Distributions made by Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) listed on the Singapore Exchange to individuals, whether foreign or local, are tax exempt. In this respect, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (“IRAS”) has confirmed that all individuals will receive their distributions from Mapletree Logistics Trust (“MLT”) without tax being deducted at source (“gross distributions”).
Individuals who derived the distributions through a partnership in Singapore or from the carrying on of a trade, business or profession are not eligible for this tax exemption and are required to declare the distributions in their income tax returns, notwithstanding that gross distributions have been made to them.
In addition, REITs’ distributions to qualifying non-resident non-individual investors made during the period from 18 February 2005 to 31 December 2025 (both dates inclusive) and qualifying non-resident funds made during the period from 1 July 2019 to 31 December 2025 (both dates inclusive) are entitled to a reduced rate of tax of 10%.
The Manager of MLT has established an arrangement with the IRAS to allow eligible Unitholders to claim a back-end refund of tax, if any, over-deducted from income distributions made to them.
Who is eligible?
You can avail of this arrangement if you are:
- a qualifying non-resident non-individual1 or a qualifying non-resident fund2 holding units in Mapletree Logistics Trust ("Units") in your own name; or
- an individual, qualifying non-resident non-individual or a qualifying non-resident fund whose Units are held through a Depository Agent. Please approach your Depository Agent who will claim the refund on your behalf; or
- a charity registered under the Charities Act 1994 or established by any written law, a town council, a statutory board, a co-operative society registered under the Co-operative Societies Act 1979, a trade union registered under the Trade Unions Act 1940 or an international organisation that is exempt from tax on such distributions by reason of an order made under the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) Act 1948, (collectively referred to as “exempt non-corporate unitholders”). If your Units are held through a Depository Agent, please approach your Depository agent who will claim the refund on your behalf.
1 A qualifying non-resident non-individual is one who is not a resident in Singapore for income tax purposes and:
i. who does not have any permanent establishment in Singapore; or
ii. who carries on any operation in Singapore through a permanent establishment in Singapore, but the funds used to acquire the Units are not obtained from that operation.
2 A qualifying non-resident fund is one who is not a resident in Singapore for income tax purposes, qualifies for tax exemption under section 13D, 13U or 13V of the Income Tax Act 1947 and:
i. who does not have any permanent establishment in Singapore (other than the fund manager in Singapore); or
ii. who carries on any operation in Singapore through a permanent establishment in Singapore (other than the fund manager in Singapore), but the funds used to acquire the Units are not obtained from that operation.
Which distributions are eligible?
This refund arrangement applies to the following distributions:
- where the beneficial owner of Units is an individual, distributions made by MLT on or after 28 February 2006;
- where the beneficial owner of Units is a qualifying non-resident non-individual, distributions made by MLT during the period from 28 February 2006 to 31 December 2025 (both dates inclusive);
- where the beneficial owner of Units is a qualifying non-resident fund, distributions made by MLT during the period from 1 July 2019 to 31 December 2025 (both dates inclusive); and
- where the beneficial owner of Units is an exempt non-corporate unitholder, distributions made by MLT on or after 28 February 2006.
Please note that MLT’s first distribution after listing was made on 28 February 2006.
What must you do to make a claim?
If you are a qualifying non-resident non-individual, qualifying non-resident fund or an exempt non-corporate unitholder holding Units in your own name:
- Download and complete Form R1. Use a separate Form R1 for each income distribution period.
- Submit the duly completed Form R1, accompanied by the Subsidiary Income Tax Certificate (“SITC”) or the Account Statement issued by the CDP which reflects the distribution in respect of which the claim for refund is made, to Boardroom Corporate & Advisory Services Pte. Ltd. at 1 Harbourfront Avenue, Keppel Bay Tower, #14-07, Singapore 098632.
If you are an individual, qualifying non-resident non-individual, qualifying non-resident fund or an exempt non-corporate unitholder and you hold Units through Depository Agents, please liaise with your Depository Agent on your claim for refund. The claim will be made on your behalf by your Depository Agent.
If you are Depository Agent and wish to claim for refund on behalf of beneficial owners who are individuals, qualifying non-resident non-individuals, qualifying non-resident fund or exempt non-corporate unitholders:
- Download and complete Form R2, including Annexes 1 to 3. Use a separate Form R2 for each income distribution period.
- Submit the duly completed Form R2, accompanied by the SITC issued for the distribution in respect of which the claim for refund is made to Boardroom Corporate & Advisory Services Pte. Ltd. at 1 Harbourfront Avenue, Keppel Bay Tower, #14-07, Singapore 098632.
- Email a soft copy of the completed Annexes to Boardroom Corporate & Advisory Services Pte. Ltd. at email addresses: srs.teamd@boardroomlimited.com
When to submit Form R1 or Form R2?
You may submit the Forms and accompanying SITCs or CDP Account Statement to Boardroom Corporate & Advisory Services Pte. Ltd. at any time within the prescribed time limit (see "Time limit for claim of refund").
The Trustee will collate the claims for refund submitted by Unitholders and the Depository Agents and make a claim for refund to the IRAS on a half-yearly basis. For example, all Forms received during the period ended 30 June 2022 will be submitted to IRAS sometime between July and November 2022.
Time limit for claim of refund
Every claim for refund must be made to IRAS within 4 years from the end of the year of assessment to which the claim relates. For example, for claims of refund in respect of distributions made by MLT for the period from 1 January 2017 to 31 March 2017 (which relates to the year of assessment 2018), the claim must be submitted to IRAS on or before 31 December 2022. Unitholders and Depository Agents must ensure that the relevant Forms are submitted on a timely basis to allow the Trustee to make the refund claims within the prescribed time limit. The IRAS will not process any claim that is out of time.