Importing of goods

Import GST is assessed and collected by Singapore Customs based on the import permit details, including the value of the goods and any duties payable.

GST is charged at 9% on the total of:

• CIF value (Cost + Insurance + Freight)
• All duties payable (as assessed by Singapore Customs)
• Commission and other incidental charges

Import GST is payable to Singapore Customs. Depending on the import arrangement, payment may be made through:

• Your interbank GIRO arrangement with Singapore Customs;
• Your declaring agent's interbank GIRO arrangement with Singapore Customs;
• SingPost; or
• The courier company.

If you are GST-registered, you can claim back the GST you paid on imports as input tax. You must:

• Be listed as the importer on the import permit
• Meet the conditions for claiming input tax
• Declare the amounts accurately in your GST return (GST F5)

What to declare in GST F5

• Box 5 (Total value of taxable purchases): Actual value of the imports as reflected in the import permit
• Box 7 (Input tax and refunds claimed): GST amount as reflected in the import permit

You may be contracted to perform value-adding activities (such as testing, repair or assembly) on goods belonging to:

• Local customers (GST-registered or not); or
• GST-registered overseas customers.

In some cases, you may send the goods to an overseas subcontractor to carry out part or all of the value-adding activities. When the goods are subsequently re-imported into Singapore, import GST will be payable.

If you satisfy the conditions under section 33B of the GST Act, you may claim the full GST incurred on the re-importation of such goods as your input tax.

For details on the conditions and GST reporting requirements, refer to GST: Claiming of GST on re-import of value-added goods (PDF, 565KB).

You do not need to pay GST at import if:

• The goods qualify for import relief
• The goods are investment precious metals (IPM) as they are exempt imports
• You are approved under a GST suspension or deferment scheme
• The goods land in a Free Trade Zone or are imported directly into a Zero-GST or Licensed Warehouse

Import GST relief for goods imported by air or post

Goods imported by air or post (except liquor and tobacco) are not subject to GST at the point of importation when the CIF value is $400 or less. If the CIF value exceeds $400, import GST is payable to Singapore Customs on the entire amount.

Import GST relief for temporary imports

You can apply to Singapore Customs for GST relief on temporary imports (except liquor and tobacco) for approved purposes such as repair, modification or exhibition, for up to 6 months.

For more information, please visit Singapore Customs’ webpage on Temporary Import Scheme or contact Singapore Customs at (+65) 6355 2000.

Imports of Investment precious metals (IPM) are exempt from GST. As such, you do not need to pay GST on the importation of IPM, nor declare the imports in your GST return.

However, you must:

• Apply for an IPM exemption permit via TradeNet®; and
• Maintain relevant documents (e.g. import permit, purchase order, invoice, delivery note) to support the exemption.

For more information, refer to GST: Guide on Exemption of Investment Precious Metals (IPM) (PDF, 389KB).

You may import goods without paying GST upfront if you are approved under a GST suspension or deferment scheme. Under these schemes, GST is either suspended at the point of import or deferred and accounted for in your GST return.

Common GST suspension and deferment schemes include:

Major Exporter Scheme (MES)

MES improves cash flow for businesses that import and export goods substantially. If you are under MES, you can import non-dutiable goods with GST suspended. You can also enjoy GST suspension on goods removed from a Zero GST or Licensed warehouse.

You only pay import GST when goods are removed from approved warehouses for local consumption.

What goods are covered:

1. Goods owned by you or your overseas principal (where you act as a section 33(2) agent or section 33A agent)
2. Non-dutiable goods you re-import after sending overseas for value-adding activities, if you meet the conditions under section 33B of the GST Act

For more information on the scheme and how to report goods imported under the scheme in your GST return, refer to Major Exporter Scheme.

GST may be suspended at import based on the location of the goods, even if you are not approved under a GST suspension or deferment scheme.

Goods temporarily removed from Zero-GST or Licensed Warehouse for auctions and exhibitions

You may remove goods from approved warehouses for purposes such as auctions or exhibitions without paying GST, provided that the goods are returned to the approved warehouse after the auction or exhibition.

If the goods are not returned and are removed for local consumption, GST becomes payable to Singapore Customs.

For more information, refer to Temporary Import Scheme.

Free Trade Zones and transhipments

Free Trade Zones (FTZs) are designated areas in Singapore where GST and customs duty are not payable when goods arrive. You do not need to declare such goods as taxable purchases in your GST return until they cross the duty point and enter customs territory.

For more information, visit Singapore Customs' webpages on import and export procedures.

GST treatment for overseas goods stored in a Free Trade Zone

This section applies to goods from outside Singapore that land in an FTZ pending customs clearance.

