GST on Air freight

[just landed]

We have just arrived in S'pore and have sent our worldly possessions (books and more books) here by air freight from Ireland.  We went to collect them today only to find that we had to account for every item (of which there are hundreds) and pay tax on the value of them...

We had loads of fun trying to remember what we packed, almost 3 months ago now..
Now, how do put a value on personal effects???

Should we be paying tax on items that we have owned for years?...this all seems a bit crazy!!

Can anyone help in this matter..

Thanks in advance

[Kathleen]

Personal effects should come in duty free. Did you have a professional moving company pack and ship for you? If so there should be a proper manifest detailing the contents (this would have been done for insurance purposes). If you did the move on your own maybe call one of the moving companies on this site and see if they can get involved.

What about the rest of your stuff is it coming by boat?

[just landed]

Thanks for that..

No, all of our stuff came in by air yesterday. We are travelling fairly light as we have no electronics or furniture.

BTW how much will it cost to get one of the moving companies involved?

Regards

[Dave D]

I have had personal belongings sent by air freight from the UK twice. Both times the transport company sent me a form to say I needed to pay GST. Both times I replied to them that the items were personal belongings that I owned, and nothing to do with the company I worked for. On both occasions they sent me another form to sign to exempt me from paying GST. So challenge it, as I think they will try it as a matter of course. As for the manifest, I simply identified things like books collectively (ie stated 'numerous books', maybe with an approx number), not as individual items, and that was good enough.

[BoardManager]

You might want to contact Helu-Trans, KC DAT or VanPac Movers, all of whom are listed on this website. They will be pleased to assist - tell them you were referred by Expat Singapore.

[just landed]

Thanks for your help guys.

I picked up the stuff yesterday and just paid the $21 gst.  The problem is that I don't have my EP yet as I am still looking for a job. I found out that if I sent to my fiancee (EP holder) i would have been exempt, but alas only hindsight is 20/20.
In the end I just put down the total value to be $100 plus the shipping fee $600 and was charged on that. Anyway I'll know better next time.