Month / June 2008

by Edgar

SME Rebate Scheme

I quote…

“The SME Rebate Scheme is a 2-year assistance scheme to help locally registered SMEs* adjust to rising business costs.
You are invited to apply for the SME rebate at our website http://www.smerebate.gov.sg/ if your firm meets the following criteria:-
i. For a non-manufacturing firm:
– Business must be registered in Singapore
– Fixed Asset Investment (FAI) of less than S$15 million
– Not more than 200 employees
ii. For a manufacturing firm:
– Business must be registered in Singapore
– Fixed Asset Investment (FAI) of less than S$15 million
Please be reminded to submit your application by 31 July 2008 to receive cash rebates pegged to the total employer and employee CPF contributions made by your firm over two years for the period July 2007 to June 2009.

Firms that apply after 31 July 2008 will only qualify for the rebate for the period July 2008 to June 2009.
Eligible firms will receive notification letters from CPF Board indicating the date and amount of payment.
Please visit the SME Rebate Scheme website (http://www.smerebate.gov.sg/) for more information.” Unquote…
by Edgar

Sec 10(2)(c) Place of Residence provided by the Employer

This is an undoubtedly a taxable benefit. The only doubt here is how to compute the quantum of taxable benefit.

Benefit is applicable to employees. Not applicable to directors who are employees too.

What is the Rule?
The taxable value of the accommodation is the lower of:-

  • 10% of the gains or profits from employment LESS any rent paid by the employee; OR;
  • the annual value of the premises.

Illustration

Annual value – $38,000

Rent paid by employee – $700 x 12 months = $8,400

Remuneration from employment – $150,000

Which of the following presentation is correct?

Option A

Lower of:-

  • (10% x $150,000) = $15,000 or
  • $38,000

The lower amount being $15,000 ==> taxable benefit would be $15,000 less $8,400 = $6,600.

Option B

Lower of:-

  • (10% x $150,000) less $8,400 = $6,600 OR;
  • $38,000

Thus the taxable benefit would be $6,600.

Which do you think is the correct presentation though both give you the same answer?

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by Edgar

FRS 7 Cash Flow Statements – Summary

FRS 7 prescribes the principles in preparing cash flow statements.

The standard requires the provision of information about historical changes in cash and cash equivalents of a company by means of a cash flow statement that classifies cash flows during the period by operating, investing and financing activities.

Operating activities are the principal revenue-producing activities of the enterprise. Cash flows from operating activities are disclosed either using the:-

a) direct method (disclosure of major categories of gross cash receipts and payments); or

b) indirect method (profit or loss for the period is adjusted for non cash items (such as depreciation, foreign exchange losses etc.) and income or expense related items related to investing and financing activities to determine the operating cash flows.

Investing activities are those expenditures incurred with an intention to generate future income and cash flows.

Financing activities are those expenditures incurred that result in changes in the size and composition of the contributed equity and borrowings of the entity.

“Do you know the definition of “cash and cash equivalents”? Can you name some examples of cash equivalents?”, ask Edgar.

Source – ICPAS ePublication 22 November 2005 Issue 11/2005

by Edgar

GST on Donation

In BT dated June 4, 2008, Wong Sze Teen and Yeo Kai Eng also discusses the implication of GST on donations.

What is the Rule?
Generally, no GST on CASH donations if the amount involved is small and no tangible benefits granted to Donor.

But when Donors are entitled to some form of benefits ie. chance of a lucky draw to win a trip to Timbuktu, technically speaking such donations attract GST.

IRAS Concessionary Exemption is granted to certain benefits if:-
– the benefit is given as part of acknowledging the donation made and;
– the benefit has no resale value.

Thus certain acts by the Recipients, which are technically speaking, benefits to the Donors, are exempted. Eg. Donors could be invited to and honoured at a Gala Dinner held in conjuction to the Charity.

What if your GST-registered business gave a donation in kind?
Donor has to account for output GST on deemed supply except if:-
– less than $200 and;
– is not part of a series of gifts.

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by Edgar

The GST trap of Sponsorship, Grant and Donation

such beautiful mature bamboo

In BT today, Wong Sze Teen and Yeo Kai Eng, GST experts from Ernst & Young, wrote an article on the implication of GST on sponsorship, government grants and donation.

I will cover issues on sponsorship and grants first.

Situation
Company X gives $1,000,000 to Company Y as sponsorship for a certain event that Company B is organising. Assuming both are GST-registered.

What is the Rule?
IRAS said sponsorship will not attract GST if company X:-
– did it voluntarily without any obligation and;
– did not receive any tangible benefits in return.

Failing which, company Y would have to issue a GST-tax invoice to company X.

For what amount should the invoice be issued on?
Answer – It depends on the market value of the benefits company Y would have to give to company X.

If market value of benefits < $1,000,000 eg. $800,000, company Y would have to issue an invoice for $800,000 inclusive of GST. Thus company Y would have to account for output GST of $52,236.45 to IRAS. Company X could then account for input GST of the same amount.

Any difficulty?
Firstly, when is a benefit given is considered a benefit given?
Secondly, company Y would have to determine the market value the benefits granted.

Government Grants
Generally and simply said – Attracts no GST to both the Giver and Recipient.

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