Iras board to welcome new chairman on May 1

SINGAPORE – The board of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras) 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 permanent secretary (development) at the Ministry of Finance in July 2024.

In 2022, he was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Gold) by the President of Singapore.

Mr Lai has also held various command staff appointments throughout his military career, serving as deputy secretary (policy) at the Ministry of Defence from 2012, and as chief of the 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, said the statement.

Iras represented Singapore on the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Forum on Tax Administration as a bureau member.

Iras has also administered national grant 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 included successful upgrading of its digital systems 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.