Singapore: tax, criminal enforcement and AML

Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)

The tax authority for income tax, GST, stamp duty and property tax, which also acts as the competent authority for CRS and CARF exchange. IRAS publishes the e-Tax Guides on digital tokens for income tax and GST and administers the Voluntary Disclosure Programme.¹ Approach: advance rulings are available for a fee on the application of the Income Tax Act to a specific proposed arrangement, with a published target of eight weeks. General queries can be raised through myTax Portal. IRAS is responsive but will not rule on hypothetical facts or on the characterisation of past transactions.

Commercial Affairs Department (CAD)

The white-collar crime unit of the Singapore Police Force, investigating fraud, criminal breach of trust, laundering and offences under the SFA and the PSA, often jointly with MAS. CAD ran the Terraform, Hodlnaut and 2023 laundering investigations.² Approach: criminal complaints are lodged at any police station or online and are routed to CAD where the facts justify it. Victims' counsel can supply tracing reports and CAD will act on them. CAD does not update complainants on the progress of investigations beyond formal notifications.

Suspicious Transaction Reporting Office (STRO)

Singapore's financial intelligence unit within CAD, the recipient of suspicious transaction reports under s. 45 CDSA and of cash movement reports. STRO exchanges intelligence with MROS through the Egmont Group.³ Approach: reports through the SONAR portal by the reporting entity. STRO does not communicate with subjects.

Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB)

The anti-corruption agency, relevant where digital assets are used for bribery. Approach: as for CAD.

Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC)

The public prosecutor and the government's legal adviser, deciding whether to prosecute and conducting prosecutions. The AGC's International Affairs Division is the central authority for mutual legal assistance requests to and from Switzerland.⁴ Approach: through the police for complaints, through the central authority for mutual assistance.

Anti-Scam Command (ASC)

The Singapore Police Force unit coordinating scam prevention and the rapid freezing of accounts, including crypto exchange accounts, in cooperation with banks and licensed DPT providers. Approach: victims report through the police. The ASC's relationships with exchanges make it the fastest route to a freeze in Singapore.

Notes

Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore Act 1992; the IRAS guides are listed in Annex A4 and discussed in Part M. ↩
Criminal Procedure Code 2010; the CAD's role is described in Part N, Chapter II. ↩
Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992, s. 45; see Part L, Chapter IV. ↩
Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 2000; see Part N, Chapter II. ↩

For general information only. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice, does not replace advice on an individual case and creates no lawyer-client relationship. It reflects the legal position as of October 2026.

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Dr Alexander Ressos, TEP

Of Counsel, KGP Legal LLC

I am Of Counsel with KGP Legal LLC in Singapore, where I work with a global client base of successful entrepreneurs and their families, independent asset managers, commodity trading houses and other commercial clients. I am a German and Swiss attorney-at-law, also admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales and in Hong Kong. I divide my time between Zug in Switzerland, Singapore and Hong Kong. Since 2017 I have advised international clients on more than 700 crypto and digital asset projects. I also have extensive experience in cross-border litigation and arbitration in Singapore, Hong Kong and other markets in South-East Asia and Greater China.

I operate across the key financial centres in South-East Asia, the Middle East and Switzerland, with a particular focus on asset protection, international tax and estate planning, as well as trusts, company administration and other fiduciary services. My philosophy is to serve as a trusted advisor working closely with my clients and to help them achieve their commercial objectives.

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