Ordered Stuff From US, Need To Pay GST?

[GeneKoh]

I ordered a Tammy 70-200 from the B&H... Even with shipping in & after Forex, almost 300 bucks cheaper than the local supplier...

Here's the tracking log... Wasn't held back by Customs... Anyone know if I'll have to pay GST?

------------------
CHANGI, SG
05/31/2009 5:08 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN

DON MUANG, TH
05/31/2009 2:00 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN

CHANGI, SG
05/31/2009 2:21 A.M. REGISTERED WITH CLEARING AGENCY / SHIPMENT SUBMITTED TO CLEARING AGENCY
05/31/2009 2:21 A.M. REGISTERED WITH CLEARING AGENCY / RELEASED BY CLR AGENCY. NOW IN-TRANSIT

DON MUANG, TH
05/31/2009 12:01 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN

MUMBAI, IN
05/30/2009 6:48 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
05/30/2009 4:52 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN

KOELN (COLOGNE),
DE 05/30/2009 4:33 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
DE 05/29/2009 7:12 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN

LOUISVILLE, KY, US
05/29/2009 4:49 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
05/29/2009 2:02 A.M. EXPORT SCAN
05/29/2009 1:42 A.M. EXPORT SCAN
05/29/2009 1:02 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN

JAMAICA, NY, US
05/28/2009 10:47 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
05/28/2009 9:21 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN

MASPETH, NY, US
05/28/2009 8:30 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
05/28/2009 7:38 P.M. ORIGIN SCAN
------------------

I see the trip, i also *gong gong*... US, to Germany to India to Thailand... Then finally to SQ....

[GeneKoh]

I got B&H to declare as a "GIFT" and not put the price on the packing list...

Anyone with experience on this? How will they charge GST?

I shipped via UPS Saver, btw...

[catchlights]

Import taxes for digital camera?

[azzurri]

If your lens is above $400, you will have to pay GST; even for gifts. You can check up the ICA site.

[KNIGHT ONG]

IIRC, anything that is below 400SGD brought in plus shipping they will not charge you for GST.

The last round I brought from B&H cost about 200USD and didnt get charged for GST.

HTH

[darrrrrrrrrr]

prepare cash to pay to the UPS delivery guy when he comes to your house.

my shipping log was identical to yours, came through the same places to singapore then went out to thailand and finally back again. gave me a bit of a scare.

[GeneKoh]

Originally Posted by catchlights Import taxes for digital camera?

Originally Posted by azzurri If your lens is above $400, you will have to pay GST; even for gifts. You can check up the ICA site.

Originally Posted by KNIGHT ONG IIRC, anything that is below 400SGD brought in plus shipping they will not charge you for GST. The last round I brought from B&H cost about 200USD and didnt get charged for GST. HTH

Thanks everyone for not reading and coming here to "pruss one"...

Originally Posted by darrrrrrrrrr prepare cash to pay to the UPS delivery guy when he comes to your house. my shipping log was identical to yours, came through the same places to singapore then went out to thailand and finally back again. gave me a bit of a scare.

But what happens if its my first "gift" that I'm getting, and there's no price indicated? How will they valuate then? Pluck a number out of the sky and charge me for it?

[CS TAN]

Originally Posted by GeneKoh I got B&H to declare as a "GIFT" and not put the price on the packing list... Anyone with experience on this? How will they charge GST? I shipped via UPS Saver, btw...

I am quite surprise reputable shops such as B&H will do that. This is actually aiding and abetting the customer to cheat the customs.

Singapore custom has a way to value all the items that they feel cost over S$400. At the end, since you didn't provide the amount, you might end up paying more GST if they over valued your lens.

[eosandy]

Quote: But what happens if its my first "gift" that I'm getting, and there's no price indicated? How will they valuate then? Pluck a number out of the sky and charge me for it?

Normally, even if it's a gift, there has to be a declared value for customs purposes. I had a special edition ipod sent from USA and was stung for 25 bucks at customs in Geylang.

If you have not received the item yet, are you sure the declared value on the paperwork is zero? This would be a sticky point if you have any claim for insurance against the carrier.

It used to be declared value $300+ and you pay 7%. That may have changed.

[darrrrrrrrrr]

Originally Posted by GeneKoh I got B&H to declare as a "GIFT" and not put the price on the packing list... Anyone with experience on this? How will they charge GST? I shipped via UPS Saver, btw...

B&H will do that meh, i thought they will only declare as gift for US orders, international orders you can't check the gift checkbox.. at least that was my experience, not sure how you managed to get them to do that.

[CS TAN]

You can get B&H to ship to your friend in US as a gift and ask your friend to use the same shipping document and send it back to you.

[BeeHive]

Originally Posted by GeneKoh Thanks everyone for not reading and coming here to "pruss one"... But what happens if its my first "gift" that I'm getting, and there's no price indicated? How will they valuate then? Pluck a number out of the sky and charge me for it?

At first, U worry. AND start asking others for an answer U WANT(no worry there'll b no GST bra bra bra.....)!
U started to get angry When your subconsciousness realize that no matter what thing u buy and make like a GIFT for yourself is not going to work!
I think everyone here is trying to give u there best known answer.
As for my very personal experience with B&H. I did exactly what u did. I told B&H that was My Very first gift and the goods arrived with warmth hearten greeting AND OFF COURSE I MUST PAY GST!
Perhaps, maybe, there's miracle sometime! If u believe.
Let us know if it does happen to u

[2evans]

UPS will have cleared customs for the item they would have paid the GST amount if the value plus shipping was +400. B+H will have had to declare something so be prepared to pay UPS before they release the goods to you.

[CS TAN]

Originally Posted by GeneKoh I ordered a Tammy 70-200 from the B&H... Even with shipping in & after Forex, almost 300 bucks cheaper than the local supplier... Here's the tracking log... Wasn't held back by Customs... Anyone know if I'll have to pay GST? ------------------ CHANGI, SG 05/31/2009 5:08 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN DON MUANG, TH 05/31/2009 2:00 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN CHANGI, SG 05/31/2009 2:21 A.M. REGISTERED WITH CLEARING AGENCY / SHIPMENT SUBMITTED TO CLEARING AGENCY 05/31/2009 2:21 A.M. REGISTERED WITH CLEARING AGENCY / RELEASED BY CLR AGENCY. NOW IN-TRANSIT DON MUANG, TH 05/31/2009 12:01 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN MUMBAI, IN 05/30/2009 6:48 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN 05/30/2009 4:52 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN KOELN (COLOGNE), DE 05/30/2009 4:33 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN DE 05/29/2009 7:12 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN LOUISVILLE, KY, US 05/29/2009 4:49 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN 05/29/2009 2:02 A.M. EXPORT SCAN 05/29/2009 1:42 A.M. EXPORT SCAN 05/29/2009 1:02 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN JAMAICA, NY, US 05/28/2009 10:47 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN 05/28/2009 9:21 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN MASPETH, NY, US 05/28/2009 8:30 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN 05/28/2009 7:38 P.M. ORIGIN SCAN ------------------ I see the trip, i also *gong gong*... US, to Germany to India to Thailand... Then finally to SQ....

So, what is the verdict? Did you have to pay the GST? You should have got your delivery by now...

[GeneKoh]

Yup... Had to... But there's more to it...

Ok... Here's the deal... B&H followed my instructions to the Tee... There wasn't a value written on it...

But I found a screenshot printout of the B&H ordering checkout page (it was a Guest check-out, not my User ID) with the type of shipping that I had used and price... It wasn't inside the box, but it was printed on A4, folded up and attached to the UPS shipping documentation plastic pocket on the box... Then the final price on the paper was circled and highlighted...

Creative processing of imports, I must say...

So it seems that what either Customs or UPS did (can't really tell who did what), was that though they couldn't see a price written on the packing lists, but they saw the B&H logo & website on it, and went online to find out the price... Then charged me GST accordingly...

Nonetheless... I did a final calculation... Even with a not-so-favourable Forex rate of 1.478, 7% GST and shipping and other charges... it's still a good $200 to $300 cheaper than what JELCorp can offer... Overall, still a big win-win...