General tips on correcting errors made in your GST Returns by filing GST F7
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Correcting errors in your GST return
If you have made errors in your submitted GST F5/ F7/ F8, you should file GST F7 to correct the errors. If the error made in the GST return is the value of revenue (Box 13), you are not required to adjust the revenue figure.
GST forms
GST F5: Return for periodic filing of GST
GST F7: Form for disclosing errors on GST returns filed previously
GST F8: Return for final filing of GST
Administrative concession for correcting errors
As an administrative concession, you may choose to adjust for the errors made in your next GST F5 if you meet both of these criteria:
- The net GST amount in error for all the affected prescribed accounting periods is not more than $3,000. Net GST amount in error refers to the difference between the additional output tax to be paid in Box 6 and the additional input tax to be claimed in Box 7;
- The total amount in error for all other boxes except Box 6, 7 and 12 (pre-registration input tax claims) for each of the affected accounting period(s) is not more than 5% of the total value of supplies (Box 4) declared in the submitted GST return. In the case where there was no supply made in the affected accounting period, the 5% rule applies to the total value of the taxable purchases (Box 5).
To determine whether you qualify for the administrative concession, please use the GST F7 calculator (XLSX, 122KB).
The administrative concession is not applicable for errors in the value of pre-registration input tax claims in Box 12 as you may only make pre-registration claims in your first GST return.
Example 1: Errors made in GST F5
In its GST F5 for the accounting period ended 31 Dec 2023, Company A has omitted a standard-rated supply ($10,000 + GST $800) and a taxable purchase ($1,000 + GST $80):
| Total Value of Supplies | $100,000 |
|---|---|
Net GST Amount in Error | $720 ($800 - $80) |
Total Amounts in Error for all other boxes except Box 6, 7 and 12 | = $11,000 ($10,000 + $1,000). |
Explanation
The net GST amount in error is not more than $3,000, which means criterion (a) has been met.
The total amount in error for all other boxes except Box 6, 7 and 12 is more than 5% of the $100,000 declared as total supplies, which means criterion (b) has not been met.
Company A does not qualify for the administrative concession in this case as it does not meet both criteria. It must file GST F7 for the accounting period ended 31 Dec 2023 to correct the errors made.
Claim for GST overpaid or wrongly paid, or GST due to you
If you have over-accounted output tax or under-claimed input tax in your GST return, you may file GST F7 to make a claim for refund.
If you are uncertain of the GST treatment and wish to clarify the GST treatment before filing GST F7, you should write in to us and provide the following information in your correspondence:
- Description of the error or issue involved; and
- Breakdown of the amount of GST to be refunded for all affected accounting periods;
A claim for GST refund containing the above information should be made within the time limit of five years from the end of the relevant accounting period(s) to which the claim relates. A valid claim for GST refund is considered to be made only when the full quantification of errors for all affected accounting periods is provided.
You should also maintain the necessary documents to support the claim for refund (e.g. credit note issued to your customer for services invoiced as standard-rated which should have been exempt or zero-rated).
A refund of GST will be made by IRAS if the claim is proven to the satisfaction of the Comptroller that GST was overpaid or wrongly paid by you, or if the money is due to you.
Filing the GST F7
Filing the GST F7
Request and submit the GST F7 electronically via myTax Portal.
To request GST F7 return:
1. Log into
myTax Portal
2. Under “GST” on the menu bar, click on “File GST Return/Edit Past Return”
3. Under “Request for GST F7”, click on “Submit Request”
4. Enter the start and end dates of the accounting period for which you wish to request GST F7. Click on “Proceed”
5. Under “Next
Step”, click on “Proceed”
6. Click on “E-File” to begin filing
Note: Please submit the GST F7 within 14 days from the date of request. Otherwise, it will be deleted, and you will have to request a new GST F7.
The GST F7 is identical to a GST F5. Fill in the revised figures inclusive of error adjustments for all the boxes (i.e. boxes 1 to 17). The GST F7 filed will supersede the GST F5/F7/F8 filed previously.
