PUTRAJAYA: The Customs Department targets to collect up to RM42 billion in Goods and Services Tax (GST) this year, compared with RM41.2 billion in 2016.

Its director-general Datuk Seri Khazali Ahmad said this proves the success of the GST system, which was implemented on April 1, 2015.

He added that the department will continue with its programmes to engage the people, especially traders, to ensure they sufficiently understand the tax system.

"It has been 10 months since the implementation and we have seen the success of GST in generating income for the country.

"Nevertheless, we will continue our efforts to educate the people, including traders and business owners, to be well-versed with the GST," he told reporters after the 1Malaysia Customs Charity Cycling programme here today.

Khazali said as of today, there are about 431,000 companies registered under the GST tax system.

"We will also continue with efforts to identify companies which are not registered, but are eligible for registration, especially online businesses.

"Online businesses which have a turnover value of RM500,000 either offline or online, are all subject to GST," he stressed.

Although the department has yet to specifically identify online businesses liable to pay GST but are not, he believes there are many which are not registered for the tax.

Also present at the charity event today was Customs Department deputy director general (enforcement and compliance) Datuk T. Subromaniam.

http://www.nst.com.my/news/2017/01/206096/customs-dept-targets-2017-gst-collection-rm42-billion