Sabah customs push for GST compliance

KOTA KINABALU: A total of 2,935 GST-03 statements have yet to be submitted by goods and services tax (GST) registered businesses in Sabah, as of October, said Sabah Royal Malaysian Customs Department director Datuk Hamzah Sundang.

He said the amount was part of the 89,791 GST-03 statements that should have been submitted to the department.

“Meanwhile, 3,587 statements were submitted to the Customs Department after the stipulated time frame,” he told reporters after launching the state-level GST Ambassador Programme here yesterday.

Hamzah said the programme was aimed at raising the level of compliance by GSTregistered businesses on their obligation to issue tax invoices, record keeping, declaration of genuine GST-03 statements, submission of GST returns and tax payment according to the fixed schedule.

He said the approach was part of Customs Department’s policy of informed compliance by stationing customs officers at business associations or chambers of business to help businessmen with GSTrelated matters.

“This way, businessmen can seek advice on GST without having to be present at Customs offices.

“The Sabah Customs Department is optimistic the programme will help reduce the number of businessmen who are not well versed with the GST, reduce errors and increase the compliance level of GST registrants,” he said, adding that there were 24,610 businesses that were GST registered in Sabah.

Meanwhile, the Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Datuk Michael Lui Yen Sang said the programme was important to foster good relations between the business community and the Customs Department especially in solving GST-related issues.

He advised chamber members to take advantage of the programme to obtain clarification and advice from customs officers. – Bernama