To establish the Customs value, the transaction value or the price paid or payable for the imported goods is used. Overseas freight and insurance charges are included to establish the Customs value in CIF. The transaction value must include all other charges including commissions, assists (materials supplied by the importer), packing costs, proceeds of resale accruing to the seller, royalties and licence fees, etc.
The acceptance of transaction value by Customs is subject to certain conditions such as:
- There must be evidence of a sale. Such evidence may be in the form of commercial invoices, sale contracts, purchase orders etc.
- There must not be restrictions on the use of the goods by the buyer.
- The sale or price is not subject to conditions or considerations for which a value cannot be determined with respect to the goods being valued.
- It must be shown that the transaction value has not been affected by any relationship between the importer and supplier.
Where the transaction value cannot be used, the following alternatives will be used for determining the Customs value:
- Identical or similar goods value - the transaction value of identical or similar goods sold for export to Singapore.
- Deductive value - the sale price of the goods in Singapore, adjusted for costs incurred after shipment.
- Computed value - the value based on cost of production, general expenses and profits in the country of origin relating to the imported goods.
- Residual valuation - the value determined by Customs, based on flexible interpretation of all the previous methods.
Duties
All dutiable goods imported into or manufactured in Singapore are subject to Customs duty and/or Excise duty in accordance with the Schedule to the Singapore Customs Duties Order. The broad categories of dutiable goods in Singapore are intoxicating liquors, tobacco products, motor vehicles and petroleum products.
Where the goods are dutiable, ad valorem or specific rates may be applied. An ad valorem rate is a percentage of the Customs value of the imported goods such as 20% ad valorem. A specific rate is a specified amount per unit of weight or other quantity such as $293.00 per kg.
Formulae for computation of duty payable on liquors:
a) Formula
Duty = Total quantity in litre x $70.00 x % of alcoholic strength
b) Example : Importation of 100 litres of Port Wine with alcoholic strength of 19%
Duty = 100 x $70.00 x 0.19 = $1,330.00