You should only claim input tax in the accounting period corresponding to the date shown in the tax invoice or import permit. Alternatively, you may claim input tax based on the date that you post/process the tax invoice or import permit into your accounting system if you satisfy the qualifying conditions.
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Claiming input tax according to date on tax invoice or import permit

Before making an input tax claim, you must obtain the tax invoice issued by your supplier or import permit, and ensure that all conditions for claiming input tax are satisfied.

The input tax should be claimed in the accounting period corresponding to the date shown in the tax invoice or import permit.

You can claim input tax for your purchases before making subsequent supplies of goods or services using these purchases. It is not necessary to match the input tax claim (for purchases) with output tax charged (for subsequent supply) in the same prescribed accounting period.

Example: Claiming input tax before subsequent supply

You imported a machine in Jun 2021 and sold it to your customer in Aug 2021.

Assuming your financial year ends in Dec and file GST returns on a quarterly basis, you should claim the import GST incurred on the machine in the accounting period 1 Apr 2021 to 30 Jun 2021, based on the date of the import permit. This is despite you accounting for the output tax on the sale of the machine in the accounting period 1 Jul 2021 to 30 Sep 2021. 

Claiming input tax according to date of posting/processing

You may claim input tax based on the date when you post/process the tax invoice or import permit into your accounting system. However, you must comply with the following requirements:

  1. You claim input tax based on the date of posting/processing of the suppliers' tax invoices or import permit into your accounting system consistently for all GST returns;
  2. You have the original tax invoices/ import permits at the time of claiming input tax; and
  3. There are internal controls in place to ensure that there is no double claiming of input tax.

FAQs

I received a tax invoice from my supplier, but have not paid him. Can I claim the input tax?

You can claim the input tax based on the date of the tax invoice issued by your supplier as long as you satisfy the conditions for claiming input tax.

However, if you subsequently do not pay your supplier within 12 months from the due date of payment, you are required to repay the Comptroller the input tax that you have claimed.

For more information, please refer to claiming GST before paying your supplier.

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