To illustrate, you have incorrectly reported the output tax as $50,000 instead of $5,000:
a. Enter the revised figure “$5,000” in Box 6: Output Tax
b. Provide the reason for errors made under the "Description of Errors"
Note: Do not include special characters such as “$”, “%” and “:”.
Please refer to this video for a step-by-step guide on how to file your GST return (including editing past returns) on
myTax Portal
:
When errors made affect more than one accounting period
You may choose to consolidate the errors and report them in one GST F7 on a per annum basis (i.e. financial, calendar or tax year basis).
Report the total revised values including the net adjustment in the GST F7 of:
- The last accounting period of the year; or
- The last accounting period where an error is made, for the year.
Use the GST F7 calculator (XLSX, 122KB) to assist you when filing a consolidated form for errors affecting more than one accounting period.
Example 2: Filing a consolidated GST F7
Let's assume your errors affect all four accounting periods in the year 2023.
To correct the errors, request for GST F7 for the last accounting period in 2023 (e.g. 1 Oct 2023 to 31 Dec 2023).
In the GST F7, report:
(a) The original figures from the latest GST return for 1 Oct 2023 to 31 Dec 2023, and
(b) The consolidated errors for 1 Jan 2023 to 31 Dec 2023.
To illustrate:
(a) Original output tax declared in GST F5 for 1 Oct 2023 to 31 Dec 2023 is $5,000.
(b) Net error for 1 Jan 2023 to 31 Dec 2023 is $4,000.
(c) Declare $9,000 in box 6 (output tax due) of the GST F7 for the period 1 Oct 2023 to 31 Dec 2023.
(d) State in "Description of Errors" box that the errors declared are for 1 Jan 2023 to 31 Dec 2023.
Payment of GST after filing the GST F7
After successfully submitting the GST F7, please take note of the payment instructions on the GST F7 acknowledgement page.
1. Businesses with existing GST GIRO arrangement
For businesses with existing GIRO arrangement for GST payments, you will be notified of the GST GIRO deduction schedule in the acknowledgement page. Please ensure there are sufficient funds in your bank account and that the GIRO deduction limit is higher than the deduction amount. Otherwise, the GIRO deduction will fail, and your GIRO plan will be cancelled.
2. Businesses without existing GST GIRO arrangements
For businesses without existing GST GIRO arrangements for GST payments, you will be provided with a 14-Digit Payment Slip Number (to be used as reference number) in the acknowledgement page. You may pay via the following modes:
- PayNow QR
- AXS Stations / AXS Online Platforms
- Internet Banking Bill Payment
- Internet Banking Fund Transfer
Please refer to Tax Payment - GST for the step-by-step guides of the various payment modes.
Penalties for filing an incorrect return
Businesses may be penalised for up to 200% of the tax undercharged for the submission of incorrect GST returns and be liable to a fine and imprisonment term. Businesses that commit fraud may be dealt with more severely.
To encourage voluntary disclosure of past errors and omissions, IRAS may reduce the penalties for voluntary disclosures which meet the qualifying conditions under the IRAS Voluntary Disclosure Program.
A voluntary disclosure can be made by sending an electronic request for GST F7 (Disclosure of Errors on GST Return) via myTax Portal and e-Filing the GST F7 within 14 days from the date of request.
Timeline to correct errors in past returns
You should correct your error as soon as you uncover them. Errors must be corrected within five years from the end of the relevant GST accounting period. If the errors are corrected after one year from the end of the relevant GST accounting period, penalties may be imposed.
Example 3: Timeline to correct errors
FAQs
1. What is the due date for submitting the GST F7?
You should complete and e-File your GST F7 within 14 days from the date of your request via myTax Portal
If the GST F7 is issued by our auditor for your completion, you will be informed of the due date for filing.
2. I have filed GST F7 to correct errors made and have made payment for the GST amount under-accounted/ over-claimed after that. Why do I need to pay a 5% late payment penalty?
