Assisted Self-help Kit (ASK)

ASK helps businesses, especially those who have just registered for GST or are filing GST for the first time, to self-assess their GST submissions and to discover past GST errors early. 

ASK is a self-assessment package that focuses on three key aspects:

1. Putting in place good GST Practices comprising People, Record-Keeping, Systems and Internal Controls and Risk Management to properly handle the GST reporting of transactions;
2. Self-assessment using the Pre-Filing Checklist to ensure that GST returns are correct before submission; and
3. Performing Annual Review of past GST returns to detect errors early and to avoid costly penalties

GST-registered businesses may adopt ASK on a voluntary basis.

Conducting ASK is compulsory when you are applying for or renewing these GST Schemes.

Applying for GST Scheme

ASK is compulsory when you are applying for the following GST Schemes:

1.   Import GST Deferment Scheme (IGDS);
2.   Approved Marine Customer Scheme (AMCS);
3.   Approved Contract Manufacturer and Trader (ACMT) Scheme;
4.   Approved Refiner and Consolidator Scheme (ARCS);
5.   Major Exporter Scheme (MES);  
6.   Approved Import GST Suspension Scheme (AISS); or
7.   Approved Third Party Logistics (3PL) Company Scheme.

Renewing GST Schemes

ASK is compulsory when you are renewing the following GST Schemes:

1. Import GST Deferment Scheme (IGDS);
2. Major Exporter Scheme (MES); or
3. Approved Contract Manufacturer and Trader (ACMT) Scheme.

ASK Annual Review

One of the qualifying conditions for these GST schemes is that businesses have to perform a self-review using ASK and submit the ASK: Declaration Form on Completing Annual Review & Voluntary Disclosure of Errors (ZIP, 69KB).

The ASK Annual Review must either be performed by:

1. An individual accredited with Singapore Chartered Tax Professionals Limited ("SCTP") as Accredited Tax Advisor (GST) [ATA (GST)] or Accredited Tax Practitioner (GST) [ATP (GST)] or
2. The GST-registered business and certified by an individual accredited with SCTP as ATA (GST) or ATP (GST), in adherence to the certification procedures set out in the Assisted Help Kit ('ASK') Annual Review Guide (PDF, 1708KB).

The ATA (GST) or ATP (GST) may either be an in-house staff or external party. Your staff may apply to be an accredited tax professional with the SCTP if he meets the requirements of passing the relevant examinations and having acquired the relevant experience.

SCTP is a tax accreditation body jointly established by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore and the Tax Academy of Singapore. An Accredited Tax Advisor or Accredited Tax Practitioner with the SCTP would have the expertise and experience to assist businesses to better manage their tax affairs.

For more information on accreditation, please visit https://sctp.org.sg.

You will enjoy the following benefits:

1. Understand GST requirements on filing and record-keeping;
2. Review accuracy of GST submissions;
3. Reduce risk of incurring penalties on common errors made by GST-registered businesses;
4. Discover past GST errors early for timely disclosure to IRAS to enjoy zero or reduced penalties under  IRAS' Voluntary Disclosure Programme; 
5. Enjoy administrative concessions for common errors disclosed through the course of ASK Annual Review; and
6. Fulfil requirement for application or renewal of GST schemes, such as the
   •   Import GST Deferment Scheme (IGDS),
   •   Approved Marine Customer Scheme (AMCS),
   •   Approved Contract Manufacturer and Trader (ACMT) Scheme,
   •   Approved Refiner and Consolidator Scheme (ARCS),
   •   Major Exporter Scheme (MES),  
   •   Approved Import GST Suspension Scheme (AISS) or
   •   Approved Third Party Logistics (3PL) Company Scheme.