Customs@SG Web Application

Customs@SG

About Customs@SG

The Customs@SG web application is a convenient way for travellers to declare and pay duty and/or Goods and Services Tax (GST) on their overseas purchases anytime, anywhere, before the travellers arrive in Singapore.

Travellers with purchases that have exceeded their personal duty free concession or GST relief can use Customs@SG web application to make an advance declaration and pay the duty and/or GST without having to visit the Customs Tax Payment Office at the checkpoint when they arrive in Singapore. Once payment has been made, travellers will be notified via email, and travellers have the option of downloading the receipt from the web application. Travellers can proceed to exit the checkpoint by the Customs Green Channel. When they are stopped for checks, travellers can show the e-receipts on their mobile device or printed hardcopy receipts as proof of payment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A. Customs@SG Web Application

1. What is this Customs@SG Web Application about?

Customs@SG is a web application developed by Singapore Customs to provide travellers and members of the public with a more convenient way to interact with us. The Customs@SG web application has two modules: Declare Goods module and Search Receipts / Drafts module.

The Declare Goods module allows you to declare and pay, not more than 3 days before your arrival in Singapore, the duty and/or GST on the goods that you will be bringing into Singapore.

The Search Receipts module allows you to retrieve your receipt by entering the Declaration Number and your email address in the web application. The Declaration Number will be emailed to you when you have made a declaration or saved as a draft.

The Draft module allows you to retrieve your declaration draft. You can retrieve your draft by entering the Declaration Number and your email address in the web application to complete the declaration and payment process.

2. Can I declare and pay the taxes for all my overseas purchases which I am bringing back to Singapore in one declaration?

Yes you can. However, you must declare and pay the duty and/or GST for all your overseas purchases in one declaration.

3. Must I print the receipt for inspection at the checkpoint?

You can show the e-receipt downloaded on your mobile device or print it out as proof of tax payment.

4. Do I have to produce the goods together with the receipt to the inspection officer at the Customs Red channel?

You are not required to declare your goods again at the Customs Red Channel if you have declared and made the due duty and/or GST payment for your goods via the Customs@SG web application. Please exit the checkpoint through the Customs Green Channel. If you are stopped for checks, you may present the receipt downloaded on your mobile device or the printed hardcopy receipt to the checking officer as proof of tax payment.

5. I intend to buy 4 litres of liquors from Singapore’s Duty Free Shop. As I have exceeded my duty-free allowance, can I use the Customs@SG web application to make duty and GST payment for the additional 2 litres of liquors?

Yes, you can. However, some duty-free shops do not allow the sale of liquors in excess of duty-free allowance. Please approach the Duty Free Shop directly if you wish to purchase liquors exceeding your duty-free allowance.

Please also ensure that you have made the declaration and tax payment for the liquors exceeding your duty-free allowance using the Customs@SG web application before exiting via the Customs Green Channel.

6. Can I use the Customs@SG web application to make payment for controlled goods under the purview of other authorities (e.g. medicinal products, pets)?

No. The importation of controlled goods into Singapore is regulated by the relevant Competent Authorities (CAs). CAs may require you to obtain a licence, import permit or authorisation form prior to the importation of controlled goods into Singapore. Upon your arrival, please present the controlled goods and the accompanying import permit or authorisation form to the checking officer at the Customs Red Channel.

7. The Customs@SG web application prompted me to take up a TradeNet permit for my goods. Why is a permit required? How should I go about doing it?

You have to take up a Customs permit to account for any of the following goods:

More than 0.4 kilogrammes of cigarettes or tobacco products;
More than 10 litres of liquor products; and
Goods for trade, commercial or business use where the total amount of GST incurred exceeds S$300.

Please appoint a local freight forwarding agent to help you declare a TradeNet permit for your goods.

8. I have made a declaration and payment via the Customs@SG web application. What should I do if I have additional items that I did not include in my earlier declaration made via the Customs@SG web application?

Please approach our officers at the Customs Tax Payment Office located at the arrival halls of Changi Airport or at the entry checkpoints after immigration clearance to declare and pay the duty and/or GST for the additional items.

9. What should I do if I forget to print the receipt or did not download the e-receipt onto my mobile device after declaring my goods and making payment for the duty and GST via the Customs@SG web application before reaching Singapore?

Please approach our officers at the Customs Tax Payment Office with your goods for assistance.

10. I will be arriving in Singapore later than the date of arrival declared in the Customs@SG web application as my flight was delayed. Is my e-receipt with the details of my duty and GST payment valid as proof of tax payment?

The e-receipt is valid only on the date of arrival printed on the receipt. If the date you arrived in Singapore is different from the date of arrival on the e-receipt, please proceed directly to the Customs Tax Payment Office located at the arrival hall of the airport for assistance. Please provide the e-receipt and the notification documents from the airline on the change of flight details for verification.

11. How can I seek refund for the duty and/or GST already prepaid via the Customs@SG web application?

Please email customs_checkpoints@customs.gov.sg , with all relevant supporting documents such as purchase receipt and flight cancellation document, to seek a refund if:

You have submitted a duplicate declaration;
Your trip to Singapore has been cancelled; or
The declared quantity exceeds the physical quantity in your possession. In this case, you are required to approach our officers at the Customs Tax Payment Office immediately upon arrival to verify the physical items.

