Png Yeow Leng, 35, pleaded guilty to 6 charges under GST Act when he faked transactions to claim $42,000 in tax rebates over 9 months to March 2005.
Nothing amazing about this so far.
The interesting thing is that he has the honour of being the first person in 14 years to be convicted of not keeping proper business records.
When the IRAS officers first attempted to commence investigation into his business dealings, he closed his shop, burnt its records and sold his computer to a karung guni man.
Under section 46(1) and (2) of the GST Act, a GST trader is required to keep business and accounting records, copies of all tax invoices and receipts issued by him and tax invoices received by him and to preserve such records for a period of not less than 7 years.
From 1 Jan 2007, you have to keep your records for 5 years.
Failure to do so is an offence. Under section 46(6), the offence is punishable with a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
1 comment:
this Png fellow is really deserved the verdict. Strong message to others.
claim refund from government, and expected they wouldn't come and check your book?! he must be an awful naive.
s'pore self-assesement tax system is already pretty good,the freedom and trust that given to business entity and individuals are excellent, its now upto the tax payer, better be honest and behave than sorry.
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