• If you remove goods from the FTZ into customs territory, GST is payable to Singapore Customs unless you are approved under an import GST suspension or deferment scheme (e.g. MES, Approved 3PL Scheme, ACMT Scheme, ARCS, or IGDS).
• If you move goods from one FTZ into another FTZ, or into a Zero-GST or Licensed Warehouse, GST is not payable.
• If you remove goods from the FTZ for export (transhipment), GST is not chargeable as the supplies are out-of-scope and need not be reported in your GST return.
• If you use or consume goods within the FTZ, GST is payable to Singapore Customs.
• If you supply goods within the FTZ and the goods remain in the FTZ, GST is not chargeable as the supplies are out-of-scope and need not be reported in your GST return.

For more information, refer to GST Guide for Free Trade Zones, Warehouses and Excise Factories (PDF, 178KB).

GST treatment for local goods stored in Free Trade Zone

This section applies to locally manufactured goods and goods that have cleared customs control but are stored in an FTZ.

• If you remove goods from the FTZ and re-enter customs territory, GST is payable unless Singapore Customs has granted relief.
• If you supply goods within the FTZ, GST is chargeable and must be accounted for in your GST return as standard-rated supplies. You may zero-rate supplies intended for export if you maintain the required export evidence as stated in GST: Guide on Exports (PDF, 0.9MB).

For more information, refer to GST Guide for Free Trade Zones, Warehouses and Excise Factories (PDF, 178KB).

You may import goods for an overseas person as their agent under one of the following arrangements:

• Section 33(2) agent; or
• Section 33A agent.

Section 33(2) agent

You may import and supply goods in Singapore on behalf of an overseas person as a section 33(2) agent. The overseas person must be either:

• Not GST-registered; or
• GST-registered under the Overseas Vendor Registration (OVR) pay-only regime.

As a section 33(2) agent, you may claim the GST paid on the import of goods (subject to the conditions for claiming input tax).

When you supply the goods:

• You make the supply as if you are the principal
• If you sell the goods locally, you must charge and account for GST at the standard rate
• If you export the goods and maintain the required export evidence, you may zero-rate the supply

You must track all goods and ensure that all goods imported as a section 33(2) agent are supplied, even if the goods change in nature and form.

For the types of export evidence to maintain under each export scenario, refer to GST: Guide on Exports (PDF, 0.9MB) and  GST: Guide on Hand-Carried Exports Scheme (PDF, 353KB).

For more information on the requirements for a section 33(2) agent, refer to GST: Guide on Imports (PDF, 436KB).

What to declare in your GST return

You must declare the import and supply of goods on behalf of your overseas principal in your GST return.

You must:

• Account for output tax on standard-rated supplies
• Claim the GST paid on imports as your input tax (subject to conditions)

Changing agents and transferring goods

The overseas principal may appoint another agent to act on their behalf. As the existing agent, you must transfer the overseas principal’s goods to the newly appointed agent. The new agent will be responsible for charging and accounting for GST on the subsequent sale or disposal of the transferred goods.

You may transfer the goods without repaying the import GST previously claimed, deferred or suspended provided that:

• You and the new agent declare that all conditions and obligations set out in sections 5 and 6 of the self-review form "Self-Review of Eligibility and Declaration on the Change of Agent and Transfer of Goods under Section 33(2) of the GST Act" (DOC, 77KB) are satisfied; and
• The original declaration form is submitted to IRAS before the date of the transfer.

For more information, refer to GST: Guide on Imports (PDF, 436KB).

Section 33A agent

You may claim the GST paid at the time of import as a section 33A agent if you:

• Import goods belonging to an overseas person;
• Export the goods without making any further supply of the goods; and
• Meet the relevant conditions.

For more information on the requirements for a section 33A agent, refer to GST: Guide on Imports (PDF, 436KB).

Maintaining records as an agent

As an agent, you must maintain sufficient documentary records and evidence relating to the import and supply of goods on behalf of the overseas principal.

You must:

• Keep separate records for goods belonging to the overseas principal; and
• Comply with the GST record keeping requirements.

If you are under any import GST suspension scheme

If you are approved under an import GST suspension scheme, you may use your scheme status to import non-dutiable goods belonging to your overseas principal either for sale in Singapore or to re-export. GST will be suspended at the point of import.

This applies to schemes such as:

• Major Exporter Scheme
• Approved Third Party Logistics Company Scheme
• Approved Contract Manufacturer and Trader Scheme
• Approved Import GST Suspension Scheme
• Approved Refiner and Consolidator Scheme