82,000 requests for GST refunds cannot be processed, say Customs

 

The government says applications for GST refunds amounting to RM1.3 billion are still pending. (Bernama pic)

PUTRAJAYA: The Customs Department said it is unable to process 82,517 applications for goods and services tax (GST) refunds totalling RM1.3 billion involving more than 48,000 companies.

Customs director-general Abdul Latif Abdul Kadir said the companies have failed to provide proper documents or the correct banking information.

Latif said the 48,225 companies may not have updated their registration details such as address, telephone numbers and emails in the MyGST system.

As a result, he said, they may not have received notices or letters from the department.

“The Customs Department urges any companies that have yet to receive their GST refunds to update their registration details and bank information in the Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) on MyGST,” he said.

Customs director-general Abdul Latif Abdul Kadir.

Latif said companies applying for tax refunds may also email the Operations and Refunds Division at refundgst@customs.gov.my.

In June, the finance ministry said payments for GST refunds would be expedited.

Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said the Customs Department would employ the “pay first and audit later” approach for selected companies based on the Goods and Services Tax (Repeal) Act 2018 and also certain criteria.

“In this regard, I have instructed the department to expedite the refund process that had been deferred due to the movement control order (MCO) and conditional MCO during which the field audits could not be done,” Tengku Zafrul said.

Latif said all payments were expected to be completed by Dec 31.

As of Nov 30, he said, the Customs Department had refunded RM4 billion to 27,426 companies. - FMT