In General, all goods imported to Singapore are subject to a goods and services tax (GST) of 7% of the cost of goods, insurance and freight (CIF). This includes all other costs, expenses and expenses related to the sale and delivery of goods to Singapore.
To account for the import of your goods, please follow these steps to obtain the appropriate permits (if the goods are subject to control) from the relevant competent authorities:
1. Register for the "Unique entity number" (UEN) and activate the customs account.
2. Check if the items are under control.
Check whether the goods you are going to import are controlled goods or goods that are subject to the restrictions of the competent authorities (CAs) in Singapore.
3. Apply for the interbank GIRO.
You or your declaring agent must maintain an Interbank GIRO (IBG) with Singapore customs to pay duties, taxes, fees, fines and other charges for services offered by Singapore Custom from your Bank account directly to Singapore customs.
4. Ensuring security.
You must guarantee security for operations involving duty-free goods, temporary importation of goods for approved purposes, and operation of licensed premises such as licensed warehouses and excise factories.
The security guarantee must be in the form of a Bank guarantee, a financial company guarantee, or an insurance bond.
5. Apply for a customs import permit.
To appoint a declaring agent to apply for the obtaining of customs clearances on your behalf;
Apply for customs permits for yourself or on behalf of your clients. To do this, you need to register as a declaring agent and apply for a TradeNet user ID .
All applications for permission must be submitted via TradeNet, which is available via:
TradeNet interface software from an approved software vendor;
Government interface module.
6. Prepare documents for cargo registration.
7. Save your trading documents.
More detailed information about import procedures can be found at the following link: https://www.customs.gov.sg/businesses/importing-goods/quick-guide-for-importers
The GST exemption applies to goods imported by post or air for a total CIF amount not exceeding s $ 400 (excluding duty-free goods such as alcoholic beverages and tobacco products). If the cost exceeds 400 sing. dollars, the entire amount is subject to GST tax. More detailed information about importing by mail or courier service can be found at the following link: https://www.customs.gov.sg/businesses/importing-goods/import-procedures/importing-by-post-or-courier-service
Individual products require appropriate authorization from competent authorities such as the agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority) before they can be imported into Singapore. To determine whether a product requires permission, you can perform a search engine check https://www.tradenet.gov.sg/tradenet/portlets/search/searchHSCA/searchInitHSCA.do by entering the HS (harmonized system) or CA (competent authority) product code and product description.
If the item is subject to authorization, the name and contact person of the competent authority will be listed next to the HS code description in hyperlinks under the import columns in the search results. For licensing requirements, the importer can directly contact the contact person of the relevant competent authority.
For assistance with the application for a permit and other customs documentation, the importer may appoint a local freight forwarder who is registered as a TradeNet ® user with Singapore customs. A list of these companies can be found at the following link: https://www.customs.gov.sg/businesses/resources/directories-of-service-providers/list-of-local-forwarding-agents
The cost of each permit submitted through TradeNet ® is 2.88 Singapore dollars. However, different freight forwarders may charge different fees, and the freight forwarder may charge additional fees for providing services when applying for a permit. For more information about documentation and other fees, please visit the following link: https://www.customs.gov.sg/businesses/valuation-duties-taxes--fees/permits-documentation-and-other-fees
All payment of duties and / or GST tax will be made to Singapore customs via the Inter-Bank GIRO (IBG) payment system. The importer can arrange with the freight forwarder to pay GST on behalf of the importer. In addition, you can register an IBG account for the company and specify the name and UEN of your agent in the payment authorization section of the IBG form. For more information about applying for an IBG account with Singapore customs, please visit the link: https://www.customs.gov.sg/businesses/registering-to-trade/registration-procedures/apply-for-inter-bank-giro
For information on other customs matters, the importer can visit the Singapore customs website: https://www.customs.gov.sg/
For more information about customs procedures, the importer can access the customs procedures manual: https://www.customs.gov.sg/~/media/cus/files/e-learning/main.html
Singapore Customs:
Website: www.customs.gov.sg
Email: customs_documentation@customs.gov.sg
customs_stgc@customs.gov.sg
customs_nacwc@customs.gov.sg