12 July 2013

The sole proprietor of a beauty salon, Melati Binte Abu Bakar, was fined S$21,800 for evading Goods and Services Tax (GST) on beauty products valued at S$270,000. According to Singapore Customs, the goods were imported between January 2012 and April this year. Melati had submitted fake invoices in the applications for 27 import permits. The under-declaration resulted in a shortfall GST payment of S$11,325.99.

Fraudulent evasion of GST on imports is a serious offence under the Customs Act. Those guilty may be fined up to 20 times the amount of tax evaded and/or be jailed for up to two years.

Source: Singapore Customs