Tax Guide — RES Holders
7 Tax Deductions Most Property Agents Miss — and How to Claim Them Legally
As a self-employed RES holder in Singapore, your tax is assessed on net trade income — your commission earnings minus allowable business expenses. Most agents leave significant deductions on the table simply because nobody explained what qualifies. Here are the seven most commonly missed.
- Property portal listing fees — 99.co, PropertyGuru, and similar platform subscription costs are fully deductible as business expenses.
- Transport costs — mileage for viewings, client meetings, and property inspections. Keep a mileage log for clean documentation.
- Marketing & advertising — name cards, flyers, social media advertising, professional photography for listings.
- CEA CPD course fees — mandatory and elective CPD courses are deductible as a business expense under Section 14 of the Income Tax Act for self-employed agents, as they are wholly and exclusively incurred in earning trade income. Note: the separate Course Fees personal relief has been abolished from YA2026 — this is a trade deduction, not a personal relief.
- Mobile phone costs — the business-use portion of your phone bill is deductible. Keep records to support the apportionment.
- Laptop and technology — computers and software used for your practice, apportioned for business use.
- Professional subscriptions — CEA licence renewal fees, professional body memberships, and relevant industry subscriptions.