☜ GST Penalties ⚠ GST Act

Summary of GST Penalties

Goods and Services Tax Act (Singapore) — Sections 58–67 · quick reference
These are statutory penalties for getting GST wrong — from honest mistakes to fraud. Many carry fines that are multiples of the tax undercharged. Staying compliant is far cheaper than the penalty.
S.OffencePenaltyNotes
58General penalty (offences with no penalty specified)Fine up to $5,000; in default of payment, imprisonment up to 6 months.Catch-all provision.
59(1)Incorrect return / incorrect informationPenalty = 1× the tax undercharged.Strict liability — no intent required.
59(2)Incorrect return / information without reasonable excuse or through negligencePenalty = 2× the tax undercharged; plus fine up to $5,000 or imprisonment up to 3 years, or both.Does not apply to input tax claims linked to s20(2A) arrangements.
60(1)Late payment of tax5% of tax payable; if unpaid after 60 days, additional 2% per completed month, capped at 50% of outstanding tax.Applies to surcharge/interest under s45A / s47A too.
60(2)Late submission of return$200 + $200 per completed month the return is outstanding, capped at $10,000.
61Failure to register / notify10% of tax due per year (or part) of default; plus fine up to $10,000; plus $50/day if offence continues after conviction.Breach of First Schedule duties.
62Fraud / wilful tax evasion3× the tax undercharged (assessed under s48); plus fine up to $10,000 or imprisonment up to 7 years, or both.False statements presumed intentional until proven otherwise (s62(2)).
62AMisrepresenting status of person (recipient of a Seventh Schedule supply)Fine = 1× tax undercharged on the supply; plus further fine up to $10,000.Re reverse-charge / OVR status.
62BWilfully misrepresenting status of personFine = 3× tax undercharged; plus further fine up to $10,000 or imprisonment up to 7 years, or both.Intent to induce the supplier's determination.
62C(1)Participating in an arrangement to cause loss of public revenue (fraudulent purpose)Fine up to $500,000 or imprisonment up to 10 years, or both.Applies whether person is in or outside Singapore.
62C(4)Sole proprietor / partner / director where entity is used to carry out such an arrangementFine up to $50,000 or imprisonment up to 12 months, or both.Strict liability; due-diligence defence available.
63Improperly obtaining a refund3× the excess refunded (or to be refunded); plus fine up to $10,000 or imprisonment up to 3 years, or both.
64Dealing in goods/services knowing tax has been or will be evadedFine up to $5,000; plus penalty of 3× the tax.
64A(1)Unauthorised collection of tax (general)3× the amount collected/attempted; plus fine up to $10,000.Does not apply to specified persons / officers.
64A(2)Unauthorised collection without reasonable excuse or through negligence3× the amount; plus fine up to $10,000 or imprisonment up to 3 years, or both.
64A(4)Specified person over-collecting tax3× the amount (or the excess); plus fine up to $10,000 or imprisonment up to 3 years, or both."Specified person" = registered persons, group members, agents, etc.
65Offences by persons administering the Act (and impersonators)Fine up to $10,000 or imprisonment up to 3 years, or both.E.g. withholding tax collected, demanding excess, false returns.
66Obstructing the ComptrollerFine up to $10,000 or imprisonment up to 12 months, or both.
Key patterns
▸3× multiplier applies to the fraud / evasion-type offences: s62, s62B, s63, s64, s64A.
▸1× / 2× multiplier applies to non-fraudulent incorrect-return offences under s59 (1× for strict liability, 2× where negligence / no reasonable excuse).
▸s67 — imposing any penalty, fine or imprisonment does not relieve liability to pay the underlying tax, and penalties are not treated as tax paid for relief purposes.
Prepared as a quick reference only — not a substitute for the full statutory text or legal advice. Penalty amounts and provisions reflect the Act as amended (incl. Act 35 of 2022, wef 01/01/2023). Privacy Policy