With effect from 1 January next year, Singapore consumers will be charged for goods that cost less than $400 that are imported via air or post from overseas.

It was previously announced in Budget 2021 that GST will be imposed for goods that are procured overseas and imported via air or post.

The reason behind it is to “achieve a level playing field in GST treatment for all goods consumed in Singapore, whether procured locally or from overseas,” according to Budget 2021.

Presently, only low-value goods that are procured locally are subject to GST.

Explanation on the IRAS website

Purchasing imported low-value goods

From 1 Jan 2023, GST will apply to imported low-value goods purchased by consumers in Singapore from GST-registered suppliers.

GST on imported low-value goods

From 1 Jan 2023, if you are a consumer in Singapore, you will need to pay GST on goods valued at S$400 or below (“low-value goods”), which are imported into Singapore via air or post (“imported low-value goods”) and purchased from GST-registered suppliers.

Currently, low-value goods which are procured locally are subject to GST, while the same goods which are procured from overseas and imported via air or post are not. The change, announced in Budget 2021, is intended to achieve a level playing field in GST treatment for all goods consumed in Singapore, whether procured locally or from overseas.

There is no change to the GST treatment for goods imported via sea or land as well as goods valued above S$400 which are imported via air or post. You will need to pay GST at the point of importation of such goods.

From 1 Jan 2023, you will also need to pay GST on supplies of imported non-digital services purchased from GST-registered overseas service providers. Digital services which are currently subject to GST will remain taxable. This means that all supplies of imported services, whether digital or non-digital, which can be supplied and received remotely (i.e. known as “remote services”), will be subject to GST.

When is GST payable

With effect from 1 Jan 2023, GST is payable when you purchase imported low-value goods from GST-registered local and overseas suppliers.

Imported low-value goods are goods that are valued at S$400 or below and imported into Singapore via air or post.

Examples of low-value goods purchases

The following examples illustrate how the GST change may affect you as a consumer.

Example 1:

Mr. Sim purchases a headset for S$240 (inclusive of shipping fees) from an overseas supplier, through the marketplace of Company A, a local electronic marketplace operator. The headset is shipped from the United Kingdom and imported into Singapore via air.

Before 1 Jan 2023, no GST is payable on such purchases. However, from 1 Jan 2023, as Company A is GST-registered, GST is payable on Mr. Sim’s purchase of headset through Company A’s marketplace. Company A will be required to pay the GST collected to IRAS.

Example 2:

Angie orders a shirt for S$40 from an overseas fashion retailer, Company B. The shirt is shipped from Australia and imported into Singapore via post.

As Company B is registered for GST with effect from 1 Jan 2023, Company B will charge Angie with GST on her purchase of the shirt. Company B will be required to pay the GST collected to IRAS.

Example 3:

Mark wishes to purchase a pair of sneakers for S$300 from a seller located in the United States (“US”). However, as the US seller does not offer shipping to Singapore, Mark uses the services of a local redeliverer, Company C.

Company C provides Mark with a US forwarding address. When placing an order for the sneakers, Mark instructs the US seller to deliver the goods to the overseas forwarding address. When the goods arrive at the overseas forwarding address, Company C would then arrange to ship the goods to Singapore via air and deliver the goods to Mark.

Assuming Company C is registered for GST with effect from 1 Jan 2023, Company C will charge GST to Mark on his purchase and any shipping and/or administrative fees charged by Company C, as follows:

Sneakers (excluding GST): S$300

Shipping and administrative fees (excluding GST): S$15

Total GST payable: S$22.05

Company C will be required to pay the GST of S$22.05 collected to IRAS.

Source: IRAS

Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung spoke in Parliament yesterday (20 October), saying that the Ministry of Health (MOH) will be inviting persons between the ages of 18 to 49 for vaccination later this year once they secure more supplies of the bivalent vaccines.

He said that at present, those over the age of 50 are prioritised for the additional booster dose of the bivalent vaccine because they are at a higher risk of severe disease from infection.

He said that Singapore started using the bivalent vaccines on 14 October, and the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccines are expected to be available by the end of the year.

Ong added that the bivalent vaccines provide better protection against the newer variants of the Covid-19 virus as compared to the original vaccines and recommends those who are eligible to take it.

He also added that those who are eligible and have recovered from infection, to get the bivalent vaccine 3 months after their last infection.

Facebook user Claudia Lau shared how she has been charged $200 per month for the last 4 months and found out that a free sim card was issued to her, but it was allegedly picked up and used by a stranger.

Here is what she said

For 4 months now, I have been charged $200 a month on my StarHub bill. This was intended for my mom, and my mom don’t use youtube, neither does she game (i mean whose mom games??), so theres no way she’s gonna be using 10-20 GB of data on a monthly basis.

Now that Im looking at the bill, i called Starhub only to learn that a free sim card was issued to me which I didn’t receive, and when I called *phone number redacted*, its a domestic helper by the name of *name redacted* who picked up.

Problem 1 – I didn’t ask for a new sim card, how can Starhub just issues a sim to me??
Problem 2 – If Starhub insist that I be given a new sim, why is so that *name redacted* is using it? Why did i not receive it?
Problem 3 – who is *name redacted*??

I didn’t receive this sim card, I shouldn’t be paying for someone else’s bills.

