Tax on goods i bought from my home country

[Brittany]

Hello, I'm new to Sing', an Employment Pass holder.

Can anyone help by answering me, if I go back to my home country for a short vacation like 3 to 7 days and buy cosmetics/face care products and bring them back to Sing' for my own consumption, in this case, when i go back to Sing' and upon arrival at the customs, do i have to declare these goods and pay tax for these?

How about inexpensive items like new clothes, a pair of new sneakers, a hairdryer, some printed books?

How about a new handbag costing around SGD 460? A new pair of leather shoes costing about SGD1,000?

I need your help Deeply appreciate!

[PNGMK]

Hello, I'm new to Sing', an Employment Pass holder.

Can anyone help by answering me, if I go back to my home country for a short vacation like 3 to 7 days and buy cosmetics/face care products and bring them back to Sing' for my own consumption, in this case, when i go back to Sing' and upon arrival at the customs, do i have to declare these goods and pay tax for these?

How about inexpensive items like new clothes, a pair of new sneakers, a hairdryer, some printed books?

How about a new handbag costing around SGD 460? A new pair of leather shoes costing about SGD1,000?

I need your help Deeply appreciate!

For residents there is a GST free limit for new goods - I think it's around $900? Google is your friend. You'll get away a few times but if ICA believe you're engaging in commercial levels of importation (frequently on or above the limit) you'll be stopped.

[sundaymorningstaple]

The magic number is $400 and if you exceed that limit you will pay GST on the whole lot. Having said that, if nothing is in it's original containers or still have tags on them, It might be pretty hard to prove, however, if you buy a set of pots & pans, or anything that wouldn't normally be carried in your travel bags to try telling them that you normally carry those things with you when you go traveling.