For employees aged 55 and below, the total CPF rate is 37%: 17% employer, 20% employee, on Ordinary Wages up to the S$8,000 monthly ceiling. Two things changed on 1 January 2026: the Ordinary Wage ceiling rose from S$7,400 to S$8,000, and contribution rates rose for employees above 55 to 65. Rates for those employees rise again on 1 January 2027.
CPF is payable for Singapore Citizens and permanent residents only.
The two 2026 changes
Ordinary Wage ceiling: S$8,000
The monthly Ordinary Wage ceiling rose from S$7,400 to S$8,000 on 1 January 2026, the latest step of the increase that began in September 2023. Employees earning more than S$7,400 a month have higher CPF contributions.
Higher rates above 55 to 65
On 1 January 2026, the total rate for employees above 55 to 60 rose to 34%, and for above 60 to 65 to 25%. Both rise again on 1 January 2027 (below).
Full 2026 contribution rates by age
| Employee’s age | Employer % | Employee % | Total % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 and below | 17 | 20 | 37 |
| Above 55 to 60 | 16 | 18 | 34 |
| Above 60 to 65 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 25 |
| Above 65 to 70 | 9 | 7.5 | 16.5 |
| Above 70 | 7.5 | 5 | 12.5 |
These rates are for Singapore Citizens, and for permanent residents from their third year, earning more than S$750 a month. Permanent residents in their first two years contribute at graduated rates; CPF Board publishes those tables separately.
From 1 January 2027
CPF Board has announced higher rates for two age bands from 1 January 2027, for monthly wages above S$750. The increase goes to the employee’s Retirement Account, up to the Full Retirement Sum.
| Employee’s age | Employer % | Employee % | Total % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Above 55 to 60 | 16.5 | 19 | 35.5 |
| Above 60 to 65 | 13 | 13 | 26 |
The wage ceilings
| Ordinary Wage ceiling | S$8,000 a month (S$7,400 in 2025) |
|---|---|
| Annual salary ceiling | S$102,000 a year, Ordinary and Additional Wages together |
| Additional Wage ceiling | S$102,000 minus the Ordinary Wages subject to CPF in the year |
Ordinary Wages are the regular monthly wages: salary, allowances, commissions paid monthly. Additional Wages are bonuses, leave encashment and other irregular payments. For example, an employee paid S$8,000 or more in every month of 2026 has S$96,000 of Ordinary Wages subject to CPF, so CPF applies to at most S$6,000 of bonuses that year.
Deadlines and penalties
When CPF is due
CPF contributions are due by the last day of the calendar month in which the wages are paid. For January wages paid in January, contributions are due 31 January.
Late contributions
Late payment interest of 1.5% per month (18% per annum) runs from the day after the due date, and CPF Board takes enforcement action if contributions are still unpaid by the 14th of the following month.
Age-band switch rule
When an employee crosses an age-band boundary, the new contribution rate applies from the month after the employee’s birthday. Your payroll needs each employee’s date of birth to switch the rate on time.
What to check in your payroll
- 1The Ordinary Wage ceiling. It is S$8,000 a month from January 2026. Employees earning more than S$7,400 a month have higher CPF from January 2026.
- 2The rates for employees above 55 to 65. Use the 2026 table until 31 December 2026, and the new rates from 1 January 2027.
- 3The Additional Wage ceiling before paying bonuses. It is S$102,000 minus the Ordinary Wages subject to CPF in the year, so it shrinks as Ordinary Wages rise.
- 4Employment costs. Higher employer rates raise the cost of employees above 55 to 65, in 2026 and again in 2027.
- 5What you tell employees. Employees earning more than S$7,400 a month, and those above 55 to 65, see a change in take-home pay. Tell them before the pay run.
Where MassAdmin fits
MassAdmin's HR & Payroll module calculates employee and employer CPF in every pay run from the 2026 rate tables, with the S$8,000 Ordinary Wage ceiling, and adds SDL. You set each permanent resident's PR year. It emails itemised PDF payslips and gives you a CPF contribution summary (CSV). It does not calculate CPF on bonuses, and the rates that start on 1 January 2027 are not in the current release. In this release, check the CPF for anyone who turned 55, 60, 65 or 70 in the past 12 months, and each employee's share, which keeps cents.
You check each line, then submit and pay through CPF EZPay.
30-day free trial · no card
Sources
- Source: CPF Board, How much CPF contributions to pay (updated 7 October 2026). Checked 10 October 2026.
- Source: CPF Board, CPF Contribution Changes from 1 January 2027 (updated 9 June 2026). Checked 10 October 2026.
- Source: CPF Board, What is the Ordinary Wage (OW) ceiling? (updated 14 August 2026). Checked 10 October 2026.
- Source: CPF Board, What is the Additional Wage (AW) ceiling? (updated 13 August 2026). Checked 10 October 2026.
- Source: CPF Board, Making CPF contributions (updated 7 July 2025). Checked 10 October 2026.
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice.
Related
- IR8A and AIS — due 1 March 2027 for 2026 income
- Skills Development Levy (SDL) — collected with CPF
- How CPF is calculated
- Singapore SME compliance calendar — payroll and tax deadlines in one place
Questions
What is the CPF contribution rate for 2026?
For employees aged 55 and below, the total CPF rate is 37% of wages: 17% from the employer and 20% from the employee. The total falls with age, to 12.5% above 70. These rates apply to Singapore Citizens, and to permanent residents from their third year, on monthly wages above S$750.
What is the CPF Ordinary Wage ceiling in 2026?
S$8,000 a month from 1 January 2026, up from S$7,400 in 2025.
What changed in CPF for 2026?
Two things: the Ordinary Wage ceiling rose from S$7,400 to S$8,000 a month, and total rates rose for employees above 55 to 65, to 34% above 55 to 60 and 25% above 60 to 65.
Will CPF rates change in 2027?
Yes. From 1 January 2027, total CPF for employees above 55 to 60 rises to 35.5% (16.5% employer, 19% employee), and for above 60 to 65 to 26% (13% each). CPF Board puts the increase into the Retirement Account, up to the Full Retirement Sum.
Do foreign employees need CPF contributions?
No. CPF is payable for Singapore Citizens and permanent residents only. Foreign employees on work passes are not covered.
When are CPF contributions due each month?
By the last day of the calendar month. Late payment interest of 1.5% per month runs from the day after the due date, and CPF Board takes enforcement action if contributions are still unpaid by the 14th of the following month.