GST is payable within one month from the end of the prescribed accounting period. If the GST F7 is submitted after one month from the prescribed accounting period and it results in additional tax, it means that the tax is already overdue. Therefore, a late payment penalty is imposed on the additional tax.
3. I have mixed up the figures to be filled in box 6 (output tax due) and box 7 (input tax claimed) in GST F5. The figures for other boxes are correct. How should I correct my error in GST F7?
You should fill in the revised value (not adjustment only) of output tax due and input tax claimed in box 6 and box 7 respectively. Other boxes must also be filled with the correct value and should not be left blank. The GST F7 will supersede the GST F5 submitted for the accounting period.
4. I have wrongly requested for a GST F7 in myTax Portal. What should I do?
No action is required as the GST F7 will automatically expire after 14 days.
5. I have made an error in box 13: Revenue of my GST return. Do I need to file a GST F7?
No, you are not required to file a GST F7 if the only error made in your GST return is the value of revenue (box 13). Please ensure that you report the correct revenue value for the subsequent returns.
6. I have wrongly reported out-of-scope components of airfare (e.g. overseas airport tax) in box 5 (total value of taxable purchases) in GST F5. Do I need to file a GST F7?
No, you are not required to file a GST F7. If you are unable to segregate the out-of-scope components from the airfare, you may continue to report the entire value of the airfare as your taxable purchases.
7. I have omitted to report IDD calls and air tickets (zero-rated purchases) in box 5 (total value of taxable purchases) in GST F5. Do I need to file a GST F7?
No, as an administrative concession, you are not required to file a GST F7 to correct your past GST returns filed. The concession is limited to the omission of reporting of zero-rated purchases of IDD calls and air tickets.
Please ensure that you report such zero-rated purchases correctly in your future GST returns going forward.
If you choose not to claim input tax on standard-rated purchases that are billed together with the zero-rated purchases, such as local calls charged on your bills from the telecommunication companies, you may exclude such purchases from your GST F5.
8. I have reported the non-tax values (such as supplies, taxable purchases) in GST F5 by rounding the actual values to the nearest dollar instead of dropping the cents. Do I need to file a GST F7?
No, you are not required to file a GST F7 if you have reported the following non-tax value(s) by rounding to the nearest dollar (e.g. value of standard-rated supplies of $1,005.96 reported as $1,006.00 instead of $1,005.00):
- Box 1: Total value of standard-rated supplies;
- Box 2: Total value of zero-rated supplies;
- Box 3: Total value of exempt supplies;
- Box 5: Total value of taxable purchases;
- Box 13: Revenue;
- Box 14: Value of imported services and/or Low-Value Goods ('LVG") subject to GST under reverse charge;
- Box 15: Value of remote services by electronic marketplace operator ('EMO") subject to GST on behalf of third-party suppliers;
- Box 16: Value of imported LVG by redeliverer or EMO subject to GST on behalf of third-party suppliers;
- Box 17: Value of imported LVG subject to GST;
- Box 9 and 21: Value of goods imported under approved schemes e.g. MES, IGDS.
9. Do I need to file a GST F7 if there are rounding differences (in cents) between the output tax due in box 6 in GST F5 and the GST amount shown on my invoices/credit notes?
No, you are not required to file a GST F7 for the rounding differences in the following scenarios:
(a) The GST computed by your accounting system is based on each line item whereas your invoicing system computes GST based on the sum of all line items or vice versa
(b) For foreign currency denominated invoices, your accounting system converts and sums up the Singapore dollars equivalent of the GST amount of individual line items while your invoicing system converts the total foreign currency GST amount to
Singapore dollars or vice versa
(c) The GST shown on the tax invoice is split into multiple line items in the accounting system (e.g. different service fees booked under different accounting codes), resulting in rounding differences when these line items are summed up for GST reporting.
This is on the condition that you consistently round off the GST computed by your accounting system to the nearest cent (i.e. two decimal places) for all your invoices and/ or credit notes. You may also continue with the current reporting method but make system changes at the next available opportunity to eliminate such discrepancies in future.
