Do You Pay Tax Shipping from Taiwan to Singapore? GST on Imports Explained

When you send a parcel from Taiwan to Singapore, the tax that matters is GST, the Goods and Services Tax, not Malaysia's SST. The two countries run different systems, and information online is constantly mixed up between them. Singapore has in recent years extended GST to cover low value imported goods, so the old assumption that small purchases slip through untaxed needs updating. This guide explains how the tax works, what to watch when you declare, and what to do if the recipient is asked to pay.

In this guide

• Do you have to pay import tax when shipping from Taiwan to Singapore?
• What is the difference between Singapore GST and Malaysia SST?
• Does GST apply to low value goods as well?
• How should you fill in the declared value?
• What should the recipient do if they are asked to pay tax?
• What other costs should you budget for when shipping to Singapore?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Three things to confirm before you ship to Singapore

Do you have to pay import tax when shipping from Taiwan to Singapore?

Goods imported into Singapore are in principle subject to GST, and the tax base is the landed value of the goods including freight and insurance. Singapore does not levy customs duty on most ordinary goods, so the main burden comes from GST. A small number of specific categories, such as alcohol, tobacco, motor vehicles and petroleum products, attract excise duty as well. The rate that applies and the point at which it is charged follow the Singapore tax authority's current rules, so check the official position before you ship.

Several things drive the amount:

• Declared value: tax is calculated on the value you declare, and an inaccurate figure carries risk.
• Whether freight counts: most countries assess import tax on landed value, which includes freight.
• Product category: ordinary goods and controlled goods are handled differently.
• Who the recipient is: personal use and commercial import are declared differently.

If you also ship to Malaysia, keep the two systems clearly apart and read our complete guide to Malaysia SST import tax alongside this one.

What is the difference between Singapore GST and Malaysia SST?

GST is Singapore's Goods and Services Tax and SST is Malaysia's Sales and Service Tax. They are taxes in different countries under different systems, with different rates and different calculation methods. The most common error is taking a tax free allowance you heard about for Malaysia and applying it to Singapore, or the reverse, and then costing the shipment wrongly.

Both countries adjust their rules. This article deliberately quotes no rate figures and no threshold amounts, because numbers of that kind mislead readers as soon as they change. When you are costing a shipment, work from the official position on the day you ship, or simply ask us here what we are seeing in practice right now.

Route options from Taiwan to Singapore

GoodVShare runs both air and sea services from Taiwan to Singapore. Air suits urgent shipments and small high value items, sea suits large volumes and anything that is not time critical. The clearance process is the same for both, and the difference lies in transit time and the freight cost structure. For route detail see our guide to consolidated shipping from Taiwan to Singapore, or go straight to our route overview.

Does GST apply to low value goods as well?

Singapore has extended GST to low value imported goods, so the old practice of treating small amounts as exempt no longer holds. The point of the change is to put overseas and local purchases on the same footing so that cross border e-commerce does not gain a tax advantage. The exact scope and the way it is reported follow the Singapore tax authority's published rules.

What that means for you as a sender:

1. Recost your shipments: you can no longer assume a small parcel arrives entirely tax free.
2. Declare more carefully: understating value to avoid tax carries a higher risk than it used to.
3. Sellers should check their obligations first: anyone selling commercially into Singapore may have registration and tax collection duties, and should confirm their own position.
4. Splitting orders is not the answer: deliberately breaking an order into smaller parcels to stay under a line can be treated as avoidance.

If you are selling goods in Singapore, take advice on your tax status and reporting responsibilities from a professional. That judgement sits outside what a consolidation operator can make for you.

How should you fill in the declared value?

The declared value is the actual transaction price of the goods. Enter what you really paid, and do not understate it to reduce tax. Customs authorities maintain price databases, and a declaration well below market value is an easy trigger for inspection. Once a declaration is judged to be false, the outcome can be back tax, a penalty or return of the shipment, and the time that costs you far exceeds the tax you hoped to save.

Principles for filling in the declaration:

• Use the real transaction price: if you have a receipt, use the figure on the receipt.
• Describe the goods specifically: write "cotton tops, 2 pieces" rather than "clothing" or "daily goods".
• List quantity and unit price separately: itemising several products beats a vague lump sum.
• Gifts must be declared too: something that was not sold still needs a reasonable value, and zero is not acceptable.

For a fuller treatment of declaration practice see how to fill in the declared value. That article uses Malaysia as its example, but the principles apply equally to Singapore.

What should the recipient do if they are asked to pay tax?

When a tax notice arrives, first confirm where it came from and how the amount was calculated, then pay as instructed with your proof of purchase to hand so the parcel is released. In most cases this is a normal tax process rather than an error, and delay simply risks storage charges. If you believe the calculation is wrong, use the channel named on the notice to explain and attach supporting documents.

The steps to follow:

1. Check the notice is genuine: fake courier tax scams have been common in recent years, so match the tracking number against your own parcel first.
2. Review the basis of the calculation: see what value the tax was assessed on and whether it matches what you actually paid.
3. Prepare your documents: order screenshots, payment records, product page details.
4. Deal with it inside the deadline: missing the deadline can lead to storage charges or return of the shipment.

A word of caution: a genuine tax notice carries a clear reference number and an official payment channel. Treat any message asking for bank account details or passwords, or asking you to transfer to a personal account, as suspect. For the full process when a parcel is held, see what to do when customs holds your parcel.

What other costs should you budget for when shipping to Singapore?

Beyond freight and GST, allow for volumetric charging, remote area surcharges and any clearance handling fee. None of these is large on its own, but together they can move the total noticeably, particularly for goods that are bulky and light.

Items to include when you estimate the total:

• Freight: air freight normally bills on the greater of actual and volumetric weight, while sea freight bills on volume. For the calculation see our full explanation of volumetric weight.
• GST: calculated on the declared value under the rules in force at the time.
• Last mile delivery: Singapore is a compact city state, so last mile delivery is relatively straightforward, and our Singapore last mile is handled by SPX Express.
• Packing materials: reinforced packing adds weight, and weight adds freight.

For more costs that are easy to overlook, read our complete guide to hidden fees in consolidated shipping. To bring the overall bill down, see our guide to consolidated export shipping from Taiwan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is tax payable on gifts sent to Singapore?

A gift is still an imported good and remains within scope, so you cannot declare zero simply because nothing was sold. Enter a reasonable value for the goods. In practice the tax follows the declared value, so the burden on a modest item is usually limited, but the declaration itself cannot be skipped.

How do I write a Singapore postal code?

Singapore postal codes are six digits, and there is no state or province layer. An address needs only the street address, the unit number and the six digit postal code. The postal code maps precisely to a building, so an error goes straight through to last mile delivery. Confirm it with your recipient before you ship.

Can I send vaping products or chewing gum to Singapore?

Singapore controls both categories explicitly: vaping products are banned outright, and the import and sale of chewing gum is tightly restricted. The controlled list covers other items too, so check whether your goods fall within it before you ship. Start with our complete list of prohibited items and confirm with us here.

Is the tax treatment the same for air and sea freight?

The tax rules themselves do not change with the mode of transport, and the same goods attract the same tax either way. What differs is process and timing: air clearance is usually quicker, while sea freight takes longer because a whole batch is handled together. Choose on transit time and cost, not on tax.

I am a seller, do I need to register for tax in Singapore?

That depends on your sales model and your scale, and it is a question about registration obligations. Take advice from a qualified accountant or tax adviser, or confirm directly with the Singapore tax authority. A consolidation operator handles transport and clearance, and cannot judge an individual business's registration duties.

Three things to confirm before you ship to Singapore

The preparation comes down to three points. First, the system that applies is Singapore GST and not Malaysia SST. Second, declare the actual transaction price and describe the goods specifically. Third, confirm that nothing you are sending sits on Singapore's controlled list.

If you are unsure about the tax position or whether an item can be shipped, send us the product name and a link and we will advise on current practice. To estimate freight, use the online calculator, and when you are ready to ship, pre-register your parcel to fill in the details and generate a label.