CPF, the Central Provident Fund, is Singapore's national savings scheme. Every month, part of your pay and a share from your employer go into your CPF accounts.
How much goes in
For Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents from the 3rd year, the rates from 1 January 2026 depend on your age:
| Age | Total | You | Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 and below | 37% | 20% | 17% |
| Above 55 to 60 | 34% | 18% | 16% |
| Above 60 to 65 | 25% | 12.5% | 12.5% |
| Above 65 to 70 | 16.5% | 7.5% | 9% |
| Above 70 | 12.5% | 5% | 7.5% |
The rates for people aged above 55 to 65 went up from 1 January 2026. You move to the next band from the month after your birthday, so someone who has turned 55 is already in the "above 55" band.
The pay ceiling
CPF is only worked out on the first S$8,000 of your monthly pay (the Ordinary Wage ceiling, which is S$8,000 from 1 January 2026). Pay above that has no CPF on it. Bonuses and other yearly payments count too, but your total pay for CPF in a year stops at S$102,000.
A worked example
You are 30 and earn S$5,000 a month.
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Total CPF (37% of S$5,000) | S$1,850 |
| Taken from your pay (20%) | S$1,000 |
| Added by your employer (17%) | S$850 |
| Your take-home pay | S$4,000 |
Try your own numbers in the CPF contribution calculator.
Where it goes
Your CPF goes into three accounts. For someone aged 35 or younger, the shares are about:
| Account | Share of CPF | From S$1,850 |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Account | 62.17% | S$1,150 |
| Special Account | 16.21% | S$300 |
| MediSave Account | 21.62% | S$400 |
The shares change as you get older. By your late 50s, more goes to your Retirement Account and MediSave, and less to your Ordinary Account. See CPF accounts and interest.
Good to know
- New Permanent Residents pay lower, graduated rates in their first 2 years.
- Your payslip is the final word. Employers round contributions to the nearest dollar following CPF Board rules.
- Your employer's share is part of your pay package, even though it does not appear in your take-home pay.
Sources
- CPF Board: CPF contribution rates from 1 January 2026
- CPF Board: CPF allocation rates from January 2026
- CPF Board: What is the Ordinary Wage ceiling?
This article is for education and is not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are checked against the sources above and may change. Read the full disclaimer.