SINGAPORE - Individuals and businesses now have more time to file their taxes, as the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras) is giving an automatic extension of deadlines.

This is in line with the stricter safe distancing measures being implemented from next Tuesday (April 7) to May 4 to slow the spread of coronavirus infections.

The filing deadlines, originally due in April, have been extended to May 31 for individual income tax (including sole proprietors and partnerships), income tax for trusts, clubs, and associations, as well as the Estimated Chargeable Income for companies with financial year ending in January 2020.

Taxpayers who need face-to-face tax filing assistance and other taxpayer counter services must make an appointment at least two working days before visiting the e-Filing Service Centre and the Taxpayer and Business Service Centre at Revenue House.

The deadline for GST returns for the accounting period of January to March 2020 has been extended to May 11.

The filing deadline for the S45 withholding tax forms due on April 15 has been extended to May 15.

The tax clearances for foreign employees, due originally in April, has been extended for one month.

Iras encourages taxpayers to raise inquiries digitally via its live chat function or through e-mail or phone.

More details can be found on its website.

Taxpayers can also access the myTax portal for e-services such as the filing of tax forms and returns.

Correction note: In an earlier version of the story, we said that the deadline for tax clearances for foreign employees was on May 15, and the deadline for submitting S45 withholding tax forms has been extended for an additional month. The IRAS has since clarified that the deadline for the S45 withholding tax forms should be on May 15, and the deadline for tax clearances for foreign employees has been extended for an additional month.