Companies with annual revenue of more than S$1 million will be able to file their tax returns electronically for the first time this year.
E-filing was first introduced for small firms in 2012, and the take-up has been encouraging, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras) said on Tuesday.
Each year, about 10 per cent more qualifying companies choose to e-file. Iras said it expects the number to continue to grow, and encourages those who have not made the switch to do so. About 41 per cent of small companies filed their tax returns electronically last year, compared with 22 per cent in 2012.
Weiterlesen: SG: All companies can e-file tax returns from this year: Iras
Singapore has upgraded its SingPass e-government platform. Starting 5 July, SingPass users will have access to an improved SingPass user interface, mobile-friendly features and upgraded security capabilities with the enhanced system. Launched in 2003, Singapore Personal Access (SingPass) is a gateway to over 200 e-services offered by more than 60 government agencies, enabling users to only have to remember one password when connecting and transacting with the Government. The system is managed by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore.
Weiterlesen: Singapore upgrades SingPass e-government platform
SingPass users will need to set up the two-factor authentication process in their account, linking either their mobile number or the country's national 2FA token, OneKey.
An additional authentication measure will be rolled out for Singapore's SingPass account requiring users to go through a two-step login for access.
The two-factor authentication (2FA) process will be officially launched from July 5, alongside an improved user interface and mobile features, according to ICT regulator Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA). There are more than 3.3 million SingPass accounts, which citizens use to access over 340 e-government services including filing income taxes, checking balances in the national retirement fund, and registering new businesses.
Weiterlesen: Singapore adds 2FA security to e-government services
Singapore users filing income tax and checking their retirement accounts online can log in with a more secure two-step process from July 5, as the government finally tightens up e-services following an embarrassing security breach last year.
The new SingPass system promises to let users log in like they would for online banking transactions, through what is known as two-factor authentication or 2FA.
Besides a username and a password, they would be asked to key in a second pass code sent over SMS to their phones, or through an OneKey token issued for free to Singaporeans and permanent residents.
Weiterlesen: SingPass to be more secure for e-government services from July 5
Singapore might be a small island country in Southeast Asia, but it has recently had big wins with its e-government programs. Its recipe for success? Creating services based on the actual needs of the citizens, rather than the needs it assumes they have, said Singapore Chief Information Officer Chan Cheow Hoe.
“In the past, the government thinks that they know what you want, and that's probably the biggest mistake in the world,” said Hoe, speaking Thursday at the AWS Government, Education and Nonprofits Symposium.
When Singapore’s government realized traffic congestion was delaying ambulances, it launched a crowdsourcing app to solve the issue, according to Hoe.
Weiterlesen: E-Government Successes: In Singapore, It Takes Just Minutes to File Your Taxes