Raising and caring for children
1) Tax benefits
2) Baby Bonus
3) Enhancing the Quality, Affordability and Accessibility of Centre-Based Childcare
4) Enhancing the Quality of Kindergarten Education
5) Concession on Foreign Maid Levy
For frequently asked questions, click here.
Tax Benefits
Qualifying Child Relief/Handicapped Child Relief (QCR/HCR)
From Year of Assessment 2009, parents can claim higher amounts of QCR or HCR for all their qualifying children. The new quantum of QCR and HCR are $4,000 and $5,500 respectively for each child. You are only eligible to claim either QCR or HCR on the same child. QCR/HCR may be shared with your spouse based on the apportionment agreed by both parties.
For frequently asked questions, click here.
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Working Mother's Child Relief (WMCR)
From Year of Assessment 2009, working mothers can enjoy higher amount of WMCR, up to 100% of their earned income for all their qualifying Singaporean children. The amount of WMCR claimable for each child is based on a specified percentage of the working mother’s earned income corresponding to the child order.
|
Child Order |
Year of Assessment 2009 |
|
1st |
15% of mother’s earned income |
|
2nd |
20% of mother’s earned income |
|
3rd |
25% of mother’s earned income |
|
4th |
25% of mother’s earned income |
|
5th & beyond |
25% of mother’s earned income |
|
Maximum Claim Allowable |
Cumulative WMCR percentages are capped at 100% of mother’s earned income |
Where the working mother is claiming both QCR/ HCR and WMCR, QCR/HCR will be allowed first and WMCR will be limited to the remaining balance. The amount of relief claimable for both QCR/HCR and WMCR is capped at $50,000 per child.
For frequently asked questions, click here.
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Parenthood Tax Rebate
From the Year of Assessment 2009, parents can claim PTR for their first child, fifth child and each subsequent child that are born or legally adopted on or after 1 Jan 2008. The amount of PTR claimable for each qualifying Singaporean child is based on the child order.
|
Child Order |
Year of Assessment 2009 |
|
1st |
$5,000 |
|
2nd |
$10,000 |
|
3rd |
$20,000 |
|
4th |
$20,000 |
|
5th & beyond |
$20,000 per child |
PTR can be used to offset your income tax payable and may be shared with your spouse, based on the apportionment agreed by both parties. Any unutilised rebate will be carried forward to subsequent years until it is fully utilised.
For frequently asked questions, click here.
Baby Bonus
The Baby Bonus comprises a cash gift and a co-savings component.
Click here for more details on the Baby Bonus.
From 17 Aug 2008, the Baby Bonus cash gift and matching Government contribution through the CDA will be enhanced.
Baby Bonus cash gift
|
Child order |
Existing
for each child |
Enhanced
for each child |
|
1st & 2nd |
$3,000 |
$4,000 |
|
3rd & 4th |
$6,000 |
$6,000 |
Baby Bonus CDA
|
Child order |
Existing |
Enhanced |
|
1st |
- |
$6,000 |
|
2nd |
$6,000 |
$6,000 |
|
3rd & 4th |
$12,000 |
$12,000 |
|
5th & beyond |
- |
$18,000
for each child |
The cash gift is given out in four equal instalments over 18 months. The Government will match dollar-for-dollar the amount of savings the parents contribute to the child’s CDA up to the specified ceiling.
A child is eligible for the enhanced Baby Bonus if
- The child is a Singaporean born on or after 17 Aug 2008; and
- The child’s parents are lawfully married.
For frequently asked questions, click here.
Enhancing the quality, affordability and accessibility of centre-based childcare
More childcare centres will be set up over the next five years to provide more quality and affordable childcare options for working parents. The Government will facilitate the development of about 200 new childcare centres to cater for 20,000 additional childcare places in the next five years. The new centres will be conveniently located in HDB estates and near public transport nodes.
The quality of childcare services will be raised through the introduction of an integrated curriculum framework and teacher-child ratio to ensure sufficient trained teachers. These measures will be phased in from 2009 in consultation with the industry.
Scholarships and bursaries for degree and diploma programmes respectively will be introduced for deserving pre-school teachers in childcare centres. The awards are tenable at institutions such as Ngee Ann Polytechnic and the Regional Training and Resource Centre Asia, among others.
Recurrent funding will be introduced for eligible not-for-profit childcare centres to set the benchmark for quality and affordability. The funding will enable them to recruit better qualified teachers, develop existing teachers through scholarship programmes, have smaller class sizes, and provide learning support programmes for children who need more assistance. The funding will amount to up to $30 million per year by 2013.
For frequently asked questions, click here.
Centre-Based Infant Care and Childcare Subsidy
From 17 Aug 2008, the infant care subsidy will be increased from $400 to a maximum of $600 per month to help parents offset the cost of centre-based care. The subsidy applies to all Singaporean children regardless of child order.
The childcare subsidy will be increased from $150 to a maximum of $300 per month. The subsidy applies to all Singaporean children regardless of child order.
For frequently asked questions, click here.
Enhancing the quality of kindergarten education
The quality of kindergarten education will be raised through higher educational and qualifications requirements for pre-school teachers. Scholarships will be awarded to deserving kindergarten teachers to upgrade their professional qualifications in approved institutions.
To further improve teacher quality and enhance teacher-pupil interactions in kindergartens, the Ministry of Education will increase recurrent funding for eligible kindergarten operators from the current $17 million to up to $62.5 million by 2013. The additional grant will allow the operators to recruit better qualified teachers and principals, engage more teachers for better teacher-pupil interactions, and provide more support to children who are weak in English, so as to prepare them better for primary school.
For more information, click here
For frequently asked questions, click here. |