Where is the Efficiency Associated with "Hub/World Class"?
-
GST COMPENSATION
How come I'm getting only $100?
About 36,000 S'poreans get less than they should
Ministry says mix-up will be sorted out
By Alvin Chiang
June 13, 2007
SOME 36,000 Singaporeans may find themselves getting fewer goods and services tax (GST) credits than they should.
GST goes up to 7 per cent, from 5 per cent, next month.
The reason: A delay in getting up-to-date information on their income and property value.
This resulted in most of them being given the minimum $100 under the offset package.
But the Ministry of Finance told The New Paper last Friday that those affected should not be unduly worried because the difference will be corrected in due course.
The ministry noted that the payment 'shortfall' came about because information on residents' annual income and the annual value of the property they live in was not finalised by 21 Mar.
It estimated that about 1.5 per cent of the 2.4 million people eligible for GST credits are affected.
This works out to about 36,000 people.
Until information on their data is finalised, they will be paid the minimum $100 next month.
Madam Y L Lim, 58, is one of those affected.
Her husband will receive $400 next month, but she was told she will get only the minimum $100.
She lives with her 65-year-old husband in a four-room Hougang HDB flat.
Her daughter, Ms Jane Chua, called up the GST offset package hotline to find out the reason for the discrepancy.
Ms Chua, 31, said she was told that her mother's annual income was incorrectly filed as more than $100,000.
But she pointed out then that a mistake could have occurred because Madam Lim used to work as a factory operator, earning slightly more than $1,000 a month.
Not only that, she stopped working early last year.
A check with the Finance Ministry confirmed that Madam Lim was indeed sent a letter telling her she was eligible for $100 worth of GST credits.
INCOME NOT FINALISED
The ministry said MadamLim's GST credits were placed at only $100 initially because her annual income had not been finalised by 21 Mar.
A spokesman said: 'In order to send out the notification letters to 2.4 million eligible Singaporeans by 15 May, the CPF Board needs their annual property value and annual income information by 21 Mar to determine the amount of GST credits they will receive.
'However, there were a small number of Singaporeans like Madam Lim whose annual income had not been finalised by 21 Mar, either because they had not filed their 2006 income tax returns or because Iras was still in the process of finalising their income tax assessment.'
GST credits will be given out by the Government over four years to help Singaporeans cope with next month's 2 per cent increase in GST - up from the current 5 per cent.
The amount of credit issued to each person depends on the person's income and the value of his or her property.
The annual income is based on the income tax submission last year, based on income earned in 2005.
The value of credits given over four years varies between $100 and $1,000.
Those who have yet to for file last year's income tax are advised to do so quickly so they can be paid the right amount of GST credits.
In Madam Lim's case, information on her income has since been updated, the Finance Ministry spokesman said.
So the GST credits she is eligible for will be adjusted accordingly.
The spokesman said: 'To date, almost all taxpayers who have submitted their returns have had their annual income finalised and will have their GST credits adjusted accordingly.
NEW LETTERS
'The CPF Board will be sending out letters by 15 Jun to inform all those who were given provisional allotments and who now qualify for a higher amount based on their finalised annual income assessment, of their revised allotments.
'Those cases whose annual incomes have not been finalised are mainly cases who have not filed their returns.'
When told of the Ministry's explanation, Ms Chua said her mother had already filed last year's income tax.
For more information on GST credits, go to www.gstoffset.gov.sg -
The word "noted"Originally posted by ShutterBug:The ministry noted that the payment 'shortfall' came about because information on residents' annual income and the annual value of the property they live in was not finalised by 21 Mar.
I am sometimes amazed at how difficult a sincere apology can be. If the annual values of properties cannot be finalised on time, then don't send the letters to these Singaporeans.
LPPL. -
I mean, lets look at it from their point of view; WHY should they apologise when especially they believe that without them, we'd all be NOTHING? That we owe them all our successes, stability, and security?
No no... how can they be apologizing when they always knows what's best for all of us?
And even more so, when if anyone criticizes them, they will sue the pants off of him or her! So why you think they should apologize for any mistakes? To them it and there has never been any 'mistakes' real or otherwise concieved on their part as a government..
So, there isn't a need to apologize... even to other countries whom they've offended, they have and will NEVER apologize... -
When giving out money to public, they are slow and a lot of mistakes. But taking money from public, fast and no mistake. If give rise based on performance, they had already deduct pay or sack.
-
We must not also forget that the offset package is a "opt-in" package. Meaning; the majority of lower income Singaporeans who do not check their mails or does not understand the system will miss their offset package.
-
So much for efficiency here...The problem with Sillyporeans is that they complain and complain and complain...........
But come voting time....its the same results all the time....cause life is comfortable here....so my rationale is if life is so comfortable here...why complain.....
As for us, we take action and vote with our feet....migrate is the solution.... -
Isn't our gov so apt?Originally posted by anonymouscoward:We must not also forget that the offset package is a "opt-in" package. Meaning; the majority of lower income Singaporeans who do not check their mails or does not understand the system will miss their offset package.
When taking money from you in terms of Medisave, Insurance and Organs, it is automatically Opt Out (meaning you are IN until you opt OUT in the case of Medisave you can't even opt out!). -
36k people... smells like downplay to me.
they really one trick pony. play up the successes, play down the mistakes. And best of all, NOBODY is accountable.