Taxable income distributions made by Real Estate Investment Trusts ("REITs") listed on the Singapore Exchange to individuals, whether foreign or local, are tax exempt in the hands of the individual except where such distribution is derived by the individual through a partnership in Singapore or from the carrying on of a trade, business or profession.
In this respect, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore ("IRAS") has allowed Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust ("FLCT") to make gross distributions (i.e. without tax deducted at source) to all individuals (excluding partnerships). Individuals who derive the distributions from the carrying on of a trade, business or profession are not eligible for this tax exemption and are required to declare the distributions in their income tax returns, notwithstanding that the distributions are made to them at gross.
In addition, REIT's distributions to qualifying foreign non-individual investors are subject to a reduced rate of tax of 10% for distributions made during the period from 18 February 2005 to 31 December 20251 (both dates inclusive).
Where tax has been deducted from distributions made at a higher rate than the applicable tax rate, eligible unitholders may claim a refund of the tax over-deducted from the IRAS through the trustee and the manager of FLCT. The procedures for this back-end refund claim are set out below.
Eligible Unitholders are:
For other categories of Unitholders, they will need to claim a refund of the withholding tax over-deducted, if any, when filing their Singapore tax return.
Boardroom Corporate & Advisory Services Pte. Ltd.
50 Raffles Place
Singapore Land Tower, #32-01
Singapore 048623
Boardroom Corporate & Advisory Services Pte. Ltd.
50 Raffles Place
Singapore Land Tower, #32-01
Singapore 048623
Yes, ID numbers such as Singapore NRIC number, passport number or foreign ID numbers are required for individuals who hold their FLCT Units through Depository Agents.
You may submit the Forms and the accompanying SITCs or CDP Account Statement/ ADS to Boardroom Corporate & Advisory Services Pte. Ltd. at any time.
The Trustee of FLCT will collate the claims for tax refund submitted by Unitholders and the Depository Agents, and upon receipt of the complete set of documents, make a claim for tax refund to the IRAS on a half-yearly basis (in 15 June and 15 December). For example, all Forms received during the period ending 15 June are expected to be submitted to the IRAS in June in the same year while those received during the period ending 15 December are expected to be submitted to the IRAS in December in the same year. Please use a separate form for each income distribution period.
However, the Trustee reserves the right to end the half yearly tax refund process if it is deemed to be no longer necessary (e.g. change in legislation) with advance notice.
Every claim of refund must be made to the IRAS within 4 years from the end of the year of assessment to which the claim relates. For example, for claim of refund in respect of distributions made by FLCT for the period from 1 October 2020 to 31 March 2021 (which relates to the year of assessment 2022), the claim must be submitted to the IRAS on or before 31 December 2026. Unitholders and the Depository Agents must ensure that the relevant Forms are submitted on a timely basis to allow the Trustee of FLCT to make the refund claim within the prescribed time limit. The IRAS will not process any claim that has exceeded the 4-year time frame.
The tax refund will be paid out to eligible Unitholders/ Depository Agents, subject to approval by the IRAS and upon receipt of the tax refund from the IRAS by the Trustee of FLCT. For Depository Agents, you can then proceed to make tax refunds to your respective beneficial owners.
The unit registrar will issue a letter together with the cheque for the refund amount to the Unitholders. This letter will serve as evidence that the tax refunds have been made.