The move should mean suppliers get paid faster while saving on print and postage, as well as reaping the benefits of convenience and easier tracking of payments, said the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said on Friday.

The e-Invoice system has been used since early 2006 and more than 200,000 invoices have been submitted online.

Suppliers will now have to invoice online to all 461 government agencies, including statutory boards and government schools, through a one-stop online portal (www.vendors.gov.sg).

On April 30, the MOF announced that it would move from paper invoices to electronic ones, and briefings have been held to help suppliers learn the process.

Since then, more than 2,000 suppliers, or about 80 per cent of the Government's regular suppliers, have begun to submit invoices electronically.

This is another initiative under Singapore's Integrated Government 2010 Masterplan, which seeks to extend the reach and quality of e-services.

Suppliers new to the system will need their company's registration number, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore's E-Services Authorisation System (Easy) Access Code and the employee's personal SingPass to begin.

Small vendors, such as newspaper delivery agents, bus or canteen operators, who may not have quick access to the Internet at their points of sales, can visit any of the 25 CitizenConnect centres.

These provide free access to government e-services. Vendors located overseas are excluded from invoicing online at this stage.