For other situations, you are required to file a GST F7 or adjust the error in your next GST F5, if you meet the administrative concession for correcting errors.
10. Do I need to file a GST F7 if different exchange rates are used to convert foreign denominated currency GST amounts reported as output tax in box 6 in GST F5 and the GST amount shown on my invoices/credit notes?
Generally, you will be required to file a GST F7 to correct such errors or adjust the error in your next GST F5 (if you meet the administrative concession for correcting errors).
As an exception, you do not need to correct the error if the different exchange rate arose from the use of different decimal places in your accounting system (e.g. 1.4453) and invoicing system (e.g. 1.445), provided that you meet both of the following conditions:
(a) The same exchange rate is used for your accounting and invoicing systems (e.g. daily exchange rate in both systems) except for the difference in the decimal places used; and
(b) You consistently round off the exchange rate on invoices and credit notes issued for all your supplies. For example, for the invoices and credit notes issued for your supplies, you would consistently round up the exchange rate when the last digit is more than or equal to 5 and round down when the last digit is less than 5 (e.g. 1.4453 is rounded to 1.445 and 1.4458 is rounded to 1.446).
However, you should make system changes at the next available opportunity to eliminate such discrepancies.
11. Do I need to file a GST F7 if there are rounding differences between the input tax claimed in box 7 in GST F5 and the GST amount shown on my suppliers' invoices and/or credit notes?
No, you are not required to file a GST F7 for the rounding differences in the following scenarios:
(a) The GST computed by your accounting system differs from your supplier's tax invoice due to the number of decimal places used (e.g. 2 decimal places in your accounting system versus 4 decimal places on your supplier's tax invoice)
(b) The GST computed by your accounting system is based on each line item whereas the GST amount shown on your supplier's tax invoice is computed based on the sum of all line items or vice versa
(c) The GST shown on your supplier's invoice is split into multiple entries in your accounting system (e.g. due to allocation to different cost centres), resulting in rounding differences when these entries are summed up for GST reporting.
This is on the condition that you consistently round off the GST computed by your accounting system to the nearest cent (i.e. two decimal places) for all your supplier's tax invoice and/ or credit note. You may also continue with the current reporting method but make system changes at the next available opportunity to eliminate such discrepancies in future.
For other situations, you are required to file a GST F7 or adjust the error in your next GST F5, if you meet the administrative concession for correcting errors.
12. My accounting system converts Singapore dollar amounts to my functional currency (e.g. USD). When I reconvert these amounts (e.g. USD) back to Singapore dollars for GST F5 filing, rounding differences occur. Do I need to file a GST F7?
No, you are not required to file a GST F7 if the same exchange rate is used for the conversion of Singapore dollars amounts to functional currency, and the subsequent reconversion to Singapore dollars for GST reporting.
13. I have wrongly reported the figures in box 6 (output tax due) and/or box 7 (input tax claimed) by dropping off the cents or rounding to the nearest dollar in GST F5. Do I need to file a GST F7?
No, you are not required to file a GST F7 if you have:
(a) Dropped off the cents (e.g. value of output tax of $2,001.96 reported as $2,001.00), or
(b) Rounded the value to the nearest dollar (e.g. value of output tax of $2,001.96 reported as $2,002.00)
Please ensure that you report the correct values of output tax due and input tax claimed (with cents) in box 6 and 7 respectively for subsequent returns.
14. I have submitted my GST F5. However, I realised that my company's name is not stated in full on documents such as import permit, export permit, shipping documents and supplier’s tax invoice. What should I do?
The documents are acceptable, and you need not rectify this error for all past and future transactions if:
(a) The abbreviations are commonly known. For example, Private Limited is abbreviated as ‘Pte Ltd’ or ‘P/L’, Singapore is abbreviated as ‘(S)’;
(b) There are no other businesses with similar names; and
(c) You are able to corroborate with other documents such as purchase order, sales confirmation and payment evidence that you are the named buyer/ importer/ exporter.