Reminder to Sign Up for GST Voucher and 5-Year Medisave Top-Up Scheme by 31 December 2015

1. Singaporean citizens eligible for the GST Voucher – Cash/Medisave and 5-Year Medisave Top-Up but have yet to sign up should do so by 31 December 2015. Eligible citizens were first invited to do so in July 2015 through a letter informing them of their benefits. The Ministry of Finance will also be sending reminder letters by mid-November 2015.

2. The eligibility criteria can be found in Annexes A and B respectively. Eligible Singaporeans who have received the GSTV payouts and 5-Year Medisave Top-Up previously need not sign up again. Singaporeans also need not sign up for the GST Voucher – U-Save, as it will be granted to eligible households automatically.

3. Eligible Singaporeans may sign up either:

a) Online at the GST Voucher website (www.gstvoucher.gov.sg), or

b) By completing the GST Voucher sign-up form that is enclosed in the reminder letters. The sign-up form is available at any Community Centre, Social Service Office (SSO) or any of the CPF Service Centres located island-wide. All forms should be returned before 31 December 2015.

4. As at October, the Government has disbursed about $694 million in GST Voucher – Cash and GST Voucher – Seniors’ Bonus, about $117 million in GST Voucher – Medisave and about $90 million in GST Voucher – U-Save, for the 2015 GST Voucher. The Government has also disbursed about $93 million in 5-Year Medisave Top-Up for 2015.

5. More information can be found at www.gstvoucher.gov.sg. Singaporeans can also call 1800-2222-888 for details on the GST Voucher and 5-Year Medisave Top-Up, and 6671-7117 for information on the GST Voucher – U-Save.

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Annex A: GST Voucher Eligibility Criteria

GST Voucher – Cash/ GST Voucher – Seniors’ Bonus

To receive the GST Voucher – Cash / GST Voucher – Seniors’ Bonus in 2015, you must fulfil the following criteria:

i) You must be a Singapore citizen, residing in Singapore;

ii) You must be aged 21 or above in 2015 (for GST Voucher – Cash), and 55 and above in 2015 (for GST Voucher – Seniors’ Bonus);

iii) Your Assessable Income (AI) for the Year of Assessment 2014 must not exceed $26,000 (i.e. income earned^[1] from January 2013 to December 2013);

iv) The Annual Value (AV) of your home (as indicated on your NRIC) as at 31 December 2014 must not exceed $21,000 (Your AV is found in the property tax bill sent to the owner of your home. All HDB flats have AVs not exceeding $13,000); and

v) You must not own more than one property.

GST Voucher – Medisave

To receive the GST Voucher − Medisave in 2015, you must fulfil the following criteria:

i) You must be a Singapore citizen, residing in Singapore;

ii) You must be aged 65 and above in 2015;

iii) The Annual Value of your home (as indicated on your NRIC) as at 31 December 2014 must not exceed $21,000; and

iv) You must not own more than one property.

GST Voucher – U-Save

To receive the GST Voucher − U-Save (which will be credited to your HDB flat's utilities account), your household has to fulfil the following conditions:

i) If you own and live in your HDB flat, there must be at least one Singapore citizen owner or occupier in the flat; or

ii) If you partially sublet the HDB flat that you own and live in, there must be at least one Singapore citizen owner or occupier in the flat; or

iii) If the entire flat is sublet to you, there must be at least one Singaporean tenant;

AND

immediate family members living in the same flat must not own or have any interest in more than one property.

Annex B: 5-Year Medisave Top-Up Scheme Eligibility Criteria

5-Year Medisave Top-Up

To receive the 5-Year Medisave Top-Up in 2015, you must fulfil the following criteria:

i) You must be a Singapore citizen;

ii) You must be aged 56 and above in 2015 (born on or before 31 December 1959); and

iii) You do not enjoy Pioneer Generation benefits.

^[1] Your AI is your total income after deducting allowable expenses and approved donations. For more information on how your AI is calculated, please visit https://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/Individuals/Locals/Learning-the-basics/Basic-Guide-for-New-Taxpayers/Income-Tax-Glossary/