Traders not allowed to use the term GST until April 1, 2015, says minister

Deputy Minister of Finance Datuk Ahmad Maslan (pic) today issued a directive barring any business from charging goods and services tax (GST) on their customers before April 1, 2015.

He said there were restaurateurs and traders who have started imposing "GST" and were printing the tax on customers' receipts.

"When enquired about the tax, they said the GST is the Government Service Tax. This has to be stopped immediately.

"I'm issuing a directive that no business outlets should use the term 'GST'. There is no such thing as a Government Service Tax.

"What the government is going to implement is the goods and services tax," he told reporters after the Federal Territories-level National Economic Empowerment seminar in Kuala Lumpur today.

The 6% GST will replace the current 16% sales and services tax (SST) charged for certain goods and services such as food and beverages served at hotels and restaurants. – Bernama