To avoid or minimize the 9% GST on Singapore Customs, ensure your total overseas purchases remain within the duty-free relief limits: S$500 if you have been away for 48 hours or more, or S$100 for trips shorter than 48 hours. For online purchases, keep the total Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) value at or below S$400 per shipment.
All goods brought into Singapore are subject to goods and services tax, currently pegged at 9 per cent. However, travellers are granted GST import relief based on the duration of their trip. For those who have been overseas for 48 hours or more, they are entitled to GST relief of up to $500.
The current standard GST rate in 2026 is 9%. The last GST rate increase in Singapore was from 8% to 9% from 1 January 2024. Imported goods are subject to GST at the standard rate of 9% in Singapore.
Claim the GST Refunds
If the SMB is exporting goods or services or providing them to SEZ, or if the SMB has accumulated ITC as a result of the inverted duty structure, the SMB may submit a refund application with the GST Department and claim the refund.
Exempt items: the sale and lease of residential properties, provision of financial services, import and local supply of investment precious metals, and supply of digital payment tokens (e.g. cryptocurrencies) from 1 January 2020.
Avail the new GST Amnesty Scheme 2024, introduced via Section 128A for conditional waiver of interest and penalties for tax demands from FY 2017-18 to 2019-20 under Section 73. To qualify, taxpayers must fully pay outstanding tax dues by March 31, 2025.
The GST/HST break includes certain qualifying goods, such as:
Subtracting GST:
The registration granted under GST can be cancelled for specified reasons. The cancellation can either be initiated by the department on their own motion or the registered person can apply for cancellation of their registration. In case of death of registered person, the legal heirs can apply for cancellation.
Customers do not pay GST on goods and services that are GST‑free such as basic food, many medical and health services, some education courses, childcare, certain medical aids, and exports.
Form GSTR-9 is an annual return to be filed once for each financial year, by the registered taxpayers who were regular taxpayers, including SEZ units and SEZ developers. The taxpayers are required to furnish details of purchases, sales, input tax credit or refund claimed or demand created etc. in this return.
The GST Council's latest reforms have reshaped the GST tax slab for the travel and hospitality sector. With international and domestic travel steadily rising, these changes will directly affect how much you spend on air tickets, hotel bookings, dining, and even luxury travel.
GST rate change from 8% to 9% on 1 Jan 2024
For any standard-rated supplies of goods or services that you make on or after 1 Jan 2024, you must charge GST at 9%. For instance, if you issue an invoice and receive payments for your supply on or after 1 Jan 2024, you must account for GST at 9%.
Businesses can significantly reduce import costs by making strategic use of free trade zones benefits and available trade agreements. Monitoring and applying the correct Free Trade Agreement (FTA) provisions within supply chains enables access to preferential duty rates for eligible products.
The penalty for a customs offence is a composition sum of up to S$5000, or prosecution in court, depending on the severity of the offence. For appeals pertaining to a Notice of Customs Offence by Singapore Customs Checkpoints Division, offenders may submit an appeal via the appeal form.
You may qualify for tourist refund if the following conditions are satisfied: Purchase the goods and request the retailer to capture your information for tourist refund; Spend at least SGD100 (including GST).
Exports and supplies to SEZs are classified as zero-rated supplies, meaning no GST is charged on them. Yet importantly, the supplier can still claim a refund of unutilised input tax credit—either by exporting under a bond/Letter of Undertaking (LUT) without paying IGST or by paying IGST and claiming the refund later.
1. Login into GST portal: Navigate to > Services > User Services > My Applications. 2. On Navigating to 'My Applications' page, the taxpayer has to select 'Apply for Waiver Scheme under Section 128A' option under 'Application type' dropdown.
Businesses dealing in goods are exempt from GST if their annual aggregate turnover is below INR 40 lakhs. For businesses in hilly and northeastern states, this threshold is reduced to INR 20 lakhs to address regional challenges. Service providers are exempt from GST if their turnover is under INR 20 lakhs annually.
Prepared foods and snacks: Vegetable trays, pre-made meals, salads, sandwiches, chips, candy, granola bars, etc. Dining: Restaurant meals (dine-in, takeout, or delivery). Beverages: Beer, wine, cider, and sake.
Subtracting GST from Price
To calculate how much GST was included in the price, divide the total price by 11 ($1000∕11=$90.91). To calculate the price without GST, divide the price by 1.1 ($1000∕1.1=$909.09).
GST Inclusive Pricing: To find the GST inclusive price, add the GST amount to the base price of the goods or services. GST Exclusive Pricing: To calculate the price excluding GST, divide the total GST inclusive amount by (1 + GST rate/100).
The GST exemption essentially allows the earmarking of transfers, made during lifetime or at death, that either skip a generation or are made in trust for multiple generations.
India's GST regime is undergoing a landmark transformation with the 56th GST Council meeting unveiling GST 2.0 - next-generation reforms simplifying tax slabs to 5%, 18%, and 40%. Effective from September 22, 2025, these reforms aim to ease compliance, boost consumption, and fuel economic growth.
Common Examples of GST Exempt Transactions:
Financial services – Most banking services, interest payments, and insurance premiums. Residential rent – Rental income from residential properties. Donated goods and services – Items or services that are given away without payment.