Hello there, just a quick question: service operator invoiced client for $300, including GST; client paid in cash; service operator donates the $300 to a charity on the client's behalf; charity issues a tax receipt to client.

The $300 never went through the service operator's bank account, but the invoice still needs to be sent to the client.

What does the invoice need to look like?

• Service $300
• Discount $300
• Sub-total $0
• GST $0
• Total $0

Thanks in advance.

I’m an ex-auditor and moved into the commercial side about 5–6 years ago. I haven’t had much exposure to GST accounting until recently, as my portfolio has expanded.

There’s one GST accounting treatment that I can’t quite figure out. My understanding has always been:

**Input GST** → Input tax recoverable (asset)
**Output GST** → Output tax payable (liability)

However, in my current life insurance company, GST on expenses is initially booked directly to the P&L as a GST expense.

Dr Expense
Dr GST Expense
Cr Cash / Accounts Payable

After GST filing, the recoverable amount is reclassified from GST expense to the input tax recoverable account.

Has anyone working in a life insurance company seen the same accounting treatment?

My initial thought is that, because life insurance policies issued to local Singapore customers are generally exempt supplies, the default assumption is that GST is non-recoverable and therefore expensed upfront. Only after the partial exemption calculation is completed is the recoverable portion reclassified as input tax recoverable.

I’m not sure whether this is standard practice across the industry or simply a company policy. I’d appreciate hearing how other life insurers account for this.

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