Singapore tax refund process | Basic information on tax-free shopping | Risvel
Conditions of TRS (Travelers Refund Scheme)
- ©︎Vuitton Lim on Unsplash
Singapore tourists are refunded the 7% Goods and Services Tax (GST, Consumption Tax) charged on spending over S$100 (including GST) at merchants. This minimum purchase amount of S$100 applies to up to 3 combined receipts or invoices issued on the same day from stores with the same GST registration number and name. Travelers Tax Refund Scheme (TRS) merchants displaying a “Shop Duty Free” logo or badge. Please check with the store to see if your purchase is eligible for tax exemption.
In Singapore, we don’t call it VAT (Value Added Tax), we call it GST (Consumption Tax).
On February 18, 2022, the Singapore government announced an increase in sales tax (GST). The tax rate will be raised in two stages from the current 7 percent to 8 percent in January 2023 and to 9 percent in January 2024.
GST tax rate: 7%
Duty Allowance: SGD 100
Deadline to receive customs stamp: within 2 months from the date of issuance of the tax exemption document
Refund application deadline: 2 months from the date of receipt of customs stamp
Customs stamp required: Singapore Departure Customs
Special reminder: S$100 or above is required for a single purchase (up to 3 receipts can be combined for department stores)
tax exemption conditions
・Must be 16 years old or older at the time of purchase
・Not a flight attendant or flight attendant on a flight departing from Singapore
・Not a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident
・Leaving Singapore via Changi Airport or Seletar Airport
・Do not hold the following identification documents from the date of purchase or within 3 months before the date of purchase
– Work permit issued by the Ministry of Labor
– student card
– ID card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
– Long-term residence visa
・The following purchases (goods) are not eligible for GST refund.
– Goods that have been used or consumed in Singapore
– Goods exported for commercial purposes
– Cargo exported by cargo flight
– Hotel and other accommodation expenses, service expenses such as car rental and tours
Learn more about the eligible person criteria and the eligibility and terms of the Travelers Refund Scheme (TRS) here.
Mechanism of eTRS (Traveler Refund System for Electronic Authentication System)
With the introduction of eTRS, GST (Excellence Tax) refunds can now be processed electronically, eliminating the need to prepare paper tax exemption forms. This saves me the trouble of filling in the tax-free forms issued by various stores every time I shop, and the tax refund process is much easier.
When purchasing products at an eTRS member store, you must show your passport to the store clerk to prove your TRS eligibility. Passport copies or photographs are not accepted.
When purchasing a product, the clerk will issue an eTRS based on the passport information. When you scan your passport at the eTRS kiosks at the airport during the duty-free process, the issued eTRS will automatically be displayed.
Source: Singapore Tourism Board
https://www.visitsingapore.com/ja_jp/travel-guide-tips/tourist-information/gst-tax-refund/
Note: Exemption rules and procedures are subject to change without notice. The Lisvel editorial department takes all possible measures with regard to the content of the refund procedure, but accepts no responsibility for any problems that may arise as a result of the changes, or for any damages suffered by the user or third parties.
(2022.9.1 now)