The CPF Special Account (SA) is the retirement-savings account of members below 55. It receives a rising share of each month’s contribution as a member ages, earns 4% a year plus extra interest, and at 55 is folded into the Retirement Account.
Key takeaways
- SA savings earn 4% a year — the same as the MediSave and Retirement Accounts and above the 2.5% on the Ordinary Account — plus 1% extra on the first SGD 60,000 of combined balances for members below 55.
- The share of each contribution that goes to the SA rises with age: 16.2% at 35 and below, 31.1% from above 50 to 55.
- Cash top-ups to the SA under the Retirement Sum Topping-Up scheme are allowed up to the Full Retirement Sum (SGD 220,400 for the 2026 cohort) and earn tax relief of up to SGD 8,000 a year.
- Since 2025 the SA closes when a member turns 55: savings move to the Retirement Account up to the FRS and any remainder to the Ordinary Account.
- SA savings above SGD 40,000 can be invested under the CPF Investment Scheme; the first SGD 40,000 stays in the account.
What the Special Account is for
Of the three accounts a working member holds, the SA is the one earmarked purely for retirement. It cannot be used for housing or education, which is why it carries the higher rate. Contributions are split by the CPF Board’s allocation ratios for the member’s age band, and the split tilts towards the SA as retirement approaches.
Queries for an “SA cap” usually mean the top-up ceiling: voluntary cash into the SA stops at the Full Retirement Sum, SGD 220,400 for members turning 55 in 2026. There is no cap on the balance itself, which keeps compounding until 55.
How a SGD 5,000 salary is split, by age
On a SGD 5,000 monthly wage the combined contribution is SGD 1,850 (37%). The allocation ratios decide how much of it reaches the SA each month.
| Age band | SA share | To SA | To OA | To MediSave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 and below | 16.2% | SGD 300 | SGD 1,150 | SGD 400 |
| Above 35 to 45 | 18.9% | SGD 350 | SGD 1,050 | SGD 450 |
| Above 45 to 50 | 21.6% | SGD 400 | SGD 950 | SGD 500 |
| Above 50 to 55 | 31.1% | SGD 575 | SGD 750 | SGD 525 |
A year of interest on SGD 50,000 in the SA
Assumes the SA is the member’s only CPF balance, so the whole extra-interest tier applies to it. With OA and MediSave balances the SGD 60,000 tier is shared across accounts.
Where the SA shows up before 55
Five things people get wrong
- CPF Board — CPF interest rates, Q4 2026 — quarterly OA and SMRA rates, floor extension, extra interest tiers
- CPF Board — How much CPF contributions to pay — contribution rates by age, wage ceilings, allocation
- CPF Board — Retirement income — retirement sums by cohort, Retirement Account, CPF LIFE payouts
Official statistics for general information only. Not financial advice.
This page is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice. All figures and worked examples are estimates for illustrative purposes, are subject to change, and do not reflect any individual’s circumstances. Always refer to the CPF Board and seek independent professional advice before making any financial decisions.