Very soon, tourists will not have to fill out tax refund forms to get their shopping rebates as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) refund scheme goes paperless next year.

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) and financial services company Global Blue today jointly announced the launch of the Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS), making Singapore the first country to implement such a system.

The new system is expected to help reduce processing times for retailers, as well as reduce chances for errors such as missing signatures from retailers on paper receipts or misplacing receipts, said IRAS.

It also offers tourists a hassle-free shopping experience and helps them save time as they do not have to queue up at GST refund booths.

Instead, they just have to head to a self-help kiosks to claim their rebates when they are installed at Changi Airport by Aug 2012.

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