29 March 2013

The IRAS has provided clarifications in response to certain queries raised by a member of the public regarding the income tax filing process. The clarifications apply to taxpayers who have not qualified for the No-Filing Service (NFS) and are as follows:

1. Does one needs to submit a tax return or pay taxes if his annual salary does not exceed $20,000?

All taxpayers who have received a letter or SMS notification from IRAS to file a tax return should still do so, even if their income falls below this threshold. Such letters or notifications could be triggered by anomalies that exclude them from the NFS, such as an erroneous entry in the employer’s return.

2. Why has the phone filing service had been discontinued?

The phone filing service was discontinued since 2010 as it was uneconomical to continue providing the service given its low usage. In 2012, 97% of taxpayers who filed their tax returns did so electronically. Until 14 Apr 2013, taxpayers who are unfamiliar with e-Filing may call 1800 356 8300 or visit one of the 23 island-wide community centres on weekend afternoons between 2pm – 6pm for assistance.

Source: This article was extracted from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) website.