customs duties on gifts shipped to singapore

[junebugfareast]

Is there a Singapore government web page that specifies or outlines customs duties on gifts that are sent here from other countries?

I am thinking of getting a digital camera (christmas gift) sent to me by my parents and I want to look at getting it shipped here versus picking it up when I swing through the states this summer.

Anybody have experience? Is it just GST or is there more?

[Abigail]

S$400 per shipment can come in duty free. But I would be surprised if you could get a better camera cheaper in the States as I think that electronics over here are pretty advanced and the pricing very competitive.

[T2K]

Singapore is a duty free port (almost).  In other words anything you import is duty free.
The exceptions are "luxury items" like cars, petrol, alcohol, tobacco, etc.  The %3 GST will generally apply to everything, though, although some companies get gov't exemptions.

[RB]

I'm not sure how the whole system works but my husband was recently charged GST on a new kilt which was sent over from Scotland.  We were told we can reclaim the VAT we paid in the UK but not the GST.