Consider tapping private sector GST expertise, Deloitte urges govt

[Vivian]

DELOITTE Malaysia has urged the government to consider getting Goods and Services Tax (GST) expertise from the private sector to supplement the efforts of the government. Its indirect tax leader, Peter Devlin, said this is with a view to promote independent perspectives and create more resources. "Channels like the traditional television, radio, newspapers and talks as well as the alternative social media present avenues for this activity," he said in a statement yesterday. In addition, a nationwide blitz to further explain GST more widely to businesses is needed although the Tax Review Panel, Customs and the private sector have already made much efforts towards this end, Deloitte Malaysia said. Deloitte's Asia Pacific indirect tax leader Robert Tsang said GST is "much more complex to manage than Sales Tax and Service Tax - more time means better preparation and better compliance, less hassle and fewer problems". "Drawing upon Deloitte's experience of implementations of GST elsewhere in the world, we expect say a two-year gap between release of full rules and guidelines, and implementation of GST, would be welcomed by most businesses." he added.

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