No plans to increase funds for GST accounting software, says deputy minister – Bernama

The government has no plans to increase the RM150 million fund set aside for e-vouchers to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that have registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan said.

He urged eligible SMEs to apply for the e-vouchers, with value starting from RM1,000, for the purchase of accounting software before the implementation of the GST in April.

Ahmad, who is also Umno information chief, was speaking to reporters today after attending a briefing on the GST, Budget 2015 and current issues organised by Wanita Umno.

He also warned traders against submitting false refund claims as the Royal Customs Department would make a thorough examination of each claim received.

"The payment of refund claims will take months to process as the Customs will send officers to verify their veracity and those (claims) found to be false or incorrect will not be approved," he said.

Ahmad said so far, 318,666 businesses with taxable supplies exceeding RM500,000 had registered for the GST, with 758 businesses signing up yesterday. – Bernama, February 24, 2015.