‘Kiasuism at its best’ — Netizens respond to diners pre-paying CNY dinners to avoid higher GST

SINGAPORE: Some clever food and beverage establishments have offered diners to pay in advance for their Chinese New Year reunion dinners, and it seems that many have taken them up on their offer.

One restaurant owner told Shin Min Daily News that around 70 per cent of diners who ordered their meals ahead have paid in full, while others have put down a 50 per cent deposit.

By Jan 1, 2023, the Goods and Services Tax goes up by one percentage point, rising to 8 per cent before going up to 9 per cent at the beginning of 2024.

Many of those who availed of the offer at another restaurant are firms that take several tables, which means that the one per cent less paid for GST comes to a significant amount.

Netizens commenting on a report on this occurrence in AsiaOne have expressed mixed feelings, however.

“Kiasuism at its best!” wrote one commenter.

Another wrote, “Sooner or later you will need to pay.”

“So after 31st Dec, these people don’t need to eat?” a netizen joked.

A commenter wrote that the one per cent in savings seemed too much “trouble,” so they might as “well eat at home.”

Others, however, appeared to see why pre-paying makes sense, as prices may rise more next year because of the GST increase, citing a “domino chain effect.”

One netizen was puzzled, however, and asked, “But the sales clock in Jan’23 so the restaurant needs to declare the sales with 8% GST… Just curious… The boss understand accounting?”

Other netizens helped clarify the matter.

/TISG

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