Hence I have to call this fraudulent charges:

08/06/22 – 07/07/22 – $119.50
08/08/22 – 07/09/22 – $139.00
08/09/22 – 07/10/22 – $140.00
08/09/22 – 07/10/22 – $100.00

Am not paying for this. Waiting for these answers:
1) why is *phone number redacted* belonging to me, and not with me but with *name redacted*?
2) When is Starhub gonna suspend this number
3) When is Starhub going to cancel this charges on me.

Sharing so that you wont be the next victim

POLICE ADVISORY FOR DEEPAVALI EVE CELEBRATIONS IN LITTLE INDIA

Large crowds are expected in Little India for the Deepavali celebrations, especially on the eve of Deepavali on 23 October 2022 (Sunday). Heavy vehicular and human traffic are expected along Serangoon Road during this period.

Auxiliary Police Officers will be deployed along the affected roads and junctions to regulate traffic and assist motorists. Motorists are advised to make alternative travel arrangements and to drive with caution. Strict enforcement action will also be taken against illegal parking.

Restrictions On Consumption of Liquor

Under the provisions of the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015, Little India is declared as a Liquor Control Zone (LCZ). As the eve of Deepavali falls on a Sunday weekend, the public should be mindful of the period in which no public drinking is allowed within the Little India LCZ, which lasts from 21 October (Friday), 10.30pm to 25 October (Tuesday), 7.00am.

The no-drinking periods in Little India LCZ are summarized in the table below:

Persons found consuming liquor in any public place within the Little India LCZ during the prescribed no-public drinking periods will face enhanced penalties. Offenders are liable on conviction, to a fine of up to S$1,500; and where the individual is a repeat offender, to a fine of up to S$3,000, an imprisonment term of up to 4.5 months, or both. Errant retailers who supply liquor beyond the permitted trading hours may have their liquor licences revoked.

Abusing Sparklers or Discharging Fireworks Illegally

The Police also take a serious view of anyone who sets off improvised explosive devices constructed using sparklers. Such acts and devices are potential fire hazards which cause undue danger and alarm to the public. Anyone caught setting off such improvised explosive devices may be liable to an offence of negligent conduct with respect to explosive substances under Section 284 of the Penal Code 1871, punishable by an imprisonment term of up to one year or a fine of up to $5,000, or both. Should the act lead to any hurt caused, one may be liable to prosecution for voluntarily causing hurt with heated or explosive substances under Section 324 of the Penal Code 1871. If convicted, offenders will be liable to an imprisonment term or up to seven years, or a fine, or caning, or any combination of such punishments.

Similarly, the Police will take strict enforcement action against offenders who discharge fireworks illegally. Such illegal discharge of fireworks poses a serious danger to the public and their properties. Illegal possession and discharge of fireworks is an offence under Section 3(1) of the Dangerous Fireworks Act 1972 punishable by an imprisonment term of up to two years or with a fine of up to $5,000, or both. The importation of fireworks is also a serious offence under Section 4(1) of the Dangerous Fireworks Act 1972 punishable by an imprisonment of not less than six months and not more than two years, and also with caning of up to six strokes.

Members of the public are advised to abide by the law and comply with the instructions of the Police and Auxiliary Police Officers so that the Deepavali celebrations can take place safely. The Police and Auxiliary Police Officers will be stepping up our patrols in Little India to maintain law and order and to enforce the LCA.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
20 October 2022 @ 9:00 AM

36-year-old Seah Guo Rong, an officer with the Ministry of Manpower, pleaded guilty to 2 counts of cheating and was sentenced to 8 months imprisonment on 20 October, according to The Straits Times.

He had used a credit card that he found to buy a gold ring worth more than $6,000, as well as $20 to top up his ez-link card.

What happened?

On 16 March, Seah found the credit card on the side of a road in Hougang, and he then messaged his supervisor to take an “urgent half-day leave”.

Seah then used the credit card to top up $20 to his ex-link card, before going to Chinatown MRT station to look for jewellery shops, before finding a shop that sells watches and jewellery at People’s Park Complex.

He asked a staff member to look at a high purity level gold ring and he picked one worth $6,330 after trying on a few.

He then paid for it with the credit card that he found, and signed on the receipt with a fake signature.

Seah then tried to buy another gold bangle with the same credit card but this time the card was rejected, and Seah then left and threw the card and receipt away.

He then went to a pawn shop at Hougang MRT station and sold the ring for $4,550 before depositing the money into his bank account, and he then threw away the receipt from pawning the ring.

He then proceeded to buy groceries, pay his bills and buy TOTO with the money that he got, as well as trading his ez-link card for a new one.

A 26-year-old Singaporean male drug suspect injured 4 Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officers during a drug raid at Petir Road.

The incident happened on 20 October at about 4.50am, at a residential unit along Petir Road, following a tip-off to CNB.

The suspect had purportedly armed himself with a knife and resisted his arrest by putting up a struggle, as he injured 4 CNB officers in the process.

The injured CNB officers continued to subdue the suspect despite being injured, and three of them were conveyed to the hospital for treatment.

The 4th officer wasn’t sent to the hospital as he suffered minor injuries.

Among the items seized at the scene include a knife and suspected drugs and drug paraphernalia.

The 26-year-old was arrested for allegedly voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant in the discharge of his duty, suspected consumption of controlled drugs, and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

He is set to be charged in court today (21 October) for injuring the CNB officers, and at the time of writing, police investigations are ongoing.