Customs urges small retailers to invest in
GST-compliant sales system
Installing a point-of-sale (POS) system to issue printed
receipts as part of implementing the goods and services
tax (GST) will only be a one-time investment, the
Customs Department's GST division told operators of
small businesses today.
GST division director
Datuk T. Subromaniam said the system will be usable for
a long-term basis and would help businesses identify
standard and zero-rated items, adding that adopting POS
would cost between RM3,000 and RM4,000.
He also said tax deductions were available under
Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) for businesses on
purchases of information communication technology
equipment, hardware and training.
He said the
POS system would be meaningless if businesses did not
have accounting software on GST, as both must run
together.
"When all the information is checked into the system,
you will have scanner that scans the barcode and you
will know whether it is standard or zero-rated. This is
to ease their businesses. |
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"That's why we are appealing, it is a one-time
investment, and you will probably use it for the next 10
to 15 years.
"The cheapest POS with a scanner
can be obtained for RM3,000 to RM4,000. That is the
cheapest, and again, it depends on the complexity of the
business," he said today.
Implementation of the
GST, which began on April 1 has not been smooth, with
various complaints received including over the issuance
of handwritten receipts by smaller businesses who have
not invested in the POS system.
Handwritten
receipts have led to customer complaints over whether
they were being correctly charged for GST.
Subromaniam said six categories of businesses at retail
level must have the POS system or cash registers
starting October 1. From then on, handwritten receipts
will not longer be allowed.
These retailers
include independent hardware shops, eateries including
coffee shops, mini markets, grocery shops, sundry shops,
book stores, pharmacies and some entertainment outlets.
"If the the businesses sell all standard rated goods,
whereby everything is subjected to 6% GST, a compliant
cash register is enough.
"Can you imagine
writing down invoices, and you have sardines, which are
standard rated, rice zero-rated, sugar zero-rated… it
will be so time consuming," Subromaniam said.
Bernama yesterday reported that the six businesses
registered for the GST were the biggest culprits in not
providing printed receipts or invoices to consumers.
Subromaniam was quoted as saying that the department had
received many reports from consumers on the matter
because it created doubts as the receipts did not
specify the amount of tax charged.
Meanwhile
Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK)
secretary-general Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad said the
ministry and operators in the services, hotelier and
food and beverage industries would be meeting on Monday
to discuss the impact of the GST on service charges and
wages.
Alias said the ministry felt hoteliers
and restaurant owners should review wages so that they
were in line with the minimum wage requirement.
Since the GST was implemented on April 1, there has been
confusion among various service providers as to whether
the service charge, which is different from the sales
and service tax that the GST replaces, should be
retained.
Hoteliers and restauranteurs have said
the charge is divided and shared by the workers, and
some say that it helped establishments meet the minimum
wage requirement for their staff.
Alias said the
wage structure in these services should be modified but
added that the ministry did not want to make a
unilateral decision and would thus engage with all
parties.
Currently, the ministry's stand is that
only employers who have a collective agreement with
their workers that allows the service charge of between
5% and 10% to be shared are allowed to impose the
charge. – April 16, 2015.
Source:
The Malaysian Insider
, dated
16/04/2015 |