If your Singapore business is hitting a ceiling, the world is waiting. But “going global” has always come with a steep price tag—until now.

In the Singapore Budget 2026, the Government sent a clear signal to SMEs: We will pay for your ticket to the global market. By significantly enhancing grant levels and tripling tax deduction limits, they have removed the financial barriers that usually stop small businesses from expanding.

Here is how you can use the Budget 2026 updates to fund your move into new markets.

1. The 70% Subsidy: Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant

The MRA grant is the “starter pack” for any business looking to enter a new country. Previously, the support level was set at 50%, but Budget 2026 has significantly enhanced this.

  • The Benefit: Local SMEs will now receive support of up to 70% of eligible costs (up from 50%).
  • The Timeline: This higher support level is applicable from 1 April 2026 until 31 March 2029.
  • The Game-Changer: Previously, MRA was only for “new” markets. Starting in the second half of 2026, the “new to target overseas market” criterion will be removed. This means you can finally receive grant support to deepen your presence in markets where you already operate.

What it covers: Market set-up (legal and accounting fees), business development (finding partners), and overseas market promotion.

Infographic comparing Singapore SME internationalisation benefits before and after Budget 2026, featuring the 70% MRA grant and the S$400k DTDi cap.

2. The S$400,000 “No-Approval” Tax Break: DTDi Scheme

The Double Tax Deduction for Internationalisation (DTDi) allows you to claim a 200% tax deduction on eligible expansion expenses. In Budget 2026, the administrative burden for this scheme has been slashed.

  • The New Limit: Currently, you can only claim the first S$150,000 automatically. Starting in YA 2027, this automatic expenditure cap jumps to S$400,000 per year.
  • The Benefit: You no longer need prior approval from Enterprise Singapore or the Singapore Tourism Board for mid-sized expansion budgets.
  • Expanded Scope: The “no-approval” bucket now includes investment feasibility studies, master licensing, franchising, and overseas business development trips.

3. Stronger Financing: The Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS)

If you need a loan to finance overseas fixed assets or trade, the Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS) has been beefed up to provide more liquidity.

  • The Update: From 1 April 2026, the borrower group caps for individual loan facilities (like the SME Fixed Assets Loan) will be lifted.
  • The Result: Your group is now only subject to an overall loan exposure limit of S$50 million across all EFS facilities, giving you much more room to borrow for massive overseas projects.

4. Why Compliance is Your Ticket to Growth

These grants and tax deductions are not “free money.” They require rigorous documentation and specific filing formats. To successfully claim a 70% MRA grant or a S$400,000 DTDi deduction, your accounting and tax records must be flawless.

To protect your claims, you must ensure:

  1. Clear Categorization: Separating local marketing spend from overseas “market promotion” to trigger the 200% DTDi.
  2. Audit Trails: Maintaining proof of “market entry” activities to satisfy Enterprise Singapore’s refresh of grant schemes in late 2026.
  3. Entity Structuring: Ensuring your corporate structure allows for the “Borrower Group” benefits under the new EFS rules.

How Excellence Singapore Helps

Expansion is complicated enough without having to worry about grant administration. We act as your “Outsourced CFO” to ensure you maximize your claims under the new Budget 2026 framework.

  • Grant Strategy: We help you map out your MRA journey before you spend a single dollar.
  • Tax Optimization: We ensure your Singapore tax filings leverage the new S$400,000 DTDi limits to their full potential.
  • Cross-Border Compliance: We handle the corporate secretarial and accounting paperwork so you can focus on winning customers in your new market.

Ready to see how much of your expansion the Government will pay for?

Contact our Advisory Team for a Budget 2026 Expansion Roadmap today.