exact percentage splits; the CPF Board rounds the allocation slightly differently, so cents may differ.
Related calculations
- Pro-Rated Annual Leave Calculator: Calculates leave earned for part of a year.
- Salary Converter (Annual, Monthly, Hourly): Converts an annual package into monthly, weekly, daily and hourly figures.
- CPF OA Interest Calculator: Projects your CPF Ordinary Account balance with the 2.5% floor rate and regular contributions.
- CPF Special Account Interest Calculator: Projects Special Account growth at the 4% floor rate.
The CPF Allocation Calculator (OA, SA, MA) applies the formula consistently, so it is a quick way to double-check your own working.
Run your own numbers: CPF Allocation Calculator (OA, SA, MA)