{"id":12522,"date":"2020-06-19T07:55:11","date_gmt":"2020-06-18T23:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/maid\/fdw-levy\/"},"modified":"2026-02-03T03:54:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T19:54:49","slug":"fdw-levy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/en-sg\/fdw-levy\/","title":{"rendered":"Foreign Domestic Worker Levy in Singapore (2026): Rates, Concession, and Penalties Employers Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Updated 02 February 2026<\/em><\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/en-sg\/fdw-levy\/#What_is_the_foreign_worker_levy_and_its_purpose\" >What is the foreign worker levy and its purpose?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/en-sg\/fdw-levy\/#026_MDW_levy_rates_in_Singapore_monthly_and_daily\" >026 MDW levy rates in Singapore (monthly and daily)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/en-sg\/fdw-levy\/#Eligibility_for_the_Concessionary_Levy_Scheme\" >Eligibility for the Concessionary Levy Scheme<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/en-sg\/fdw-levy\/#When_and_how_to_pay_the_levy\" >When and how to pay the levy?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/en-sg\/fdw-levy\/#Where_to_view_levy_bills_online\" >Where to view levy bills online?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/en-sg\/fdw-levy\/#Penalties_for_not_paying_the_levy\" >Penalties for not paying the levy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/en-sg\/fdw-levy\/#Practical_tips_for_employers_to_avoid_levy_issues\" >Practical tips for employers (to avoid levy issues)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/en-sg\/fdw-levy\/#A_simple_employer-friendly_next_step_HelperChoice\" >A simple, employer-friendly next step (HelperChoice)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/en-sg\/fdw-levy\/#You_might_also_be_interested_in\" >You might also be interested in:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>If you employ a migrant domestic worker (MDW) in Singapore, you must pay a monthly foreign worker levy to the government. Unlike employees in companies, MDW employers do not pay CPF contributions\u2014instead, the levy applies for as long as the Work Permit is valid.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_foreign_worker_levy_and_its_purpose\"><\/span>What is the foreign worker levy and its purpose?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The foreign worker levy (commonly called \u201clevy\u201d) is a pricing mechanism used to regulate the number of migrant workers in Singapore. For MDW employers, it is a standard monthly cost tied to your helper\u2019s Work Permit<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/yoopies-cms2fbe9a1405-2a1b-4a1d-8f96-039bd79c4701-domestichelperplacementfeeagencyfee.jpg\" alt=\"FDW Levy in Singapore\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"878\" data-end=\"933\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"026_MDW_levy_rates_in_Singapore_monthly_and_daily\"><\/span>026 MDW levy rates in Singapore (monthly and daily)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"935\" data-end=\"1100\">MOM publishes levy rates for MDWs (with daily rates used when your helper does not cover a full calendar month). Current rates:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>SG$300\/month<\/strong> for households <strong>not eligible<\/strong> for a concession, and <strong>hiring one maid<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>SG$450\/month<\/strong> for households <strong>not eligible<\/strong> for a concession, and <strong>hiring a second maid <\/strong>(and subsequent ones, ie. pay another $450 if you hire a third one)<\/li>\n<li><strong>SG$60\/month<\/strong> for households <strong>eligible<\/strong> for a concession, and <strong>hiring one or more maid<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1279\" data-end=\"1488\"><strong data-start=\"1279\" data-end=\"1308\">How the daily rate works:<\/strong> MOM applies daily rates only when the helper does not complete a full calendar month, and the daily levy is calculated from the monthly rat<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Eligibility_for_the_Concessionary_Levy_Scheme\"><\/span>Eligibility for the Concessionary Levy Scheme<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Singapore government specifies that only households with one of the following qualities can benefit from the concessionary scheme:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>has a below 16-year-old child or grandchild (Singapore Citizen) living at the same address; or<\/li>\n<li>the one employing is an elderly person (Singapore Citizen \/ Permanent Resident, if spouse is a Singapore Citizen) aged 67 years or above; or<\/li>\n<li>has an elderly parent or grandparent (Singapore Citizen \/ Permanent Resident, if employer or employer\u2019s spouse is a Singapore Citizen) aged 67 years or above staying together at the same address; or<\/li>\n<li>has a disability\/ has a family member with a disability (Singapore Citizen) staying together at the same address.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_and_how_to_pay_the_levy\"><\/span>When and how to pay the levy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Employers must pay the levy through <strong>General Interbank Recurring Order (GIRO). <\/strong>You can apply for an account by completing the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mom.gov.sg\/-\/media\/mom\/documents\/services-forms\/passes\/giro_appln_form_for_fdw.pdf?la=en&amp;hash=9E8E147016021A8DBCD31A77CD42B375\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GIRO application form<\/a> <\/strong>and mail it to the address specified in the form. You will then be notified by post your application result. In the meantime, you can <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpf.gov.sg\/eSvc\/Web\/Services\/GiroApplicationStatusEnquiry\/GiroApplicationStatusEnquiryLanding\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">view your application status and the start date of your levy transaction.<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After your account is approved, the monthly levy will be deducted from your bank account\u00a0directly <strong>on the 17th\u00a0of the following month<\/strong>\u00a0(or the next working day if it falls on a weekend or public holiday). For example, the levy for March 2020 will be deducted on 17 April 2020. With that said, you should\u00a0<strong>maintain enough amount\u00a0in your account <\/strong>before the deduction date to ensure that you can successfully pay the levy. If the transaction is unsuccessful, you may be charged an extra fee by your bank.