A semiconductor device has a substrate. A conductive layer is formed over the substrate and includes a ground plane. A first tab of the conductive layer extends from the ground plane and less than half-way across a saw street of the substrate. A shape of the first tab can include elliptical, triangular, parallelogram, or rectangular portions, or any combination thereof. An encapsulant is deposited over the substrate. The encapsulant and substrate are singulated through the saw street. An electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding layer is formed over the encapsulant. The EMI shielding layer contacts the first tab of the conductive layer.