Importing of goods

Please refer to GST: Guide on Imports (PDF, 436KB) for GST reporting requirements, GST on the importation of goods and various related schemes.

You should declare your imports in Box 5 and Box 7 of your GST returns.

In Box 5 (Total value of taxable purchases), you should declare the actual value of your imports as reflected in the import permit.

If the value reflected in your supplier's invoice is different from the value in your import permit, you must reconcile the two values. For over-declaration or under-declaration of value of import, please refer to mistakes in import declaration for what you should do.

In Box 7 (Input tax and refunds claimed), you must fill in the GST amount as reflected in the import permit.

If Investment Precious Metals (IPM) are imported together with other goods by air or by post, the value of the IPM should be disregarded when determining whether the value of your import exceeds the import relief threshold of $400.

From 1 Jan 2023, GST may be charged on low-value goods at the point of sale by the GST-registered suppliers under the Overseas Vendor Registration regime. For more information, please refer to the e-Tax Guide GST: Taxing imported low-value goods by way of the overseas vendor registration regime (First Edition) (PDF, 486KB). 

MES helps alleviate the cash flow of businesses that import and export goods substantially. If you are under the MES, you are allowed to import non-dutiable goods with GST suspended. You can also enjoy GST suspension on goods removed from a Zero GST (ZG) / Licensed warehouse. Import GST is only payable when the goods are removed from the approved warehouses for local consumption.

You can only use the MES for goods that are owned by you or your overseas principal [where you act as a section 33(2) agent or section 33A agent].  You can also use your MES status to re-import non-dutiable goods belonging to your local customer or GST-registered overseas customer, which you have previously sent overseas for value-adding activities, if the conditions under section 33B of the GST Act are satisfied.

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

The Zero GST (ZG) Warehouse and Licensed Warehouse Scheme are administered by Singapore Customs.

GST is suspended if you import non-dutiable goods directly into the ZG / Licensed Warehouse that you operate under this scheme. You only pay import GST when the goods are removed from the ZG or Licensed Warehouse for local consumption.

Please refer to GST Guide for Free Trade Zones, Warehouses and Excise Factories (PDF, 178KB) for information on:

• How to report goods imported under the scheme in your GST return
• GST treatment related to goods stored in ZG/Licensed Warehouses

Visit the Singapore Customs' webpage on schemes & licenses for more details on the schemes.

The aim of the Approved 3PL Scheme is to help enhance the competitiveness of logistics companies providing logistics management services for overseas principals who use Singapore as a logistics hub.

If you are under the Approved 3PL Scheme, you are allowed to import goods with GST suspended. You can also enjoy GST suspension on goods removed from approved warehouses.

For more information on the scheme and how to report goods imported under the Scheme in your GST return, please refer to the page on Approved Third Party Logistics Company Scheme.

If you are approved as an ACMT contract manufacturer under the ACMT Scheme, you can enjoy import GST suspension for your own goods, goods belonging to an overseas person in your capacity as a section 33(2) or 33A agent, as well as goods consigned to you by your overseas client on which value-adding activities are performed under the ACMT scheme. From 1 Jan 2015, you can also use your ACMT contract manufacturer status to re-import non-dutiable goods belonging to your local customer or GST-registered overseas customer, which you have previously sent overseas for value-adding activities, if the conditions under section 33B of the GST Act are satisfied.

For more information on the scheme and how to report goods imported under the scheme, please refer to GST: Approved Contract Manufacturer and Trader Scheme (PDF, 1091KB).

GST is suspended on goods removed from approved warehouses for auctions or exhibitions. This is provided that the goods are returned to the warehouse after the auction or exhibition.

For more information, please refer to the page on Temporary Import Scheme.

Free Trade Zones (FTZs) are designated areas in Singapore where the payment of duties and taxes (e.g. GST) are suspended when the goods arrived in Singapore. You do not need to declare them as your taxable purchases in your GST return until the goods cross the duty point and enter customs territory.

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

This section is concerned with goods from outside Singapore landing in an FTZ and pending customs clearance.

