GST voucher not for citizens with more than one property

Published in TODAY (23 Apr, Voices, Pg 10)

Ms Chua Lay Hong raised a question about the safeguards to ensure that households do not benefit twice from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Voucher – Utilities-Save (“Plug gaps in issuance of U-Save vouchers”; April 15).

The GST Voucher – U-Save forms one of the three components of the permanent GST Voucher scheme, and is paid out four times a year: January, April, July and October.

As the U-Save rebate is based on the active utilities account of the premises, it acts as a safeguard to prevent buyers or sellers from enjoying the rebate twice.

The GST Voucher is not intended for citizens who own or have an interest in more than one property. In Ms Chua’s case, the buyer of her flat will not be receiving the U-Save rebate twice in the same tranche.

Separately, we wish to clarify that the rebate is for the quarter ahead; it is not meant to offset the expenditure in the preceding quarter. We thank Ms Chua for her feedback.

Lim Yuin Chien
Director
Corporate Communications
Ministry of Finance