Three online bag retailers fined for tax evasion

SINGAPORE ‑ Three online retailers were slapped with fines for evading Goods and Services Tax (GST) on branded handbags and accessories they had imported in to Singapore.

Long Siew Fong, Jessie Sng Lee Ling and Yak Sow Pin were fined S$31,000, S$10,000 and S$4,500 respectively for offences committed between October 2010 and August 2012. They were sentenced by the State Courts on Sept 25.

Between October 2010 and June 2011, Long imported 2,172 bags and accessories via 15 import permits, avoiding S$9,399.58 in GST payment. During the sentencing, she pleaded guilty to five charges and 10 other charges were taken into consideration.

Between January 2011 and August 2012, Sng imported 269 bags and accessories via five import permits, avoiding S$1,216.47 in GST payment. During the sentencing, she pleaded guilty to two of the five charges.

In January 2011, Yak imported 90 bags via two permits and avoided S$502.93 in GST payment. He pleaded guilty to one of two charges.

According to Singapore Customs, anyone found guilty of tax evasion will fined up to 20 times the tax evaded and/or be jailed for up to two years. By under-declaring the value of the goods, the three individuals avoided paying GST of various values.