House Hold Goods Customs Clearance (Overseas PEP IPA)

[budfox]

I am based in the US and just receive my PEP IPA from MOM. I do not have employment yet in Singapore, but am decently far along in conversations with firms (or risk taking enough) to relocate to Singapore without an offer.

I intend to send some personal effects by sea which will require customs clearance. However, the customs forms ask for my employer in SIN, which I currently do not have.

Will my personal effects be allowed to go through without listing an employer? Or, do I need to wait until I gain employment to send the shipment?

Any people with overseas PEP IPA been through this situation? Seems like the PEP scheme is relatively new, perhaps prior EPEC holders?

[JR8]

I shipped a c.1/2 container of goods to SG without having an employer. I was ultimately on the EPEC/LTVP, but initially on standard SVPs for maybe the initial 2-3 months after arrival.

So as far as I can see the employer details might as well be marked 'TBA'. I expect that is what I did.

[budfox]

Thanks, JR8. Helpful.

One thing that confuses me though is the following. I received these requirements from my freight forwarder that pertain to shipments of HHG for foreigners.

- An in-principle approval of the employment/dependent pass (if available)
- A copy of the application (Form 8) for employment pass duly received by Immigration
- A letter of undertaking from your employer to Singapore Customs confirming your employment together with the undertaking from his employer to pay Customs the 7% GST involved in the event that the employment pass is not approved or that the employment is not been taken up. The letter should be addressed in company’s letterhead to:

The Permits Officer
Singapore Customs, Documentation Branch
55 Newton Road, 7th Storey, Revenue House, Singapore 307987

Item 3 suggests that someone (potentially me since I'm not employed yet) is on the hook for paying 7% GST if I don't gain employment in Singapore, and that we need some kind of permit.

Do you know anything about this?

[JR8]

Well you don't pay tax on the importation of your own household goods; I haven't on two moves into Singapore (or other countries). However I understand you do have to pay SG tax if you ship in your wine and/or cigar cellar. However you would have to be brave or foolish to put anything worth drinking or smoking into a container to ultra-bake under the sun for the few weeks in transit!


Following on from my previous, I had all my goods cleared and delivered while I was still on an SVP.

I suspect your FF is merely covering all bases, and pitching at it's majority customer base. I'd tell them your employer is TBA, and none of your goods are dutiable.

[budfox]

OK - Great thanks!

[sunto308]

May I ask which freight forwarders? I'm currently researching options to send my personal goods to Singapore next month. Thanks in advance

[budfox]

If you're moving from the states, I highly suggest you take a read through the moving scam board.

Below is the link to the International Relocations thread:
http://www.movingscam.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3987

We got many different quotes but ended up working with Rainier Overseas. I think technically though in logistics lingo they do more than just FF.