When most people think of tax work, they may picture just spreadsheets and compliance checks. At the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS), tax is more than that. It’s also about designing policies that shape industries and navigating international tax cooperation. For staff at IRAS, it means being trusted with meaningful work from day one — and growing fast.

The IRAS Overseas Undergraduate Scholarship supports individuals ready for exactly this challenge. Jaydon Chin, now Manager (Income Tax Policy) at the Corporate Tax Division, is one such individual. With multiple rotations in the Management Associate Programme (MAP), he gained hands-on exposure to policymaking, international tax strategy, and stakeholder engagement.

We caught up with Jaydon to learn about the valuable experiences he’s picked up along the way.

1. Not Your Average Scholarship Interview

From the outset, I was impressed by IRAS’s personalised approach to the scholarship admission process. Everyone I interacted with showed a genuine interest in my background and aspirations, and demonstrated a clear commitment to supporting my personal and professional growth. The team went above and beyond, facilitating coffee chats with past scholars and offering personalised tips to help me prepare for subsequent interview sessions.

Contrary to my expectations, interactions with senior management were not at all intimidating. Instead, it was an engaging and constructive conversation focused on understanding my interests and exploring how they aligned with IRAS’s broader organisational goals. This thoughtful approach made me feel both respected and supported, reinforcing my belief that IRAS is a place where I can contribute meaningfully while growing professionally.

2. When Policy Gets Personal: Real Work, Real Impact

One of the most eye-opening experiences was during my first rotation in the Small Business Division. I learned how deliberate and carefully planned policy rollouts are. In my role, I contributed to designing the implementation approach for the Mandatory Income Submission scheme for specific groups of Self-Employed Persons.

This involved conducting structured consultations with digital platform businesses, industry associations, and worker representatives to understand operational models and pain points, while also analysing feedback from previous rollouts to ensure the approach was effective. Every step required meticulous planning, as the success of the policy could directly affect people’s livelihoods. This experience gave me a deep appreciation for the responsibility, rigour, and long-term thinking required to develop impactful public policy.

3. Growth in Every Rotation

When I started my rotation in the Corporate Tax Division, I expected to focus on strengthening my technical knowledge and sharpening my understanding of tax concepts. However, I soon realised that tax work is far more than knowing the legislation by heart.

Managing multiple rotations pushed me far outside my comfort zone, and there were times when I felt really stretched. However, there is an expectation for us to challenge ourselves and adapt as situations arise. The warm, supportive culture has made every challenge a learning opportunity and I am grateful to have received an abundance of mentorship and guidance. Having a close group of fellow associates going through similar experiences has also provided a genuine sense of solidarity along the way.

Additionally, maintaining an open attitude to learning has been very helpful. Being exposed to opportunities and experiences that are rarely available elsewhere has not only helped me develop new skills in unexpected areas but also added texture to corporate life. I have quickly come to appreciate that growth is not necessarily linear; exploring different tasks and projects helps in holistic development and shapes how one handles challenges and works with others.

4. From Classroom to United Nations Conference Room

I never imagined I’d be back in New York so soon after graduating, much less as part of the Singaporean delegation on the world stage of global diplomacy. Fostering consensus among countries with differing priorities and circumstances was a delicate process, and I saw that much of the work happens through dialogue and relationship-building outside formal meetings.

One key reflection I took away was the importance of disagreeing without being disagreeable, maintaining respect and professionalism while navigating differing perspectives to find common ground.

5. High Stakes, Higher Standards

Aside from attending the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) meeting, I was part of the Singapore delegation participating in the 30th Session of the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters. As part of the delegation, I was tasked with drafting an intervention on a topic related to the tax treatment of income derived from cross-border transactions. This required carefully ensuring that Singapore’s position was aligned with international norms while clearly communicating our perspective to other member states.

It became clear that virtually every aspect of tax is increasingly influenced by international developments. Tax is no longer a local issue for individual governments to act on in isolation, but requires coordination and engagement at the global level.

6. Team IRAS: Powered by Purpose and Play

Organising wellness activities in my capacity as Assistant Sports Secretary of the Inland Revenue Recreation Club (IRRC) has also been incredibly rewarding. One standout experience was organising IROX, IRAS’s very own version of Hyrox, which brought colleagues together for a spirited, high-energy fitness challenge. It was heartening to see the camaraderie and resilience shown by our colleagues. Such events reflect the dynamic and inclusive culture at IRAS, where meaningful work is balanced with moments of joy and shared experiences, creating a workplace that values connection, celebrates effort, and encourages everyone to bring their best selves to work.

7. The Human Side of Policy

On reflection, my most important takeaway from IRAS is that tax work is much more than numbers and enforcing compliance. As the old adage goes, nothing in life is certain except death and taxes. Tax may not be an inherently fun process for many businesses, yet it represents one of the most fundamental interactions between government and businesses.

Increasingly, I have realised that effective policy work requires a keen sense of empathy and a human-centered perspective. People are complex and sometimes unpredictable, and it can be tempting to design solutions or processes around them rather than for them. True impact comes from focusing on the people themselves. Understanding their behaviours, needs, and motivations is often the hardest part of the work, but it is also the most important.