<\/p>\n<p>If you do not wish to pay through GIRO, there are <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mom.gov.sg\/faq\/work-pass-general\/how-do-i-pay-my-foreign-workers-levy-if-my-giro-application-has-not-been-approved\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">other methods<\/a><\/strong> that you can use, though it may take <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mom.gov.sg\/passes-and-permits\/work-permit-for-foreign-domestic-worker\/foreign-domestic-worker-levy\/paying-levy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Ministry<\/a> more time to process the transaction; and you must pay the levy for each month<strong> by the 14th of the following month<\/strong>, instead of the 17th. If you have a GIRO account already, you will have to stick with it and do not use other methods to pay as the levy will be deducted from your account regardless.<\/p>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_to_view_levy_bills_online\"><\/span>Where to view levy bills online?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Your latest levy bill is available online for your review <strong>on the 6th\u00a0of each month <\/strong>via\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mom.gov.sg\/eservices\/services\/check-and-pay-levy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">check and pay levy<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Penalties_for_not_paying_the_levy\"><\/span>Penalties for not paying the levy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In case you did not pay the full levy on time, you may face the following penalties:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You will be charged <strong>a late payment penalty of 2% per month or $20<\/strong>, whichever is higher. Your total late payment penalty will be capped at <strong>30% of the outstanding levy.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Your helper&#8217;s <strong>Work Permit will be revoked.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>You will not be allowed to apply for or issue a new Work Permit, or renew an existing Work Permit.<\/li>\n<li>You may face legal action to recover the unpaid levy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 data-start=\"4365\" data-end=\"4419\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Practical_tips_for_employers_to_avoid_levy_issues\"><\/span>Practical tips for employers (to avoid levy issues)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul data-start=\"4421\" data-end=\"4915\">\n<li data-start=\"4421\" data-end=\"4531\">\n<p data-start=\"4423\" data-end=\"4531\"><strong data-start=\"4423\" data-end=\"4441\">Set GIRO early<\/strong> so you don\u2019t miss deadlines during busy months.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4532\" data-end=\"4716\">\n<p data-start=\"4534\" data-end=\"4716\"><strong data-start=\"4534\" data-end=\"4565\">Track household eligibility<\/strong> (new baby, elderly household member, caregiving needs) and confirm whether the levy concession should apply.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4717\" data-end=\"4915\">\n<p data-start=\"4719\" data-end=\"4915\"><strong data-start=\"4719\" data-end=\"4753\">Calendar a quick monthly check<\/strong> on the 3rd working day to confirm the bill amount (especially after changes to helper count or concession eligibility).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 data-start=\"4922\" data-end=\"4977\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_simple_employer-friendly_next_step_HelperChoice\"><\/span>A simple, employer-friendly next step (HelperChoice)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"4979\" data-end=\"5216\">If you\u2019re hiring in Singapore and want fewer surprises around Work Permit admin, timelines, and compliance basics, HelperChoice can support you through a clearer process\u2014so you can focus on building a stable working relationship at home.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5218\" data-end=\"5415\">If you want, share whether you\u2019re hiring your <strong data-start=\"5264\" data-end=\"5273\">first<\/strong> helper or you already employ an MDW\u2014then I\u2019ll tailor a short \u201cexpected monthly cost + key due dates\u201d checklist you can paste into your notes.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5218\" data-end=\"5415\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"You_might_also_be_interested_in\"><\/span><strong>You might also be interested in:<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/maid\/employer-orientation-programme\">Employer and FDW Orientation Programmes<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/maid\/cost-of-hiring\">Costs of Hiring A Maid<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/maid\/criteria-to-hire\">Criteria to Hire a Maid<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/maid\/hiring-indonesian\">Hiring an Indonesian Maid<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"  https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/yoopies-cms2f290346ba-c08b-4830-9206-13ae345cf81e-helperchoicehighres-98.jpg\" \/><\/figure>\n<p><a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/r\/singapore-maids\">Search now \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Updated 02 February 2026 If you employ a migrant domestic worker (MDW) in Singapore, you must pay a monthly foreign worker levy to the government. Unlike employees in companies, MDW employers do not pay CPF contributions\u2014instead, the levy applies for as long as the Work Permit is valid. What is the foreign worker levy and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":12524,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"description":"Understand the foreign domestic worker levy in Singapore for 2026\u2014latest MOM rates, concession criteria, payment deadlines, and employer obligations.","title":"Foreign Domestic Worker Levy in Singapore (2026): Rates, Concession, and Penalties Employers Need to Know - HelperChoice Blog"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[425,423],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-helpers-rights-and-regulation-sg","category-hiring-preparation-sg"],"blocksy_meta":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/yoopies-cms2fbe9a1405-2a1b-4a1d-8f96-039bd79c4701-domestichelperplacementfeeagencyfee-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12522","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12522"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12522\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15274,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12522\/revisions\/15274"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12524"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}