Singapore Goods & Services Tax Relief Up to S$600

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Changi Airport, Singapore (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With effect from Sunday (1 April 2012), international visitors and Singapore residents returning from overseas will enjoy more Goods and Services Tax (GST) relief.

Those who spend more than 48 hours abroad will get GST relief for goods valued up to S$600. If they are away from Singapore for less than 48 hours, they will get GST relief for goods valued up to S$150.

The GST relief is revised upwards to keep pace with rising expenditures. The revision also brings the relief amounts closer to international norms. The new GST relief will apply to all travellers, including children, except pass/permit holders and crew members.

The GST relief does not apply to liquor, tobacco products, petroleum and goods imported for commercial purposes.

On arrival in Singapore, travellers carrying goods with values exceeding their GST relief and duty-free allowance are required to declare the goods at the Customs Red Channel for the payment of tax. They should produce the invoices or receipts of their overseas purchases to facilitate the computation of tax payable. GST will be levied on the amount exceeding the value of the goods eligible for GST relief.

There is no duty-free concession on cigarettes and other tobacco products. All cigarettes, including those with the ‘SDPC’ (Singapore Duty Paid Cigarette) mark, and tobacco products are subject to duty and GST when brought in by travellers into Singapore.

Failure to make a declaration is an offence under the Customs Act and the GST Act. Offenders may be prosecuted in court and fined up to $10,000 and jailed for up to three years. The composition sum for out-of-court settlement for a first-time offender is $200 per packet for cigarettes, and 10 times the amount of duty or GST for other items.

Source: Singapore Customs