Official website links end with .gov.sg
A Singapore Government Agency Website
Secure websites use HTTPS
Pay a court fine or offer of composition
About court fines and offers of composition
Refer to the following to find out what are court fines and offers of composition, and the steps to take to pay the amount imposed:
Court fines
The law prescribes certain sentences that can be imposed as punishment for a criminal offence. For civil cases heard in the Supreme Court and the State Courts, fines may also be imposed for committal matters. A fine is a monetary penalty imposed on a party by the court.
If the court has imposed a fine on you, you should take the necessary steps to pay the amount stated immediately (usually on the same day), or by the due date given by the court. If you are unable to pay the court fine by the due date, you may have to serve a default imprisonment term decided by the court.
You can also apply for your court fine to be deferred or paid by instalments, subject to the court's approval. This request should be made during your sentencing hearing.
If you do not make payment by the instalment due date, your instalment plan may be revoked and a warrant of arrest may be issued against you.
Refer to the following to find out how to pay a court fine in the respective courts.
Payment of State Courts fines can be made by the following means:
- Through the payment kiosks located on Level 2, 4 and 7 of the State Courts.
- Payment at the kiosk can be made through cash, cashier's order, NETS (subject to the limits you have set with your bank), credit card (up to $10,000 per transaction) and local bank cheque (for fines $100,000 and below).
Payment by instalments
If your instalment plan for your State Courts fine has been approved by the court, you must make payment before 10pm on the instalment due date through AXS kiosks located island-wide, the AXS website or the AXS app.
You can make payment via AXS 1 day after your instalment plan is approved by the court.
If you are not able to comply with the instalment plan, you should submit the Application to Vary Fine Payment at least 7 days before the instalment due date. Otherwise, your application must be submitted personally at the State Courts Bail Centre (Level 4).
Note
All applications to vary fine payment is subject to the court's approval and will only be granted on exceptional grounds. If you do not receive any notification of approval, you must pay the fine on or before the instalment due date.
If you require assistance or have other queries, visit the State Courts Bail Centre (Level 4) or write to us at least 1 week before the instalment due date.
You can make payment of Family Justice Courts (FJC) fines at the cashier counter, Level 1 of the FJC Havelock building.
The modes of payment include cash, cashier's order and NETS (subject to the limits you have set with your bank).
Payment by instalments
If your instalment plan for your FJC fine has been approved by the court, you can make payment via GIRO or in person at the cashier counter, Level 1 of the FJC Havelock building.
If you are not able to comply with the instalment plan, you should submit a request to vary the existing instalment plan via post at least 2 weeks before the instalment due date.
You should state the following in your letter:
- The reasons for varying the instalment plan.
- Whether consent from deputy public prosecutor (DPP) has been sought.
- Your proposed new instalment plan for the court’s consideration.
Note
All applications to vary fine payment is subject to the court's approval and will only be granted on exceptional grounds. If you do not receive any notification of approval, you must pay the fine on or before the instalment due date.
You can make payment of Supreme Court fines at the Service Hub (Level 1, Supreme Court).
The modes of payment include cash, NETS (subject to the limits you have set with your bank), credit card, cashier's order or GIRO.
Payment by instalments
If your instalment plan for your Supreme Court fine has been approved by the court, you can make payment via GIRO or in person at the cashier located at the Service Hub (Level 1, Supreme Court).
If you are not able to comply with the instalment plan, you should submit a request to vary the existing instalment plan via email at supct_registry@judiciary.gov.sg or via post to the Legal Registry at least 2 weeks before the instalment due date.
You should state the following in your letter:
- The reasons for varying the instalment plan.
- Whether consent from deputy public prosecutor (DPP) has been sought.
- Your proposed new instalment plan for the court’s consideration.
Note
All applications to vary fine payment is subject to the court's approval and will only be granted on exceptional grounds. If you do not receive any notification of approval, you must pay the fine on or before the instalment due date.
Offer of composition
You may be offered composition for some offences such as traffic or regulatory offence. An offer of composition is stated on the notice, summons or traffic ticket notice you receive. This is the sum of money you will have to pay to settle the ticket, summons or notice without going to court.
If you wish to accept the offer, you must pay the offer of composition before the due date as stated on your notice, summons or traffic ticket.
Note
Offers of composition do not apply for cases heard in the Supreme Court or FJC.
Payment of an offer of composition can be made by the following means:
For traffic offences
You can pay the offer of composition for traffic offences via the Automated Traffic Offence Management System (ATOMS) at AXS kiosks located island-wide 3 days after you receive a traffic ticket or notice.
You will need to make payment through NETS (subject to the limit you have set with your bank) at the AXS kiosk.
If the offer of composition has expired for certain prescribed offences(1), you can still use ATOMS to settle your ticket or notice by pleading guilty to the traffic offence and paying the court fine stated by 5pm on the court date stated in your ticket or notice.
If you encounter difficulties in using ATOMS, you can call the AXS hotline at 6560 2727.
For regulatory offences
You can pay the offer of composition for regulatory offences through the AXS kiosks located island-wide, on the AXS website or through the AXS app after you receive a summons or notice from an enforcement agency.
Related questions
This could be due to:
- Composition not being offered for the case.
- Composition offered for the case has expired or has been withdrawn.
- Composition cannot be made via the AXS system, but only at the prosecuting agency’s office.
- You may wish to contact the prosecuting agency for further information.
You may wish to approach the relevant prosecuting agency to seek permission to pay the composition sum in instalments.
It is up to the prosecuting agency to decide whether this will be allowed.
Footnotes
(1) Schedule of the Criminal Procedure Code (pleading guilty by electronic means) regulations 2010
Share this page:
