Between January and October 2023, Singapore’s Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints reported 4,669 cases of travellers and importers failing to declare and p
Between January and October 2023, Singapore’s Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints reported 4,669 cases of travellers and importers failing to declare and pay duties and Goods and Services Tax (GST). Penalties for these infractions totaled nearly S$1.4 million, with S$14,190 in duties and GST recovered, according to a joint release by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Singapore Customs.
October alone saw 58 cases detected and S$9,700 in penalties issued. About half of these were tobacco-related, but items like furniture, luxury accessories, and personal goods also contributed to the cases. Recent trends show an increase in cases involving household goods, fashion accessories, and luxury items, making up 28 percent of October’s cases.
In one instance, a female traveller was penalized S$575 for failing to declare two luxury bags, incurring S$57.65 in GST. Another traveller, a Work Permit Holder, was fined S$600 for undeclared curtains intended for commercial use, with a GST sum of S$60.40.
Singapore Customs emphasized the financial risks of GST and duty evasion, urging travellers and importers to use the Customs@SG app to make accurate declarations. Offenders face fines up to 20 times the evaded tax amount or up to two years’ jail.
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