All refund requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, please check your declarations carefully before submitting your declarations for payment via the Customs@SG web application.

12. This is my first time visiting Singapore and I am unaware of Singapore’s Standardised Packaging (SP) law. What if I use Customs@SG web application to declare and pay the duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) on my cigarettes or tobacco products that turn out to be non-compliant?

With effect from 1 July 2020, all cigarettes and other tobacco products imported into, sold, offered for sale or distributed in Singapore must comply with the new SP requirements. Travellers have to ensure that their cigarettes and/or tobacco products comply with the SP requirements before making a declaration and payment via the Customs@SG web application.

Importation of cigarettes and/or tobacco products that do not comply with the SP requirements is not allowed, and these cigarettes and/or tobacco products will be disposed of at the checkpoints. For further information, you may refer to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA)’s webpage on tobacco regulation or contact the Ministry of Health (MOH) through email at moh_info@moh.gov.sg.

13. I am importing my personal pet to Singapore. Can I pay GST using Customs@SG web application?

Pets are considered controlled goods and are subjected to regulation by the National Parks Board Animal and Veterinary Service. Therefore, you may not use the Customs@SG web application for the purposes of making declarations and payment of GST for the importation of pets. For more information on the specific Customs procedures and requirements, please refer to the webpage on Importing Personal Pets.

B. Using the Customs@SG Web Application

1. Which internet browser should I use to access the Customs@SG web application?

You can access the Customs@SG web application via all browsers.

2. What payment mode does Customs@SG web application accept?

Visa and MasterCard.

3. Can I save my declaration as a draft before making payment?

Yes. You can save your declaration made via the Customs@SG web application as a draft and retrieve it for payment at a later date. A Declaration Number will be emailed to you when your declaration has been saved as a draft. You can retrieve your declaration draft by entering the Declaration Number and your email address in the web application to complete the declaration and payment process.

4. Why can’t I pay the duty and/or GST for my overseas purchases more than 3 days before the date of my arrival in Singapore?

This is to avoid payment cancellation due to last-minute changes. However, you can save your declarations made more than 3 days before the date of your arrival as a draft for subsequent submission and payment.

5. How do I know whether my payment is successful?

A Declaration Number will be emailed to you if a payment submission is successful. You can retrieve your e-receipt by entering the Declaration Number and your email address in the Customs@SG web application.

6. How can I retrieve my e-receipt after making payment through the Customs@SG web application?

You may retrieve your e-receipt by entering the Declaration Number and your email address in the Customs@SG web application in the Search Receipts / Drafts module.

7. Can I cancel my declaration and payment?

No. You are advised to check your declaration carefully before submitting it.

8. How do I classify the following liquor products in the Customs@SG web application?

a. DOM
b. Yomeishu
c. Umeshu
d. Chinese “Shao Jiu” or “Gao Liang Jiu”
e. Baileys

Answer
a. DOM –> Liqueur / Cordials / Herbal liqueur
b. Yomeishu –> Liqueur / Cordials / Herbal liqueur
c. Umeshu –> Liqueur / Cordials / Herbal liqueur
d. Chinese “Shao Jiu” or “Gao Liang Jiu” –> Samsu
e. Baileys –> Liqueur / Cordials / Herbal liqueur

C. Others

1. Can I use the Customs@SG web application to make payment of composition sum for customs offences?

No. The Customs@SG web application can only be used to pay duty and/or GST for hand-carried goods brought into Singapore by travellers. For composition sums, you can make the payments at any AXS Station or SingPost branches island-wide, or via the AXS m-Station App and AXS e-Station.

2. I encountered technical/payment-related issues when making my declaration. How do I request for assistance?

You can contact us via email at customs_checkpoints@customs.gov.sg. For us to better assist you, please provide us with the following details:

a. Copy of the e-receipt(s);
b. The location where you made the declaration (e.g. inside a lift in Airport Terminal 1);
c. Brand, model, OS and version of the mobile device;
d. Mode of connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data); and
e. Whether there was any pop-up message while the traveller was making the declaration or making payment. If yes, what was the error message?

Terms & Conditions

The terms and conditions for use of the Customs@SG web application for declaration and payment of duty and/or Goods and Services Tax (GST) are as follows:

All information furnished to Singapore Customs is true and correct;
The traveller must be aged 21 years or above when submitting a declaration and payment for cigarettes and/or tobacco products;
The travellers will have to ensure that their cigarettes and/or tobacco products comply with the Standardised Packaging (SP) requirements;
The e-receipt for payment issued through the web application is valid only on the date of arrival and at the place of arrival, as declared by the traveller;
The traveller will have to declare additional goods that are not covered by a successful declaration made through the web application at the Customs Tax Payment Office or Customs Red Channel upon arrival in Singapore, and pay the duty and/or GST chargeable on the goods. Failure to declare goods subject to duty and/or GST is an offence;
The goods declared are not controlled or prohibited, and do not infringe upon any intellectual property rights.