How to Calculate Service Charge & GST in Singapore: A Step-by-Step Guide
Restaurant bills in Singapore often show '++': a 10% service charge, then 9% GST on the subtotal. This calculator works out the final bill.
Singapore's tax system is simple by global standards, but the progressive bands, reliefs and the 9% GST still trip people up. A quick calculation helps you set aside the right amount before IRAS sends your notice of assessment, or check that a bill has been worked out correctly.
What you need
- Menu total (S$)
Step by step
- Enter the menu total (S$).
- The results update as you type, or press Calculate.
- Read the service charge (10%) first, then the supporting figures below it.
The formula
Total = menu price × 1.10 × 1.09 (≈ 1.199).
Worked example
For example, with these inputs:
- Menu total (S$): 80
the calculator returns:
- Service charge (10%): S$8.00
- GST (9% on food + service): S$7.92
- Total bill: S$95.92
A second example
Now change the inputs to:
- Menu total (S$): 100
the calculator returns:
- Service charge (10%): S$10.00
- GST (9% on food + service): S$9.90
- Total bill: S$119.90
Practical tips
- Keep receipts and records for at least five years in case IRAS asks for them.
- Set aside a little each month so the tax bill is not a shock, or sign up for GIRO instalments with IRAS.
- SRS and CPF top-up relief save more tax the higher your marginal rate is.
- Restaurant '++' prices add a 10% service charge first, then 9% GST on the total.
Background
You are generally a tax resident if you are a citizen or PR who normally lives here, or a foreigner who has stayed or worked in Singapore for at least 183 days in the calendar year. Non-residents do not get personal reliefs and are taxed differently, which is why residency status matters so much for expatriates.
IRAS issues a notice of assessment, usually from April onwards, and tax is due within a month, although most people opt for interest-free GIRO instalments. Estimating your bill early means you can budget for it instead of being surprised.
Tax planning in Singapore is mostly about timing and reliefs rather than complex structures. Topping up CPF, contributing to SRS and claiming every relief you qualify for can lower your marginal rate band, and the savings are larger for higher earners.
Related calculations
- Non-Resident Income Tax Calculator: Non-resident employees pay the higher of 15% flat or progressive resident rates on employment income, without personal reliefs.
- GST Calculator (9%): Adds Singapore's 9% Goods and Services Tax to a price.
- Remove GST Calculator (Reverse GST): Works backwards from a GST-inclusive price to show how much of it is GST.
- SRS Tax Savings Calculator: Shows how much tax you save by contributing to the Supplementary Retirement Scheme.
Want to skip the arithmetic? The free Service Charge & GST Calculator does all of this instantly and updates as you type.
Run your own numbers: Service Charge & GST Calculator