Director of ATTS, Mr Khoo Ho Tong, Guests and Graduands.

Good Afternoon,

Welcome to the Association of Taxation Technicians Singapore or ATTS Annual Tea Reception.

Graduands, today we are here to celebrate your success at obtaining the ATTS Diploma in Taxation, Certificate in Advanced Taxation or Certificate in Basic Taxation. It is my pleasure to be part of this joyous occasion.

The ATTS was incorporated under the auspices of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore or ICPAS in March 1995 to serve the needs of taxation support staff. The primary objective of the Association is to provide training and qualifications for individuals interested in taxation.  Taxation is a crucial factor in the development of a flourishing financial centre. In the Committee to Develop the Accountancy Sector’s recommendations for Singapore to develop into a global accountancy hub by 2020, taxation was identified as one of the niche specialization pathways for Singapore to build capabilities in.

At this point, you have made a significant achievement towards enhancing your career. To stay ahead of the constant changes in the accountancy profession, I urge you to continue your professional education and take another step towards specializing in taxation by studying for the Specialist Certificate in Taxation, awarded by the ATTS. This programme is recognized by ICPAS and will give you a strong foothold in your professional career in taxation.  The ATTS Specialist Certificate in Taxation has been approved for the Skills Development Funding. With this, matured students sponsored by their companies can apply for up to 80% financial support from the Workforce Development Agency (WDA). NTUC Union members who are not company sponsored may apply for the NTUC- Surrogate Employer Programme.

Highlights of this dynamic, rewarding learning experience will allow students to develop strong professional qualifications and critical understanding of the latest development in taxation. The new Specialist Certificate in Taxation course will equip students with deeply relevant knowledge and comprehensive skills on taxation that are highly sought after by businesses. This also means that graduates can enjoy enhanced employability and career prospects.  

In May last year, ICPAS launched the Singapore Institute of Accredited Tax Professionals or SIATP (pronounced “siap”), the first accreditation body for tax professionals in Singapore. With SIATP, we aim to raise tax practice standards in Singapore by providing accreditation for tax professionals. The ATTS Specialist Certificate in Taxation qualification is stringently designed to meet the requirements of Singapore Institute of Accredited Tax Professionals (SIATP) and Tax Academy of Singapore (TAS). Plans are underway for ATTS Specialist Certificate in Taxation graduates to be eligible for the Accredited Tax Advisor (ATA), Accredited Tax Practitioner (ATP) designations accorded by SIATP, which would mean even greater industry recognition and employability.

Graduands, now that you have completed the ATTS examinations, I strongly encourage you to apply for full membership of ATTS. As members, holders of ATTS Diploma in Taxation will have your qualification recognised by use of the “ATT” and “STT” designations for ordinary members and senior members respectively.

In today’s rapidly changing business environment, you must continually update and upgrade yourselves with the latest information to meet the requirements of the global market place. As a member of ATTS, you will be kept abreast of the latest developments to help you in your work.  You will also enjoy continuing professional education and networking opportunities, which are crucial to the development of your career.

In closing, I would like to congratulate each of you for your achievement in obtaining your ATTS qualification and I wish you every success.

Thank you.