Applications for Longer Instalment Plans for Income Tax Payments

3 Mr Ong Hua Han asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance in the past five years (a) how many individuals have applied for a longer instalment plan to pay their income taxes; and (b) what percentage of these applications have been approved.

Mr Chee Hong Tat (for the Prime Minister): Taxpayers who face difficulties in paying their taxes due to unexpected or extenuating circumstances, can apply to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) for extended instalment plans beyond the standard 12 months interest-free instalment plan for payments via General Interbank Recurring Order (GIRO).

Almost all applications in the past five years were approved by IRAS as these taxpayers were generally able to provide valid reasons for why an extended instalment plan was needed. The number of individuals who applied for and received an extended instalment plan in the past five years are provided in the table below.