• If the goods are removed from the FTZ into customs territory, GST is payable to Singapore Customs unless you are under any import GST suspension scheme (such as the Major Exporter Scheme, Approved Third Party Logistics Company Scheme,  Approved Contract Manufacturer & Trader Scheme, Approved Import GST Suspension Scheme,  Approved Refiner & Consolidator Scheme) or Import GST Deferment Scheme.
• If the goods are removed from one FTZ into another FTZ, a Zero-GST Warehouse or Licensed Warehouse, GST is not payable to Singapore Customs.
• If the goods are removed from the FTZ for export (i.e. transshipment), GST is not payable to Singapore Customs. GST is also not chargeable as the supplies are out-of-scope. You do not need to report the supplies in your GST return.
• If the goods are used or consumed within the FTZ, GST is payable to Singapore Customs.
• If the goods are supplied within the FTZ (i.e. goods remain in the FTZ), GST is not chargeable as the supplies are out-of-scope. You do not need to report the supplies in your GST return.

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

This section is concerned with goods located in an FTZ that have cleared customs control and locally manufactured goods that are in an FTZ.

• If the goods are removed from the FTZ and re-enter customs territory, GST is payable unless relief has been granted by Singapore Customs.
• If the goods are supplied within the FTZ, GST is chargeable and needs to be accounted for in the GST return as standard-rated supplies. Supplies of goods that are intended for export can be zero-rated. You need to maintain the required export evidence stated in GST: A Guide on Exports (PDF, 717KB) to be eligible.

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

1. The import and supply of goods on behalf of your overseas principal should be declared in your GST return.
2. You have to account for the output tax on standard-rated supplies.
3. You will be allowed, subject to conditions, to claim the GST paid on the imports as your input tax.

The overseas principal may appoint another agent to act on its behalf. As the existing agent, you need to transfer the imported goods belonging to the overseas principal 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 are allowed to transfer the overseas principal's goods to the new agent without having to repay the import GST previously claimed, deferred or suspended on the condition that:

• You and the new agent declare that you satisfy all the 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); and
• The original declaration form is submitted to the Comptroller before the date of the transfer of goods.

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

If you over-declared the value of imports and overpaid GST to Singapore Customs, you should declare in your GST return (F5):

1. Box 5 (Total value of taxable purchases): The correct value of imports (i.e. the value reflected in the invoice from your supplier).
2. Box 7 (Input tax and refunds claimed): The actual GST amount as reflected in your import permit.

Businesses under the Major Exporter Scheme (MES) may obtain ME permits to import goods into Singapore. GST on the imports will then be suspended.

If you have over-/ under-declared the value of imports in your ME permit, you do not need to cancel your ME permit. You should declare in your GST return (F5):

1. Box 5 (Total value of taxable purchases): The correct value of imports (i.e. the value reflected in the invoice from your supplier).
2. Box 9 (Total value of goods imported under the MES/ A3PL/ other approved schemes): The correct value of imports (i.e. the value reflected in the invoice from your supplier).

If you have under-declared the value of imports and under-paid GST, you need to pay the additional GST to Singapore Customs by obtaining a short payment permit. The short payment permit acts as documentary evidence for your input tax claim.

You should declare in your GST return (F5):

1. Box 5 (Total value of taxable purchases): The total value of imports as reflected in the import permit and short payment permit.
2. Box 7 (Input tax and refunds claimed): The total GST amount as reflected in the import permit and short payment permit.

An exemption permit should be obtained for the import of IPM. If you have erroneously obtained a ME permit for an import of IPM, you must send an email to Singapore Customs at [email protected] to inform them of the mistake.

You are required to make the necessary adjustment in your GST return (F5) by:

1. Reducing the value under Box 5 (Total Value of Taxable Purchases).
2. Reducing the value of Box 9 (Total Value of Goods Imported under the MES/ A3PL/ other approved schemes).

You are required to maintain a copy of your correspondence with Singapore Customs as part of the record keeping requirements for GST purposes.