Director Yang Shi Yong and Associate Director Charles Li shed light on the recent development of the sentencing framework for tax cases in Singapore in article by Singapore Institute of Accredited Tax Professionals

20 Aug 2020

Director Yang Shi Yong and Associate Director Charles Li shed light on the recent development of the sentencing framework for tax cases in Singapore in an article titled “Sentencing regime for tax offences: Recent developments in the sentencing regime” by the Singapore Institute of Accredited Tax Professionals (SCTP).

The article is featured in the August 2020 issue of the Institute of Singapore Charted Accountant (ISCA) Journal, and it recaps the crucial points from SCTP’s Tax Excellence Decoded session titled “Tax Evasion: Recent Changes in the Sentencing Regime” facilitated by Shi Yong and Charles on 25 March.

Shi Yong and Charles shared their insights into the sentencing range and penalties for major tax offences, such as the income tax and goods and services tax (GST) related offences, as well as tax evasions. They also shared the four general sentencing principles—retribution, deterrence, prevention and rehabilitation—that guide the Courts when determining the appropriate punishment, and highlighted past income tax evasion cases.

Shi Yong and Charles also touched on the new sentencing matrix approach that Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has adopted in sentencing submissions for two recent income tax evasion cases. The approach is based on a harm-culpability analysis, and it allows the Court the flexibility to take into account multitude of factors, ensuring that the harm caused by the offence and the actual culpability of the offenders are taken into consideration.     

You can read the full article on ISCA Journal here, as well as here.