In this guide · 7 sections
Short answer
Use Giving.sg for reach and simple set-up, and your own donation page with PayNow and card payments for control of donor relationships and lower fees on large gifts. IPCs must capture each donor's NRIC, FIN or UEN, and you must submit donation records to IRAS by 31 January each year.
Tax deductions: what donors and IPCs need to know
According to IRAS' donations and tax deductions page, donors get tax deductions of up to 2.5 times the qualifying donation when they give to an approved IPC or the Community Chest. Not all registered charities are IPCs, and donations to a charity without IPC status are not tax deductible. The 250% rate applies to donations made up to 31 December 2026, and Budget 2026 announced a further extension to the end of 2029.
- No receipts needed by IRAS. The deduction is added to the donor's tax assessment automatically, using the information the IPC submits. IRAS does not accept claims based on donation receipts.
- ID number required. Since 1 January 2011, individuals and businesses must give their NRIC, FIN or UEN when donating if they want the deduction.
- Anonymous donors who do not want a deduction need not give an ID number. If they later change their mind, they give it to the IPC, which resubmits to IRAS.
- Benefits reduce the deduction. If a donor gets something of commercial value in return, such as a dinner seat, only the difference may be deductible.
Receipts from IPCs for tax-deductible donations should show the words 'Tax Deductible'. Check your IPC status and expiry on the Charity Portal.
Giving.sg vs your own donation page
Giving.sg
Reach and simplicity1.8% transaction fee plus GST, as stated by charities using it
- National giving platform run by the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre
- Donors already have accounts and payment details
- Handles one-off and monthly giving
- Less control over page design and donor follow-up
Best for: Smaller charities and campaigns that want visibility.
Your own donation page
Control and lower feesPayNow via gateway about 1%; cards about 3.4% + S$0.50
- Your branding, story and impact updates
- You own the donor list and can thank donors directly
- You build the NRIC/UEN capture and IRAS submission process
- You must protect donor data under the PDPA
Best for: Charities with an existing donor base or regular campaigns.
Giving.sg's fee is from charities' own donation pages, such as Habitat for Humanity Singapore, which says Giving.sg charges a 1.8% transaction fee plus prevailing GST. Gateway fees are from Stripe's and HitPay's Singapore pricing, as of October 2026; our HitPay vs Stripe guide has the details.
Many charities use both: Giving.sg for national campaigns and Giving Week, and their own page for regular donors, events and corporate gifts.
Taking PayNow and monthly donations on your own site
PayNow is the most popular way to give in Singapore and the cheapest to receive. There are two ways to accept it:
- Static UEN QR code: free to receive, but you match each transfer to a donor by hand, and donors must type their NRIC in the payment reference, which is easy to get wrong.
- Payment gateway (Stripe or HitPay): a fresh QR for each donation, a form that captures name, email and NRIC/FIN/UEN, and automatic confirmation. Our guide to accepting PayNow on your website compares the options.
Monthly giving is where recurring card billing helps. PayNow payments are made one at a time by the donor, so for automatic monthly donations you need card subscriptions or GIRO. Our guide to setting up subscription billing with Stripe covers plans, failed-payment retries and letting donors update or cancel themselves.
Collecting NRIC numbers safely under the PDPA
The PDPC generally restricts collecting full NRIC numbers, but allows it where the law requires it. Collecting NRIC, FIN or UEN so IRAS can apply a donor's tax deduction falls into that category. That does not remove your duty to protect the numbers.
Donor ID number checklist
Our NRIC collection rules guide explains the PDPC's position, and website privacy policy and cookie consent covers the notice your donation page needs.
Submitting donation records to IRAS
Per IRAS' submission of donation records page, all approved IPCs must submit tax-deductible donation records to IRAS electronically.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Deadline | Between 2 and 31 January, for donations received in the previous calendar year |
| How | Through IRAS' Donation API, either via a Donation Management System integrated with it or your own system |
| Access | A Corppass 'Approver' role for the Submission of Donation Records digital service |
| No donations? | IPCs with no tax-deductible donations submit a nil return through Manage Donation Submissions |
| Record keeping | At least 5 calendar years from the end of the year the donation was received, per IRAS' FAQ |
If you take donations through both Giving.sg and your own page, make sure the same donation is not submitted twice. Check how your platform handles IRAS submissions for its donations before you combine records.
Do it yourself or get help?
A Giving.sg page can be set up by charity staff. A donation page on your own website is a small technical project: the payment gateway, a form that captures donor details correctly, monthly giving and an export your donation software or finance team can use for the IRAS submission.
Online Payment Setup (S$290) adds PayNow and card donations to your website. Subscriptions & Recurring Billing (S$490) sets up monthly giving with a donor portal to update or cancel. For a new site with donation, volunteer and impact pages, see Business Website (S$1,490). IT Sorted does not give tax advice; your finance team or auditor remains responsible for IRAS submissions.
Frequently asked questions
No. Only donations to approved Institutions of a Public Character (IPCs), the Community Chest or the Singapore Government for local causes qualify. Not all registered charities are IPCs. Check a charity's IPC status on the Charity Portal before promising donors a tax deduction.
IRAS applies donation tax deductions automatically using information the IPC submits, and it does not accept claims based on receipts. Since 1 January 2011, donors must give their NRIC, FIN or UEN to the IPC if they want the deduction. Donors who do not want a deduction can stay anonymous.
IPCs must submit all tax-deductible donation records received in the previous calendar year between 2 and 31 January each year. Submissions are made through IRAS' Donation API, either via integrated donation management software or the IPC's own system, and need a Corppass Approver role.
Charities that list Giving.sg on their own donation pages state a 1.8% transaction fee plus prevailing GST, deducted from each donation. Check the current fee with Giving.sg's charity support team before comparing it with your own page.
Yes. IRAS states the 250% deduction applies to qualifying donations made up to 31 December 2026, and Budget 2026 announced a further extension to 31 December 2029. Donations to IPCs for overseas causes are handled under separate schemes.