A traveller was shocked to discover that he had to pay GST even for his own holiday shopping.
Do you have to pay a Goods and Service Tax (GST) when bringing back holiday purchases from other countries?
It's a yes - as one traveller found out when he was crossing the Causeway back into Singapore.
The reader was stopped at the Causeway border checkpoint in November and requested to fork out the due GST on his holiday purchases, Stomp reported.
The reader said he was shocked because such a thing had never happened to him before.
Moreover, he added, he was not aware of the rules until the incident occurred.
The puzzled reader told Stomp that he had only bought branded clothes at a Malaysian factory outlet and that the clothes were only for himself.
In the end, he had to cough up about $20 for the RM600 (S$245) worth of clothes he bought.
The reader bemoaned: "I just wish that if the rule exists, they would make it consistent and ask everyone to pay GST on clothes bought overseas rather than pull aside random people and pull this stunt on them."
According to the Singapore Customs, there is a seven per cent GST levied on all goods imported.
Vacationers, other than holders of work permit, employment pass, student’s pass, dependant’s pass or long term pass, will be given a GST rebate on the total value of new articles, souvenirs, gifts and food preparations (excluding liquors and tobacco) based on the following:
* S$50 if traveller has been away from Singapore for less than 24 hours;
* S$150 if traveller has been away from Singapore for 24 hours or more but less than 48 hours; and
* S$300 if traveller has been away from Singapore for 48 hours or more.
The above rates only apply if the traveller is 18 years old and above.
Have you been stopped for GST duty before? Send in your comments to a1admin@sph.com.sg
Readers' Comments
Idiot ignorant whiner...why would feel better if everyone had to pay?
Its definitely better now that it's random...of course, Singapore Customs and Immigration never does anything randomly.
The GST is for the donkeys who go Malaysia in the morning and come back in the afternoon. So the GST is right, else all these jokers and donkeys will earn money in Singapore and spent in Malaysia.
Donkey rules has been in places for years, but sometimes Donkey never pay attentions, so donkey will have to pay the price.
just Pay and Pay lah!!!
besides, if you've plans to purchase larger ticket items from outside SG, either shop at duty-free stores or ask the retailer for a exit declaration form. fill that up, attach the original receipts and mail them back for tax rebate.
any sensibly seasoned traveller would have told you that...
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