How much CPF tax relief can I get from topping up my own CPF accounts?

CPF Top-Up Tax Relief for Singaporeans

Tax relief for topping up your own CPF accounts primarily comes from Voluntary Contributions (VC) made to your Special Account (SA) or Retirement Account (RA) under the Retirement Sum Topping-Up Scheme (RSTU). This scheme is designed to help you meet your Full Retirement Sum (FRS) or Enhanced Retirement Sum (ERS).

Contribution Limits and Relief Cap:

• Maximum Top-Up Amount: You can top up your SA/RA up to the Enhanced Retirement Sum (ERS) for the year you turn 55. For those turning 55 in 2025, the ERS is SGD 426,000 (4x the FRS of $213,000). For 2026, the ERS is projected to be SGD 440,800.
• Tax Relief Cap: The total tax relief you can claim from all sources, including RSTU top-ups, Mandatory Contributions (employee portion), and approved insurance premiums, is capped at SGD 80,000 (IRAS). The relief from your own mandatory CPF contributions (up to 20% of salary) is automatically factored in.
• Self-Employed Relief: Self-employed individuals can contribute up to SGD 37,740 annually (based on the 20% employee contribution rate applied to the prevailing salary ceiling, which is $7,400/month in 2025, plus an additional $8,000 self top-up relief).

How RSTU Works:

When you make a voluntary top-up to your SA or RA under RSTU, the amount contributed is eligible for tax relief, subject to the overall $80,000 cap and ensuring your total CPF balances do not exceed the ERS.

Important Note on SA Closure (Age 55+):

For individuals aged 55 and above in 2025, the SA closes. Voluntary top-ups will generally go to the RA up to the FRS, with any excess flowing to the OA. The key benefit of topping up via RSTU is the immediate tax relief received in the year of contribution, while simultaneously boosting your retirement savings which earn higher interest (4% floor on RA/SA balances).

Example: If your mandatory contributions and other reliefs only total $50,000, you could potentially claim an additional $30,000 in tax relief by topping up your SA/RA via RSTU, provided you have not exceeded the ERS limit.