The ASK Review is a self-assessment compliance tool designed and developed by the IRAS to enable a business to review the accuracy of its GST submissions and identify and correct past GST errors on a timely basis. It also allows the business to identify the issues and errors in its GST reporting for a timely disclosure to the IRAS to mitigate the penalties that are usually applicable to any incorrect GST reporting.

Performing an ASK Review is mandatory for businesses who are applying for, or renewing, one of the IRAS approved GST Schemes. These include the Approved Contract Manufacturing and Trader (ACMT), Approved Marine Customer Scheme (AMCS), Approved Refiner and Consolidator Scheme (ARCS), Approved Third Party Logistic (3PL) Company Scheme, Major Exporter Scheme (MES), and Import-GST Deferment Scheme (IDGS).

With this in mind, are you confident that your GST returns are accurate? Are you doing enough to safeguard against and mitigate errors? If you identify errors, do you understand how to disclose these to IRAS whilst mitigating penalties? If you cannot positively answer these questions, the ASK Review may be the solution for you.

Benefits of an ASK Review include

Benefits of an ASK Review include

Clarity
Clear understanding of GST requirements on filing and record keeping.
Assurance
Management can be assured of the accuracy of past GST submissions and mitigate risk of future errors.
Avoid penalties
Errors are discovered early for timely disclosure to IRAS which enjoy reduced penalties under the IRAS’s Voluntary Disclosure Programme. Administrative concessions apply for common errors disclosed through the ASK Review.
Maintained status
Automatic renewal of GST scheme status is available, where applicable.

The ASK Review is broken down into three distinct sections

  • Section One – GST Practices
  • Section Two – Pre-Filing Checklist
  • Section Three – ASK Annual Review
  • Section One – GST Practices
    Section One – GST Practices
    This section involves completing the Pre-Filing Checklist (a series of “Yes” or “No” questions) which is designed to help a business perform quality checks prior to the submission of the GST return. The aim of the Pre-Filing Checklist is to verify whether all the relevant transactions have been captured, the correct GST treatment applied, and to help avoid the most common GST reporting errors.
  • Section Two – Pre-Filing Checklist
    Section Two – Pre-Filing Checklist
    This section involves completing the Pre-Filing Checklist (a series of “Yes” or “No” questions) which is designed to help a business perform quality checks prior to the submission of the GST return. The aim of the Pre-Filing Checklist is to verify whether all the relevant transactions have been captured, the correct GST treatment applied, and to help avoid the most common GST reporting errors.
  • Section Three – ASK Annual Review
    Section Three – ASK Annual Review
    The ASK Annual Review is the main section of the ASK Review package. It involves conducting a post-submission review of the previous four GST submissions for early detection of errors and is a highly recommended compliance control for all GST-registered businesses. The Annual Review has a pre-determined methodology designed and developed by the IRAS, which entails prescribed checks and an element of substantive testing.

How we help

Our experience has shown that investing time at the outset of our engagements to understand our clients and their specific business circumstances, reduces the overall timescales and costs involved for both parties.

Our GST specialists are accredited with the Singapore Chartered Tax Professionals (SCTP, formerly known as SIATP) and will work with you and your teams in a collaborative way, to ensure that the ASK Review is completed, signed-off and submitted to the IRAS to ensure you enjoy all the benefits of the ASK Review.

Koh Soo How
Partner - Indirect Tax
Koh Soo How