Customs targets RM3b from import-export tax
PUTRAJAYA: The Customs Department hopes to generate RM3 billion in revenue through the collection of import and export tax.
Its director-general, Datuk Seri T. Subromaniam, said this was part of the department’s strategy to bridge the expected tax collection gap with the reintroduction of the Sales and Services Tax (SST).
He said the department would conduct audits on companies previously registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Subromaniam said Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng had requested that he draft a one-year strategy to consolidate the losses after SST was implemented.
“I have given my word to him that the department will try to bridge the gap. For import and export tax returns, we have to increase collection to make up for the losses.”
He said this at the department’s Breakfast Integrity Programme at its headquarters here yesterday.
Present were Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission deputy chief commissioner (Prevention) Datuk Shamsun Baharin Mohd Jamil and Transparency International Malaysia president Datuk Akhbar Satar.
SST will take effect from Sept 1. On Tuesday, Lim said the government was expected to collect only RM21 billion from SST, compared with a projected RM44 billion under GST.
On a separate matter, Subromaniam said the department was investigating whether a consignment of jewellery allegedly sent Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, had been declared at its point of entry.
He declined to comment further.