• Food
  • Family
  • Beauty & Health
  • Style
  • Great Women
  • Events/Win
  • Food
    • Eating Out
    • Cooking Tips
    • Festive Food
    • Asian Recipes
    • Food
    • Celebrity Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Western Recipes
  • Family
    • Family
    • Save Money
    • Parenting
    • Sex & Marriage
    • Travel
  • Beauty & Health
    • Beauty & Health
    • Skincare
    • Makeup
    • Hair
    • Awards
    • Diet & Nutrition
    • Fitness
    • Wellness
  • Spa Awards 2022
  • Style
  • Great Women
    • Career
    • Great Women of Our Time
    • Real Life
  • Entertainment
  • EVENTS/WIN
  • #SchoolForLife
  • Hair Awards
  • Great Escape
  • Explore Singapore
  • Also available at:
Privacy Menu
SPH Media

Copyright © 2022 SPH Media Limited. Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. All rights reserved.

  • Food
  • Family
  • Beauty & Health
  • Style
  • Great Women
  • Events/Win

Family

Sneaky Ways To Avoid Paying GST For Your Overseas Shopping

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Family

Sneaky Ways To Avoid Paying GST For Your Overseas Shopping

There are sneaky but clever ways to avoid the “Welcome Back! Pay Your GST Now!” trap once you come back from your overseas holiday.

by Natalya Molok  /   January 18, 2018

GST is the buzzword on the street right now thanks to the 25-year-old Singaporean woman who was stopped by customs officers at Changi airport after returning from a shopping spree in Paris.

Turns out her designer items were worth more than $11,000 and she had to declare them for Goods and Services Tax, or GST, payment. She now risks being slapped with an even bigger fine for dodging customs.

According to Singapore Customs, all goods, including souvenirs, gifts and products for personal use, brought into Singapore are subject to 7 per cent GST.

There are sneaky ways to avoid the GST trap once you come back from your overseas holiday but remember that failure to declare the value of purchases is an offence under the Customs Act and the GST Act. Offenders can be prosecuted in court and fined up to $10,000 and jailed for up to three years.

READ MORE:
10 Things You Should Never Pack In Your Suitcase When You Travel
See Our Top Packing Tips To Help You Maximise Your Baggage Allowance
10 Ways To Cure Jet Lag And Other Sleep Issues

https://www.womensweekly.com.sg/gallery/family/sneaky-ways-avoid-paying-gst-overseas-shopping/
Sneaky Ways To Avoid Paying GST For Your Overseas Shopping
Remove all new packaging
image

Make your new purchases look like you didn’t just buy it in Paris or New York a few days ago. Take it out of its original packaging, get rid of the paper stuffing, rip all price tags off, and if you can “use” it immediately, do so.

Photo: Pinterest
Ask your friends and family for help
image

Don’t dump all your new products into one suitcase because if you get stopped, you’re going to be short of plenty of cash. Distribute your swanky new goods amongst your family members or friends who are also travelling with you.

Photo: Pixabay
Try to arrive on a morning flight
image

We’re not sure how true this is but some travellers have recommended flying back to Singapore on a morning flight as the likelihood of getting checked by customs officers is lower. We’re talking really early though – think a 6am arrival!

Photo: Pixabay
Only buy things on the exemption list
image

While all goods imported into Singapore are subject to GST, there are certain exemptions. You won’t be charged for non-dutiable goods imported by post and worth below S$400. Find out more here.

Photo: Pinterest
Be sensible
image

Remember, it’s one thing to come back with a couple of expensive items that are for your own personal use, but it’s another thing entirely to return with a suitcase full of luxury bags, expensive TCM ingredients or electronics. Be sensible, be discreet and hopefully Singapore Customs will let you walk on by.

Photo: Pixabay
  • TAGS:
  • branded goods
  • Customs
  • designer
  • family
  • good and services tax
  • GST
  • luxury
  • money
  • overseas
  • save money
  • singapore
SHARE THIS ON

What’s Hot

Family

Darren Lim And His Worries About His Hom...

Family

Why Fann Wong & Christopher Lee Had To C...

Family

12 Family Staycations In Singapore You A...

Family

7 Water Parks And Playgrounds In Singapo...

Family

14 Father's Day Gift Ideas For Every Typ...

Family

Sicilian to Botanical: 7 Themed Afternoo...

Family

Hungry Ghost Festival: Things You Should...

Family

Mother's Day Gift Guide: 16 Fab Ideas Fo...

Family

Best Money Changers In Singapore And Tip...

Family

Denise Keller Has Welcomed A Baby Girl

Family

14 Best Indoor Playgrounds In Singapore ...

Family

Great Last Minute Mother's Day Gifts Tha...

Don’t Miss These
  • Family Planning A Stay-Home Party This NDP? Score Up To 50 Per C...
  • Awards Feeling Stressed And Bloated? This Lymphatic Drainage Tre...
  • Eating Out How This Self-Made Food Entrepreneur Is Encouraging Singa...
Editor’s Picks
  • Family Darren Lim And His Worries About His Homebody Son
  • EVENTS/WIN Vote For Your Fave Household Brands & Win $200 Takashimaya Vouchers [CLOSED]
  • Family Why Fann Wong & Christopher Lee Had To Cut Short Their Maldives Holiday
  • Parenting Local Singers Tay Kewei And Alfred Sim Welcome Their Third Child
  • Entertainment Xiang Yun Shares Parenting Woes About Son Chen Xi When He Was Younger
  • Family 12 Family Staycations In Singapore You And Your Kids Will Love
Don't Miss Out Ever Again!
Tips & tricks to stay sane + win invites to our events!

By signing up, you indicate that you have read and agreed with our Privacy Statement
Footer Menu
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Conditions of Access
  • PDPA
  • Privacy Policy
?>">
SPH Magazine

Copyright © 2022 SPH Media Limited. Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. All rights reserved.