SHAH ALAM: The Customs Department’s personnel will take on the role of ‘GST Ambassadors’ effective Oct 15 to help businesses with their Goods and Services Tax (GST) claims.
Its director-general Datuk T. Subromaniam said this was a much needed move to further increase GST compliance among businesses in the country.
He, however, said the new approach depends on the needs and demands of small businesses, local companies or industries, which were having issues with GST.
The personnel he said will be placed at chambers of commerce and business associations.
“It will be implemented in the Klang Valley and will be extended nationwide in stages by the year-end,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
Subromaniam said the department found that companies and small businesses were still facing problems, especially in declaring the correct GST-03 statements.
“GST ambassadors will play a crucial role in aiding and educating businesses and traders, with filing and documentation. They will give free advice.
“Hence, we hope companies or industries will take this opportunity to clear any doubts and seek help.
“We are confident that with this move, we will be able to collect an additional RM1 billion from businesses once they have made their GST payments.”
Subromaniam said based on statistics as of June this year, the department has issued 62,000 notices to companies that have failed to meet the requirements, such as incomplete form and incorrect declaration.
As of today, he said only 10,000 of the 62,000 have made corrections.
“Effective January next year, stern action will be taken against those who fail to submit their complete GST claims, and they will be fined under the GST Act 2014.”
He also said the department expects that revenue collected from GST this year would amount to RM42 billion, an increase from last year.
As of Sept 30, he said the amount collected has exceeded last year’s sum, thus proving Malaysia’s economic growth.