Changes to Income Tax Act 1947 relating to Board of Review in effect
27 September 2023
Changes to the Income Tax Act 1947 (“ITA”) relating to the Board of Review (“BOR”) came into effect on 21 August 2023.
These changes were made pursuant to the Income Tax (Amendment) Act 2022, which makes tax changes announced in Budget 2022 as well as non-Budget 2022 amendments arising from the periodic review of the income tax regime.
The changes that have come into force on 21 August 2023 relate mainly to amendments arising from the periodic review of the income tax regime. They seek to update provisions relating to the BOR, which is a tribunal set up under the ITA to hear and adjudicate tax disputes between the Comptroller and taxpayers. The provisions are updated and streamlined by removing outdated references, clarifying the regulation-making powers of the Minister for Finance regarding tax appeals and the case management powers of the BOR, and moving BOR provisions on procedures to subsidiary legislation. Further, the Chairperson of the BOR will be allowed to have the option to convene a one-member coram where appropriate.
Taken together, these changes will allow greater flexibility and ensure that BOR cases are resolved in a more timely and efficient manner.
Reference materials
The following legislation is available from Singapore Statutes Online sso.agc.gov.sg: