Understanding GST on Overseas Purchases in Singapore: 2025 Guide

This guide is for informational purposes only. If you're unsure whether to declare or pay tax on any item, seek professional advice. There’s also a helpful guide from the Singapore Customs Authorities***, available in multiple languages, which covers the declaration and taxation rules in full detail.***

If you’ve enjoyed hitting the local stores on a trip abroad, you’ll need to understand the Singapore duty-free allowance on items you bring back, as well as how GST on imported goods works. Import tax in Singapore can feel confusing: do you really need to pass through the Red Channel in Changi because you’ve topped up on your Korean skincare supplies, or after being gifted some new electronics or a designer bag abroad for example?

This guide explains GST relief, the necessary declarations and how to pay GST on imported goods in Singapore. You can also learn more about the Wise card, an easy way to stretch your dollars when paying in foreign currencies.

Understanding Singapore’s GST on Overseas Purchases

We’ll look at how to avoid GST on overseas purchases using GST reliefs in just a moment. But first, it helps to understand the importance of checking the rules before you bring goods back into the country¹.

GST is levied on all goods brought into Singapore, including items you buy when you’re abroad, or order online. Failing to report dutiable goods, and pay any relevant GST is illegal and can result in fines or even prosecution. However, there are some reliefs which may apply depending on the value of the items you’re bringing with you, and the nature of your travel.

Unfortunately, the customs rules for Singapore may not be universally known or understood. In fact, The Straits Times² reports that following an exercise by the Customs Authorities at Singapore’s land, sea and air checkpoints in late May 2025, nearly 200 travellers were found to have failed to declare imports of cash, goods and tobacco in random checks.

Don’t fall foul of the law - make sure you understand the rules which apply when you bring goods back with you after a trip abroad, to avoid running into problems with the authorities on arrival home.

How to Avoid GST on Overseas Purchases Legally

We’ve touched on the fact that there are a couple of ways you might be able to avoid GST legally. Understanding the rules is the first part, to help you make the most of your next international spending free without breaking the law accidentally. Here’s what you need to know.

Maximising Singapore Duty-Free Concession

Countries often have duty free allowances which let you bring a certain amount of common goods into a country without needing to pay duty. In Singapore the key duty free concession applies on the import of alcohol. This can mean that the overall cost of buying at an airport or when abroad is lower compared to buying liquor, wine or beer at home, for example.

You can qualify for the Singapore duty free allowance on alcohol if you meet the following criteria³:

• You are 18 or older
• You are not arriving from Malaysia
• You have been outside of Singapore for 48 hours or more
• You are importing an allowable product for your personal use

Assuming you meet these eligibility rules, you can use the duty free concession to import alcohol in one of the following ways:

You can buy alcohol for import at the airport or in the country you're travelling to. If you want to bring more than the allowable duty free amount you can still do so but you must pass through the Red Channel in the customs area of your border crossing back to Singapore, and pay any applicable duty. If you are importing more than 10 litres of liquor products, a Customs permit is needed.

There are no duty free concessions on other items, including cigarettes, so it is important to make sure you’re clear on the law before importing goods.

GST Import Relief for Travellers

GST is payable on all new items that are imported into Singapore. You can, however, claim the following reliefs:

• Up to 100 SGD relief for trips of 48 hours or less
• Up to 500 SGD relief for trips of more than 48 hours

This means you do not need to pay GST on items worth up to 100 SGD or 500 SGD respectively. As of 2025, the GST rate in Singapore is 9%, which will be applied to the value of your imported goods exceeding the relief threshold. If you're bringing in goods worth more than this you will have the relief amount deducted from the value of the items when calculating your GST bill.

Example: If you buy an item worth 2,000 SGD on a week-long trip to the US, you’ll owe GST on arrival on 1,500 SGD (the value of the item minus the allowed GST relief based on your trip duration.)

If you receive a gift while abroad and do not know its value, the amount to pay will be calculated based on the equivalent item's value if bought in Singapore.

This import relief is applicable to all travellers, including foreign visitors and returning residents. If you’re unsure, always declare your goods upon arrival in Singapore and seek assistance from the customs officers.

GST Rules for Online Overseas Purchases

GST also applies when you’re importing items bought online. There is a GST relief on goods worth up to 400 SGD, but beyond this, you’ll pay GST on your imported items at the prevailing rate⁴. This is intended to level the playing field for local merchants by ensuring GST is paid on all items bought and brought into Singapore.

How to declare and pay GST on Imported Goods

What happens if you have bought items which exceed your GST allowance or duty free allowance?

In these cases you must declare your imports - either by using an advance declaration on the Customs@SG app, or by passing through the Red Channel which is clearly marked at border crossing points such as Changi airport. If you declare your imports in advance you can pay any duty owed in the app using card or PayNow - or you can make payment to the customs officials when you arrive, using card, mobile wallet, NETS or Cashcard⁵.

If you do not declare and pay GST on imported goods there are penalties. These vary depending on the items in question, their value and your previous offences. To give an example, here’s the penalty you can expect for failure to declare or making an incorrect declaration of dutiable goods other than cigarettes⁶:

• 1st Offence: 10 times the duty amount
• 2nd Offence: 15 times the duty amount
• 3rd Offence: 20 times the duty amount

There’s a minimum fine of 50 SGD - and the overall fine you may need to pay can rise to be pretty substantial. Make sure you settle any declaration and payment needed as soon as you arrive in Singapore - or even in advance - to avoid a hefty bill dampening your holiday mood.

Shopping abroad? Bring the Wise card along to maximise your foreign currency transactions

Planning your overseas shopping spree? Stretch your budget with every foreign currency transaction.

The Wise card lets you spend in 40+ currencies at the mid-market rate including MYR, JPY, CNY, and USD so you know you'll be getting a great deal in over 150+ countries. Simply create a free Wise account, order a card and top-up SGD to get started.

Virtual cards are free and can be added to your Google or Apple Pay wallet, while a physical Wise card can be ordered for a low fee of 8.50 SGD. Having a physical Wise card allows you to make chip and pin payments, as well as 2 free ATM withdrawals to the value of 350 SGD each month, before low fees start.

While abroad, you can choose to spend with directly in SGD and let auto-conversion do the trick, or convert to your desired currency with your Wise account. Either way, you’ll get the exchange rate you see on Google, with low, transparent fees from 0.26%.

💳 Get your Wise card

Sources last checked: 21 July 2025