① US dividend withholding tax

The US withholds 30% on dividends paid to nonresident aliens^[1]. Singapore is not on the IRS list of countries with US income tax treaties in effect^[2], so Singapore residents are generally withheld at 30%. IRAS: foreign dividends received in Singapore by resident individuals are generally not taxable, except those received through a partnership in Singapore^[6][7]. The fallback rate 1.28 is roughly the open.er-api.com USD/SGD rate on 17 Oct 2026 and is only used if both live sources fail.

② Irish-domiciled vs US-domiciled ETF: annual drag

Defaults: 30% for a US ETF held directly by a Singapore resident (no treaty)^[1][2]; 15% at fund level for an Irish fund under Article 10(2)(b) of the US–Ireland treaty^[3]. Eligibility depends on the fund meeting the treaty's conditions. The yield and TERs are example inputs only; replace them with figures from the actual fund factsheets. Simplified: other fund-level taxes, tracking difference and non-US withholding are ignored.

③ US estate tax estimate (nonresidents)

Tentative tax from the US unified rate schedule (18%–40%) less the nonresident unified credit of US$13,000; Form 706-NA is required if US assets exceed US$60,000^[4][5]. Singapore itself removed estate duty for deaths on and after 15 February 2008^[9], but US estate tax can still apply to US-situated assets such as US stocks. Simplified estimate.

④ Broker fee comparison (annual cost)

The IBKR row uses the official IBKR Pro Fixed pricing: US$0.005 per share, US$1 minimum per order, capped at 1% of trade value^[10]. Brokers A/B/C are blank templates. Fill them in from your broker's official fee schedule.

Singapore tax at a glance

IRAS: gains from buying and selling shares and other financial instruments are generally viewed as personal investments and not taxable^[8]; overseas income received in Singapore, including foreign dividends received by resident individuals (other than through a Singapore partnership), is generally not taxable^[6][7]. If you trade with a profit-seeking motive or receive income through a partnership, the treatment may differ.

📚 Articles

• US Dividend Withholding Tax Without a Treaty: Why 30% and What You Actually Receive in SGD
• Irish-Domiciled vs US-Domiciled ETFs: Dividend Tax and Estate Tax Compared
• US Estate Tax on US Stocks: The US$60,000 Threshold, Rates and Why Abolishing Local Estate Duty Doesn't Help

Disclaimer

This is an independently built, unofficial information tool with no connection to any government agency. All results are for reference only and are not tax, legal or investment advice. Actual tax is determined by the IRS and IRAS. Please consult a qualified professional.

Sources (checked 17 October 2026): [1] 26 U.S. Code § 871 (LII); [2] IRS: Table 3, List of Tax Treaties (updated through 26 Sep 2025); [3] IRS: US–Ireland income tax treaty (1997), Article 10; [4] IRS: Instructions for Form 706-NA (Rev. 09/2025); [5] IRS: Instructions for Form 706 (Table A, Unified Rate Schedule); [6] IRAS: Dividends; [7] IRAS: Income received from overseas; [8] IRAS: Gains from sale of property, shares and financial instruments; [9] IRAS: Estate Duty; [10] Interactive Brokers: Stock commissions.