Key facts
- SCT claim limit: $20,000, or $30,000 with a Memorandum of Consent signed by both parties.
- File within 2 years of the event that gave rise to your claim.
- All claims are filed online through CJTS; filing fees start at $10 for individuals and $50 for businesses.
- Lawyers are not allowed to represent parties at the SCT.
- An unpaid SCT order is enforced in the civil courts like a District Court order.
What the SCT is for
The Small Claims Tribunals are part of the State Courts. They resolve common, low value disputes quickly and at low cost. Both individuals and businesses can file. A company is represented by one of its officers or a full time employee, not by a lawyer.
Most SCT cases conclude within 4 months of filing, according to the Singapore Courts.
Claims the SCT can hear
The SCT can only hear the types of claims set out in the Small Claims Tribunals Act. The Singapore Courts list these:
- A contract for the sale of goods.
- A contract for the provision of services.
- Damage to property, except damage connected with a motor vehicle or caused by a neighbour.
- A residential tenancy of up to 2 years (not commercial or industrial leases).
- An unfair practice claim against a supplier under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act.
- Refund of a motor vehicle deposit.
- Other statutory claims, such as Town Council conservancy charges or MCST contributions.
Claims the SCT cannot hear
- Claims worth more than $30,000 in total.
- Claims filed more than 2 years after the event that created the claim.
- Claims against someone located outside Singapore.
- Employment matters.
- Property damage connected with a motor vehicle, or caused by a neighbour.
A personal loan is not one of the listed claim types. If you lent money to a friend or relative, check the eligibility page before you file. If the Registrar finds a claim is outside the SCT’s jurisdiction, the claim is discontinued, and you would need to go to the civil courts, such as the Magistrates’ Courts. Our guide on when a friend owes you money covers that route.
You also cannot split one claim into several smaller claims to fit under the limit. You can choose to give up the amount above the limit so the SCT can hear the rest.
Filing fees
| Claim value | Individual | Business or other entity |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $5,000 | $10 | $50 |
| Above $5,000 to $10,000 | $20 | $100 |
| Above $10,000 to $30,000 | 1% of the amount claimed | 3% of the amount claimed |
Filing fees are not refunded if you later withdraw the claim.
How to file on CJTS
- Log in to CJTSGo to cjts.judiciary.gov.sg and log in with Singpass. Individuals and business users both use Singpass.
- Do the pre filing assessmentAnswer the eligibility questions. You need the assessment ID to file.
- Fill in the claim formEnter your details and the respondent’s details, then upload invoices, contracts, receipts and messages as PDFs. A business must also upload a Letter of Authorisation on its letterhead and an ACRA business profile obtained within one month of filing.
- Pay and pick a datePay the filing fee online or at the State Courts, then choose a consultation date.
- Serve the claimServe the claim and Notice of Consultation on the respondent within 7 days of filing, by hand or by registered post. Claims cannot be served outside Singapore.
- File a Declaration of ServiceUpload proof of service, such as the registered post slip, in CJTS before the first consultation.
Negotiation, mediation and consultation
Once a claim is filed, the parties can try to settle online. Through eNegotiation, each side has 5 rounds of offers. Through eMediation, a court mediator helps both sides online. A settlement can be recorded as a consent order without going to court.
If there is no settlement, both sides attend a consultation with a Registrar, who helps them try to resolve the dispute. The Registrar can record a settlement, fix another consultation, send the case to mediation, or fix it for a hearing.
The hearing
At the hearing, a Tribunal Magistrate hears both sides and their evidence. Be ready to explain every invoice in your claim. The Tribunal Magistrate can order the other side to pay money, do work, give vacant possession, or pay costs, or can dismiss the claim.
If the other side ignores the claim or the order
If a party does not attend the consultation or hearing, the SCT may make a default order against them. The absent party can apply to set it aside within 1 month.
If the other side still does not pay an order, the SCT does not collect for you. An SCT order is enforced in the same way as a District Court order, through separate proceedings in the civil courts. You may use a lawyer at that stage. See our guide on enforcing a judgment in Singapore.
Where a debt collection company fits
Before you file, it is worth making a clear, written demand for payment with a deadline. You can send a letter of demand yourself, or have a collector contact the debtor and set a deadline.
A debt collection company cannot represent you at the SCT. The Courts do not allow lawyers or agents to act for a party there, and a collector cannot give legal advice. What we can do is chase the debt before you file, help you put your invoices and messages in order, and follow up after an order if the debtor wants to agree a payment plan. Our debt recovery service is success based: no recovery, no fee.