At the close of the e-Filing deadline of 18 Apr 2010, about 890,000 taxpayers e-Filed their tax returns, setting a record high of 94% e-Filing rate. This is an increase of 3% as compared to last year’s 91%.

Together with about 61,000 taxpayers who chose to file paper returns, the filing rate this year is 88%, about the same as last year.

Tax Filing Made Easy

Tax time was a non-event this year for some 533,000 of the 653,000 taxpayers under the No-Filing Service (NFS). Only two in 10 had to file a return because they had other income or changes to make to their relief claims, and almost all did so electronically.

Most taxpayers spent between two to 10 minutes e-Filing, reflecting the simplicity of the filing process made possible by the various improvements to the income tax system over the years as well as the Auto-Inclusion Scheme where information is pre-filled by IRAS.

Currently employers with 50 or more employees are required to transmit the salary information of their employees to IRAS electronically. IRAS intends to extend this requirement to employers with 30 to 50 employees from 2011. This means another 100,000 taxpayers will join the existing one million taxpayers who are already on the scheme, and enjoy the ease of not having to provide their employment information when they file their returns next year. We can also expect more taxpayers to be included in the NFS going forward.

Tax Help at the heartlands

To provide greater accessibility to taxpayers and to encourage them to e-File, IRAS worked with the CPF Board to provide e-Filing assistance at all CPF Service Centres during the filing period this year. Our officers were also stationed at e-Filing Service Centres at Chong Pang Community Club and Bedok Community Centre to handle e-Filing queries. In addition, more than 320 volunteers were on hand at 23 CitizenConnect Centres located island-wide to help taxpayers e-File. Close to 25,000 taxpayers filed their returns at these centres, about 30% more as compared to last year. The service will continue next year.

Penalties for late filing

IRAS would like to remind taxpayers who have not filed their tax returns to do so immediately. A late filing penalty of $ 1,000 may be imposed for late filing unless taxpayers have been granted an extension to do so. Taxpayers may contact our officers on 1800-356 8300 or email us at [email protected] if they need any assistance.

Easy Tax Payment

Most of the taxpayers who have filed their returns can expect to receive their Notice of Assessment (NOA) by September this year.

Taxpayers are required to pay their tax in full within one month of the date of the NOA. Otherwise, a 5% penalty may be imposed for those who do not pay on time.

Taxpayers are encouraged to join GIRO to enjoy up to 12 interest-free monthly instalments. Taxpayers may sign up for GIRO through the following modes :

1. Apply online via Internet banking (for DBS/POSB and OCBC customers);
2. Apply online at any AXS stations (for DBS/POSB customers).
3. Complete a GIRO application form that can be downloaded from www.iras.gov.sg;

Taxpayers who pay by GIRO will receive their instalment plan together with the NOA. They can also view their instalment plan, check out their latest tax position or request a Statement of Account at myTax Portal on the IRAS website.

Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore