IRAS | Responsibilities of GST-registered businesses

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As a GST-registered business, you are required to:

Charge and account for GST correctly
File GST returns and pay tax on time
Transmit invoice data to IRAS using InvoiceNow-ready solutions
Keep proper business and accounting records
Display prices with GST
Issue proper tax invoices
Notify IRAS of business changes
Account for GST upon deregistration

You must fulfil these responsibilities from the effective date of registration stated in your approval letter.

1. Charge and account for GST on standard-rated supplies

You must charge and account for GST at the prevailing rate (9%) on standard‑rated supplies of goods and services made in Singapore.

In addition, GST applies to certain imported supplies:

Business‑to‑Business (B2B) supplies of imported services and low-value goods under the Reverse Charge regime. Under this regime, the GST-registered recipient accounts for GST on the imported services or low value goods as if it were the supplier.
Business‑to‑Consumer (B2C) supplies of remote services and low-value goods under the Overseas Vendor Registration regime.

Customer accounting for prescribed goods

If you make relevant supplies that are subject to customer accounting—that is, local sales of prescribed goods (such as mobile phones, memory cards and off‑the‑shelf software) with a value exceeding $10,000 — you should not charge GST to your GST‑registered customer. Instead, your GST‑registered customer must account for the GST as output tax.

2. File GST returns and pay tax on time

You must file accurate GST returns and pay the tax due on time.

File GST returns

All GST returns must be submitted via myTax Portal within one month from the end of each accounting period.
You can check your specific filing due date on myTax Portal.
Even if there are no transactions, you must still file a “NIL” GST return.

For guidance, refer to:

Overview of GST e-filing process for step‑by‑step instructions; and
Completing GST returns for details on how to complete your GST return.

Pay GST due on time

GST due must be paid within one month from the end of each accounting period, by the same date your GST return is due.
If you are on the GIRO plan for GST payment, GIRO deductions will take place on the 15th day of the month after the payment due date.

For more details on the payment modes available, refer to GST Tax Payment

Penalties for late or non-compliance

Area of non-compliance	Penalty / consequence
Late or non-filing of GST returns	Failure to file a GST return is an offence punishable with a fine up to $5,000 and, in default of payment, an imprisonment term up to 6 months. A late submission penalty of $200 is imposed immediately after the filing due date. An additional $200 penalty may be imposed, for each completed month the return remains outstanding, up to a maximum of $10,000 per return. IRAS may issue an estimated assessment of the overdue GST together with late payment penalties. Estimated assessments and penalties may be revised only after the overdue GST return is received.
Late or non-payment of GST	A 5% penalty is imposed on the amount of GST unpaid by the due date. An additional 2% penalty per month may be imposed on tax remaining unpaid after 60 days, subject to a maximum of 50% of the outstanding tax.

Area of non-compliance

Penalty / consequence

Late or non-filing of GST returns

Failure to file a GST return is an offence punishable with a fine up to $5,000 and, in default of payment, an imprisonment term up to 6 months.
A late submission penalty of $200 is imposed immediately after the filing due date. An additional $200 penalty may be imposed, for each completed month the return remains outstanding, up to a maximum of $10,000 per return.
IRAS may issue an estimated assessment of the overdue GST together with late payment penalties. Estimated assessments and penalties may be revised only after the overdue GST return is received.

Late or non-payment of GST

A 5% penalty is imposed on the amount of GST unpaid by the due date.
An additional 2% penalty per month may be imposed on tax remaining unpaid after 60 days, subject to a maximum of 50% of the outstanding tax.

For more details, refer to:

3. Transmit invoice data to IRAS using InvoiceNow-ready solutions

As part of IRAS’s digitalisation drive and Singapore’s nationwide e-invoicing initiative, GST-registered businesses must transmit invoice data to IRAS using InvoiceNow-Ready Solutions. This is mandatory and will be rolled out in phases.

For more details, refer to GST InvoiceNow Requirement.

4. Keep proper business and accounting records

You must keep proper business and accounting records for at least 5 years, even if you cease business or deregister from GST.

If you fail to keep proper records, you will not be able to support your GST declarations and penalties may be imposed.

Learn about the types of records you are required to keep.

5. Display prices with GST

You must display GST-inclusive prices on all price displays, advertisements, publications, or quotations made to the public.

If both GST-inclusive and GST-exclusive prices are shown, the GST-inclusive price must be at least as prominent. This requirement does not apply to hotel and food & beverage businesses supplying goods and services subject to a service charge.

Failure to comply may result in a fine of up to $5,000.

For more guidance on price displays, refer to Displaying and quoting prices.

6. Issue proper tax invoices

You must issue tax invoices or customer accounting tax invoices for standard-rated supplies made to GST-registered customers.

If the total value of the supply (including GST) does not exceed $1,000, you may issue a simplified tax invoice.

Your GST registration number must be shown on all tax invoices, simplified tax invoices, and receipts.

For supplies made to non-GST registered customers, you may issue receipts instead of tax invoices.

Learn about invoicing requirements and formats.

7. Notify IRAS of business changes

You must notify IRAS within 30 days of any change to your business details, including:

Changes to your GST mailing address
Changes in business constitution or ownership
Changes in partners or partner particulars
The setting up of new partnership businesses with the same partners

Learn more about the procedures to notify IRAS of changes to your business.

8. Account for GST upon deregistration

When you deregister for GST, you must account for GST on business assets held on your last day of registration if:

GST was previously claimed on these assets, and
Total market value exceeds $10,000.

These assets include inventories, fixed assets, non-residential properties, and goods imported under GST schemes.

For more information, refer to cancelling GST registration.

Additional GST registration obligations

In addition to ensuring that you fulfil all the responsibilities listed above, you must exercise due diligence to ensure that your business is not involved, directly or indirectly, in any Missing Trader Fraud arrangement.

Businesses assessed to pose a risk to revenue may have additional conditions imposed on their GST registration by IRAS.

Additional obligations for voluntary registrants

If you register for GST voluntarily, you must also:

Use GIRO for GST payments and refunds
Remain GST-registered for at least 2 years
Make taxable supplies within 2 years (if you were not already making them at the point of registration); and
Comply with any other conditions imposed by IRAS, such as providing a guarantee.

Additional obligations for businesses registered under overseas vendor registration regime

As a business registered under the overseas vendor registration regime, additional conditions are applicable. Please refer to the respective e-Tax Guides for more information:

Failure to fulfil responsibilities of a GST-registered business

The Comptroller may cancel your GST registration if you:

Do not meet the GST registration obligations; or
Commit or participate in a Missing Trader Fraud arrangement.