Guide to claiming tax refunds while shopping in Singapore

As a tourist in Singapore and spending over $100 Singapore dollars, you may be eligible for a 7% tax refund.

Guide to claiming tax refunds while shopping in Singapore

At the conclusion of your Singapore trip, bringing back home items purchased from participating stores in the tourist tax refund program, totaling over $100 Singapore dollars, qualifies you for Goods and Services Tax (GST) refund.

Tourists can claim GST refunds at the departure halls of Changi International Airport and Seletar Airport. Since January 21, 2013, tourists departing from Singapore via international cruise ships (excluding ships with unclear itineraries, round-trip ships, and local ferries) through the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore and the International Passenger Terminal at HarbourFront Centre may also be eligible for a tax refund.

Claiming GST refunds is now easier and more convenient thanks to the Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS). Simply choose a credit/debit card as your refund card when shopping for tax-free goods. This refund card allows you to easily access all transaction details when you claim GST refunds at self-service eTRS kiosks at airports and seaports. Additionally, you can use eTRS vouchers issued at the point of purchase to complete the refund process at airports and ferry terminals. You can still pay with any credit/debit card or cash.

4 simple steps to claim tax refunds:

1. At the store

When shopping at participating retail stores with eTRS, use a credit/debit card as your payment card to consolidate all purchases. Request the store to issue eTRS vouchers, original invoices/receipts before leaving the store.

2. Before departure

If you plan to check in your purchased items, first, process GST refunds at self-service eTRS kiosks located at departure registration areas (prior to customs clearance) of the airport or level 1 of the ferry terminal, using either payment cards or eTRS vouchers. You will not be eligible for a refund if you have checked in your items before processing GST refunds.

If you intend to carry your purchased items as hand luggage, proceed to the Departure Transit Lounge (after customs clearance) of the airport or level 2 of the ferry terminal along with the purchased items and process GST refunds at self-service eTRS kiosks.

3. At eTRS self-service kiosk

Use the credit/debit card you used as your payment card to access all purchase information. Scan each TRS voucher separately to retrieve your purchase information as instructed on the eTRS self-service kiosk to process GST refunds. You may be required to present purchased items, original invoices/receipts, and confirmed flight tickets/cruise itinerary confirmation slips at the customs check counter.

4. Receive refund

When departing from Changi International Airport, you will receive the refund via credit card or cash. When departing from Seletar Airport, Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore, or the International Passenger Terminal at HarbourFront Centre, you will receive the refund via credit card or bank cheque.

If opting for direct refund to your credit card, you may proceed directly to the boarding gate after completing the declaration form. The refunded amount will be transferred to your credit card within 10 days.

If opting for cash refund, please proceed to the Central Refund Counter at the Departure Transit Lounge (after customs clearance) with the approved notification slip to receive cash.

If you opt for receiving tax refunds via bank cheque, you need to provide details such as the payee's name and email address on the approved Notification slip and drop it into the designated cheque refund box. The bank cheque will be sent to you within 14 days from the date of dropping the approved notification slip into the box.

As per the Singapore Tourism Board

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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour