Tag: Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS)

IRAS issues e-Tax Guide: “GST Guide for Retailers participating in the Tourist Refund Scheme (4th Edition)”

On By taxsgIn Goods and Services Tax

11 February 2015

On 9 February 2015, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) issued an e-Tax Guide, “GST Guide for Retailers participating in the Tourist Refund Scheme (4th Edition)”.

This e-tax Guide provides details on the features and refund mechanism of the Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS). This includes the conditions that retailers participating in the eTRS must comply with.

Under the eTRS, tourists may obtain a refund of GST on goods purchased from GST-registered retailers who participate in the scheme.

The refund is allowed only on goods brought out of Singapore via Changi International Airport or Seletar Airport, and on an international cruise (excluding cruise-to-nowhere, round-trip cruise and regional ferry) that departs from Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore (MBCCS) and International Passenger Terminal at Harbourfront Centre, within two months from the date of purchase and subject to the tourists’ eligibility and conditions of the scheme.

This is a voluntary scheme. Retailers who wish to participate in the scheme can either engage the services of a CRA or operate the scheme on their own as Independent Retailer (IR). For information on the participation conditions under eTRS, retailers can refer to the e-tax guide: GST Guide on the Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS) on IRAS website.

The updates made in this edition of the e-Tax Guide relate to the amendment of paragraph 9.3.1 on the claiming of eTRS refund.

The previous edition was published on 14 November 2014.

For full details, please refer the e-Tax Guide on the IRAS website.

Source: This article was extracted from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore’s (IRAS) website. Visit http://www.iras.gov.sg/ for more information.

IRAS issues e-Tax Guide, “GST Guide on the Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS) (3rd edition)”

On By taxsgIn Goods and Services Tax

On 14 November 2014, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) issued an e-Tax Guide, “GST Guide on the Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS) (3rd edition)”.

The Guide covers the following:

(a) Description of process and data flow under eTRS

(b) Conditions and fees applicable for participation in the eTRS

(c) Application procedures under eTRS, and

(d) Overview of the system requirements under eTRS.

The updates in this edition relate to:

(i) Amendments to paragraphs 3.3.3 and 4.2.7 to rename the “Central Refund Counter” at all Changi International Airports transit areas to “GST Cash Refund”.

(ii) Insertion of a footnote for passport check under paragraphs 4.2.1(a), 3 of Appendix 1 and 7.2(a) of Appendix 2.

(iii) Insertion of the requirement to capture “Nationality” for issuing an eTRS transaction under paragraphs 4.2.1(c), 5.5.13(a), 7.4.1(h) and 7.5.1(d) of Appendix 2.

For full details, please refer the e-Tax Guide on the IRAS website.

Source: This article was extracted from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore’s (IRAS) website. Visit http://www.iras.gov.sg/ for more information.

IRAS updates the e-Tax Guide “GST Guide For Visitors On Tourist Refund Scheme (6th Edition)”

On By taxsgIn Corporate Tax, Goods and Services Tax

5 March 2013

On 22 February 2013, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) issued a revised edition of the e-Tax Guide, “GST Guide For Visitors On Tourist Refund Scheme (6th Edition)”.

In this edition, revisions have been made to:
• take into account the extension of the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS), effective from 21 January 2013, to tourists departing from Singapore on an international cruise (with some exclusions) from the Marina Bay Cruise Centre and the International Passenger Terminal at Harbourfront Centre
• update the TRS eligibility criteria, and
• update the TRS claim procedures at the airport or cruise terminals.

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

IRAS updates the e-Tax Guide “GST Guide for Retailers participating in Tourist Refund Scheme (6th Edition)”

On By taxsgIn Goods and Services Tax, Latest Tax News

5 March 2013

On 22 February 2013, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) issued a revised edition of the e-Tax Guide, “GST Guide for Retailers participating in Tourist Refund Scheme (6th Edition)”.

In this edition, revisions have been made to:
• take into account the extension of the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS), effective from 21 January 2013, to tourists departing from Singapore on an international cruise (with some exclusions) from the Marina Bay Cruise Centre and the International Passenger Terminal at Harbourfront Centre
• update the particulars of the participating Central Refund Agencies
• update the tourist eligibility criteria and the type of goods qualifying for refund
• update the compliance conditions for participating retailers
• update the refund procedures at time of sale and at the airport or cruise terminals
• highlight important areas that retailers should take note of when making a sale under the TRS
• update the claim procedures to be taken by participating retailers and the documentation required when claiming a refund under the TRS from the Comptroller
• highlight the controls to be implemented by retailers to prevent misuse of the eTRS, and
• update information relating to retailer contingency plans, administrative fees and offences.

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

IRAS publishes e-Tax Guide, “GST Guide on the Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS) (5th edition)”

On By taxsgIn Goods and Services Tax, Latest Tax News

24 January 2013

The Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) was introduced in April 1994 to ensure that the imposition of GST will not adversely affect Singapore as a shopping destination for tourists. Under the scheme, tourists may obtain a refund of GST on goods purchased from GST-registered retailers who participate in the scheme.

GST refund is available on goods purchased from GST-registered retailers operating on the TRS. The electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS) system was introduced on 18 May 2011 to replace the old paper-based system, to be implemented in phases. eTRS is mandatory from 19 August 2012, and the paper-based system has ceased from this date.

Under the eTRS, all Central Refund Agencies and Independent Retailers (IR) will have to obtain the Comptroller’s approval before they can participate directly in the electronic system and claim refund from IRAS under the TRS. In addition to the existing conditions for tourist refunds, the Central Refund Agencies and Independent Retailers should also comply with the conditions as set out in the IRAS e-Tax Guide.

Tourists may claim refunds on their purchases under the electronic system if they exit via Changi International Airport and Seletar Airport. From 21 January 2013, eTRS will be extended to international cruise passengers departing via the International Passenger Terminals of Singapore Cruise Centre (SCC) at Habourfront Centre, and the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore (MBCCS) at Marina South.

The fifth edition of the e-Tax Guide has been updated to take into account the extension of eTRS to the abovementioned cruise terminals.

Source: This article was extracted from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) website. Visit http://www.iras.gov.sg for more information.