KUALA LUMPUR: The government has collected a total of RM27.012 billion through the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from April 1 to Dec 31 last year, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, said this was the government’s nett income derived from collections under the new tax regime, minus the GST credit claims.
“The money collected will be distributed to all states and agencies through the annual Budget. The allocations will be used to implement various development projects across the country, including rural areas for the benefit of every segment of society,” he said.
He said this in a written reply to Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (Independent-
Bandar Tun Razak) today, who asked how much money had been collected through GST since its implementation last April.
Khalid had also asked how much money was spent to develop the new taxation system.
He also said the government had spent close to RM300 million to ensure the smooth implementation of GST.
Najib said the money was used to develop the MyGST system, issue GST training grants, and subsidies GST-compliant accounting software meant for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Elaborating, Najib said RM98 million was spent on the MyGST computing system developed by the Customs Department between 2013 and 2014.
Another RM94 million was spent on subsidies to purchase GST-compliant accounting software meant for SMEs managed by SME Corp, he said.
“RM52.8 million was used to issue training grants for non-governmental organisations and associations,” Najib said, adding that portions of the sum were also spent on seminars, briefings and holding programmes.
He said as of Dec 2015, a total of 6,547 training programmes had been conducted nationwide, involving 600,000 participants.
“The government will continue holding discussion programmes and briefings, with particular emphasis on certain industries, to ensure the smooth implementation of GST,” said the prime minister.
A total of RM38 million, Najib said, was used for publicity purposes — which involved the creation of TV advertisements and awareness campaigns from 2013 to 2015.
Customs Department deputy director-general Datuk Subromaniam Tholasy on Thursday said GST collection had exceeded the RM27 billion mark set by the government for 2015.