25-04-2025
Iras Board to welcome new chairman on May 1
Mr Lai Chung Han (left) will take over from Mrs Tan Ching Yee (right) from May 1. PHOTO: PUBLIC SERVICE DIVISION
Iras Board to welcome new chairman on May 1
SINGAPORE - The Board of Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras Board) will welcome Mr Lai Chung Han as its new chairman on May 1 .
Appointed by the Minister for Finance , Mr Lai, 52 , will take over from Mrs Tan Ching Yee , according to a media statement from the Ministry.
Mr Lai, who is also the incoming permanent secretary (finance) , was previously appointed as the p ermanent secretary (development), Ministry of Finance in July 2024.
In 2022 , he was awarded the Public Administration Medal ( G old) by the President of Singapore.
Mr Lai has also held various command staff appointments throughout his military career, serving as d eputy secretary (policy), Ministry of Defence from 2012 , and as c hief of Navy from 2014.
He was appointed second permanent secretary (education) and second permanent secretary (home affairs) in 2017 , and later served as permanent secretary (education) from 2019.
Serving as the board's chairman since May 1, 2016 , Mrs Tan, who is 60 , has led Iras in strengthening its international standing to better serve the R epublic.
Iras represented Singapore on the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Forum on Tax Administration as a b ureau member.
Iras has also administered national grants schemes such as the Uplifting Employment Credit, the Progressive Wage Credit Scheme, and the Rental Support Scheme, to support businesses and workers alike.
With Mrs Tan helming the board, Iras upgraded its digital infrastructure to serve taxpayers better and enhance compliance efforts. This include d successful generational upgrade in the information technology system for property tax, stamp duties and individual income tax, among other improvements.
'The Ministry of Finance and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore welcome Mr Lai to the board and would like to express our deep appreciation to outgoing chairman, Mrs Tan Ching Yee, for her significant contributions to the Iras Board,' the statement read.
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