From April 27, self-employed Singaporeans who do not automatically qualify for the Self-Employed Income Relief Scheme (SIRS) are allowed to apply or appeal for it.

Eligible self-employed people will receive three payments of S$3,000 in May, July and October 2020.

Reasons for rejection

However, it seems like some applications may have been rejected due to various reasons including:

• Applicant did not meet two or more criteria.
• Applicant missed a criteria by a wide margin.
• Applicant has not declared any net trade income.
• Applicant's employment income does not meet criteria.
• Applicant is not a self-employed person (SEP) based on income declaration.
• Applicant has filed their income in the wrong category resulting in them having no trade income or exceeding the employment income limit.

According to NTUC, applicants can still appeal, however, the SIRS eligibility criteria will still apply.

Here's how to qualify for SIRS.

Re-submit application

If a person became a SEP before March 25, 2020, they can re-submit another application if:

• Applicant's circumstances have changed, for example, the applicant moved to a resident with lower annual value (AV).
• Applicant made a mistake when filing the previous application.
• Applicant filed SEP income as Employment income instead of Net Trade income to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). Applicant now wants to re-classify how one's income is categorised.

If an applicant chooses to re-classify how one's income is categorised, there are additional steps which will extend the processing time by another three to four weeks.

As a result of changing one's income declaration, present and past years' CPF obligations may be reassessed.

If necessary, the CPF Board will follow up with the applicant directly and the income declaration may also be passed on to IRAS for further action.

You can apply for SIRS here.

Application processing time will be approximately one month.

Top image from Clean & Green Singapore.