Paying GST on overseas mail order purchases

[danster]

As I understand it, GST is payable on mail order purchases from overseas if declared value of item is >S$400.

My question is; when is the GST payable? Will the Singapore customs hold on to the package while you go somewhere to pay the GST? or does the delivery guy (USPS, UPS, FedEX) collect the GST on deliver of the item?

Any one has any experience?

Thanks!

 

[Phildate]

I recently ordered something from UK (a medical injuries simulation kit of all things!) that cost 285 pounds. On delivery, I was asked to pay the GST of $40 so no, they don't hold until you have paid GST.

That was my experience anyway.

 

[kex]

i used Vpost for some of my shipping from US,and they collect GST together with the shipping cost from the invoice of the item..

 

[danster]

i used Vpost for some of my shipping from US,and they collect GST together with the shipping cost from the invoice of the item..

ooi kex, you always online one ah?

 

[kex]

my workplace need to be online all the time for internet orders mah.hehehe..

what u buying this time ?

 

[danster]

my workplace need to be online all the time for internet orders mah.hehehe..

what u buying this time ?

tempted by a Contax TVS I or II....arrrghh...see your influence on german optics!!!

 

[kex]

have u read the "Buyble" recently ?

wahahahha!

 

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

As I understand it, GST is payable on mail order purchases from overseas if declared value of item is >S$400.

My question is; when is the GST payable? Will the Singapore customs hold on to the package while you go somewhere to pay the GST? or does the delivery guy (USPS, UPS, FedEX) collect the GST on deliver of the item?

Any one has any experience?

Thanks!

when delivered via DHL, UPS, Fedex, they will give you a call to tell you the amount of GST to pay, and would fax the bill over, then when the guy deliver the physical goods, you pay the GST.

 

[reachme2003]

you mean in cash. GST payable is based on the value declared to custom dept?

 

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

either cash or cheque also can. ya, the party declare how much den u calculate 5% lor. if the person declare as gift, den no need to pay GST. but u lose your claim amount when the item is lost.

 

[jamesong]

As I understand it, GST is payable on mail order purchases from overseas if declared value of item is >S$400.

My question is; when is the GST payable? Will the Singapore customs hold on to the package while you go somewhere to pay the GST? or does the delivery guy (USPS, UPS, FedEX) collect the GST on deliver of the item?

Any one has any experience?

Thanks!

danster, When you buy from o/seas, you either opt for By AIRMail Insurance Post or by UPS,FexEx, or Vpost (for vPost, kex has already mentioned).
I do not recommend courier services other than vPost,unless it is very URGENT, courier services, they are very expensive but very fast, you receive your good within three to four days.

For AirMail Insurance it is cheaper but takes about two weeks and parcel above $450 will be withheld by Customs at the Paya Lebar S'pore Post Headquarters.The Customs will write to you, asking for your Invoice and description of the good before they calculate 5% GST which they will also include the postage on parcel.

If you do not have any Invoice, some "bad" Custom Officer will just say, "Ah! old camera! old means must be expensive....so value will be $2,000", please pay GST according to $2,000 + postage on parcel " I am saying this because I have had this experience before!!. Sometimes Invoice will be inside the parcel and Custom will request you to open up the parcel to get the Invoice.

I hope this information helps. Good luck.

 

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

danster, When you buy from o/seas, you either opt for By AIRMail Insurance Post or by UPS,FexEx, or Vpost (for vPost, kex has already mentioned).
I do not recommend courier services other than vPost,unless it is very URGENT, courier services, they are very expensive but very fast, you receive your good within three to four days.

For AirMail Insurance it is cheaper but takes about two weeks and parcel above $450 will be withheld by Customs at the Paya Lebar S'pore Post Headquarters.The Customs will write to you, asking for your Invoice and description of the good before they calculate 5% GST which they will also include the postage on parcel.

If you do not have any Invoice, some "bad" Custom Officer will just say, "Ah! old camera! old means must be expensive....so value will be $2,000", please pay GST according to $2,000 + postage on parcel " I am saying this because I have had this experience before!!. Sometimes Invoice will be inside the parcel and Custom will request you to open up the parcel to get the Invoice.

I hope this information helps. Good luck.

i wonder if can 'lodge' complain against this kind anot... normally will happen in such cases is they doesn't declare the amount on the item itself. in a way also no invoice.

i felt safer to send my goods via UPS, Fedex or DHL...

 

[nova_nebula]

1. My recent two experience with FedEx. They pay GST on my behalf then send me bill for it. In the bill they include $10 Duty Advance Fee even if my gst is $15.
2. If you are asked to pay GST upon delivery to your home, DO KEEP the receipt. Sometime the delivery man "forgot" to hand in the GST to office and the office will come after you for settlement. That happens to me more than once and they chase for money even two years after transaction!!! Luckily I kept all receipts and fax to them everytime they ask for money. As it turns out the delivery man pocket the money and run away!!! This is from Airborne Express.
3. When my o/sea purchases comes thru Singapore Post (from USPS) they hold it at Eunos and ask that I go there to pay GST before collecting parcel.

 

[kahheng]

As I understand it, GST is payable on mail order purchases from overseas if declared value of item is >S$400.

My question is; when is the GST payable? Will the Singapore customs hold on to the package while you go somewhere to pay the GST? or does the delivery guy (USPS, UPS, FedEX) collect the GST on deliver of the item?

Any one has any experience?

Thanks!

It's random. According to the customs fella at the Singpost HQ, they have to physically look through approx. 16,000 parcels a day coming in by post alone. They only pick a fraction of that at random to see if the cost of the item falls into the gst-chargeable range.

So, it's a crap-shoot. So basically in practice, you get caught in the random dragnet now and then.

They would also generally want you to tell them what's inside, and ask you to provide an invoice (they not stupid ;-)) If you say "Ebay"! They'd say "Okay! Show me a printout of the auction page" in order to see the actual value of the item to charge you GST on. But if you whinge a bit, fudge a bit, and say just take the declared value on the customs invoice, it often works.

For international couriers, all would generally play by the rules. Fedex for instance might actually CALL you, if they have your contact no., to ask you if you are willing to accept the GST chargeable. If yes, you give the delivery man a cheque upon delivery. If you say no over the phone, you settle with customs yourself - the latter is too troublesome for most.

 

[nova_nebula]

I wish FedEx had called me. They had my number never call. Anyway ALL my >$400 purchases (many) attracts GST. So I don't know if its random or otherwise. Must have been my luck I guess.

 

[danster]

guys, thanks for all the advice. am older and wiser now...

 

[kahheng]

I wish FedEx had called me. They had my number never call. Anyway ALL my >$400 purchases (many) attracts GST. So I don't know if its random or otherwise. Must have been my luck I guess.

Hi, maybe I didn't make myself clear enough: If the shipping is by courier, the international courier companies will usually play strictly by the rules - so if it's equal or more than $400, be almost CERTAIN that you will have to pay GST. They'll call you sometimes to ask if you want to pay it yourself direct to customs, or dispute the damn gst. Else, they'll pay on your behalf, and you pay them back at the time of receipt.

If the article is coming in via postal service, it's more random. This is my experience. And the not so nice part is that you have to go to Ubi and pay it there