9 online retailers caught for evading GST in 2014

SINGAPORE - A total of nine online retailers were caught last year for attempting to evade the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

They were each fined between $4,500 and $133,000, Singapore Customs said in a statement today, adding that it has observed an emerging trend of such offenders.

In one case, two managers of an online store selling robotic vacuum cleaners were caught for under-declaring the values of their goods, which resulted in a shortfall of over $163,000 in GST payment.

They were fined $115,000 each in October.

In another case, an online retailer of luxury handbags and accessories was prosecuted for failing to declare and pay the GST on the 195 handbags and wallets she had purchased overseas. She had also under-declared the values of 201 other handbags and wallets she imported.

For evading over $12,000 in GST payment, the retailer was fined $23,000 in November.

Those guilty of fraudulent evasion of duties can be fined up to 20 times the amount evaded or imprisonment or both, and are required to make good the shortfall.

huizhen@sph.com.sg