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Import Tax: Amazon.com, Camera Lens

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Bloomaul
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Import Tax: Amazon.com, Camera Lens

Post by Bloomaul » Thu, 19 Jun 2014 8:52 pm

Hey folks,

I want to order a camera lens from amazon.com, because I can't get it here in Singapore for a reasonable price.
Now I wonder about the import duty & taxes. I find various information in the internet, so I ask here for help.

I would order from USA or Europe. Value of the lens is around 540SGD.

Any ideas?

Best regards

x9200
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Re: Import Tax: Amazon.com, Camera Lens

Post by x9200 » Thu, 19 Jun 2014 9:01 pm

Bloomaul wrote:Hey folks,

I want to order a camera lens from amazon.com, because I can't get it here in Singapore for a reasonable price.
Now I wonder about the import duty & taxes. I find various information in the internet, so I ask here for help.

I would order from USA or Europe. Value of the lens is around 540SGD.
For anything above S$400 you will pay 7% GST. If you order from amazon.uk, they will or should deduct VAT from the final amount.

Bloomaul
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Post by Bloomaul » Thu, 19 Jun 2014 9:02 pm

Thanks! Do I have to pick it up at the custom? Because I do not want to take 1 day off, because of this...
Last edited by Bloomaul on Thu, 19 Jun 2014 9:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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JR8
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Post by JR8 » Thu, 19 Jun 2014 9:08 pm

I’ve faced this just yesterday, buying a new dive regulator from the States.
GST is charged on parcels of value over S$400.
It’s not charged on the increment over S$400, i.e. value $450 = GST 50 * 7%, it’s charged on the full amount, $450*7%
Under $400, this does not apply.
The courier delivers to the door, and collects any tax.

x9200
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Post by x9200 » Thu, 19 Jun 2014 9:12 pm

Depends how it is sent. If I remember correctly when I got something with Fedex (probably valid for all mature courier companies) they paid GST for me and later I paid them back - you will be talking to the courier, not the customs anyway.

If this is sent ending up within Singpost (i.e. EMS, Speedpost), you will have to go to their postal center which is in Paya Lebar to collect your stuff and pay the duty.

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JR8
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Post by JR8 » Thu, 19 Jun 2014 9:36 pm

This was DHL, and the delivery was to my door. They called me an hour or two prior to delivery to check if I'd be home.

No Idea about traveling off to Paya Lebar etc., as you describe. That rather defeats the purpose of a courier...

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Post by x9200 » Thu, 19 Jun 2014 9:46 pm

I would not call Speedpost a courier.

Bloomaul
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Post by Bloomaul » Thu, 19 Jun 2014 10:02 pm

Paya Lebar would not be a problem. Thanks anyway for your help.

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