All Insights Finance Solution

Import and Export in Singapore: What Businesses Need to Get Right

Every import into Singapore needs a customs permit before the goods can clear, and goods and services tax (GST) is due at that point too, not just when you sell the goods on. Getting that sequence wrong is the most common way a shipment gets delayed.

Compliz Insights · Finance Solution · Published 28 September 2026 · Updated 1 October 2026

Singapore's trade infrastructure is built to move goods fast, but the paperwork behind that speed still has to be done correctly. Import and export activity here is governed by the Customs Act, the GST Act and the Regulation of Imports and Exports Act, and almost all of it now runs through one electronic system: TradeNet.

Getting Set Up to Trade

Before you can import or export anything, your business needs a Unique Entity Number (issued at incorporation by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)) and an activated Customs Account linked to it. Once that's done, permit applications are submitted through TradeNet, either via an approved TradeNet front-end solution provider or the government's own front-end application. This setup is a one-time step, but it has to happen before your first shipment, not during it.

Import Permits and GST

Importers need a customs permit before goods are imported, and most imported goods are subject to GST, duty, or both. Under the standard rules, GST is paid upfront at the point of import, and a GST-registered business then claims it back as input tax through its regular GST return. This creates a real, if temporary, cash flow gap between paying GST on the way in and recovering it later.

Export Procedures

Goods leaving Singapore still need to be declared to Singapore Customs via a permit, even though GST and duty generally aren't charged on exports. Skipping the declaration isn't a paperwork shortcut; it's a compliance breach, regardless of whether any tax is actually owed on the shipment.

Cash Flow Schemes Worth Knowing

Two Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) schemes exist specifically to ease the cash flow strain of paying import GST upfront, and they work differently:

• Major Exporter Scheme (MES). Suspends GST at the point of import for approved businesses, rather than collecting it and refunding it later. Aimed at businesses that import and export substantially, since they'd otherwise be repeatedly out of pocket with little offsetting output tax to claim against.
• Import GST Deferment Scheme (IGDS). Doesn't suspend the GST, but defers payment to when your monthly GST return is due, instead of at the point of import.

Both require approval from IRAS and ongoing eligibility conditions; neither is automatic just because a business imports goods.

Recordkeeping

Supporting documents relating to the purchase, import, sale or export of goods generally need to be kept for five years from the date the customs permit was approved, consistent with the retention period this site's bookkeeping guide already covers for accounting records generally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a customs permit for every single shipment?

Generally yes. Each import or export movement needs its own permit declaration through TradeNet, though businesses with frequent, similar shipments can streamline this through an approved TradeNet solution provider.

Is GST charged on goods I export from Singapore?

No. Exports are generally zero-rated, meaning no GST or duty is charged, but you still need to declare the goods to Singapore Customs via a permit.

What's the difference between MES and IGDS?

MES suspends import GST entirely for approved businesses; IGDS doesn't remove the GST but lets you pay it later, when your GST return is due, instead of at the point of import.

Do I need a Customs Account even if I only import occasionally?

Yes. Any business importing or exporting goods needs an activated Customs Account linked to its UEN before it can apply for permits, regardless of shipment frequency.

Can my freight forwarder handle the permit applications for me?

Yes, this is common practice. A freight forwarder or declaring agent can submit TradeNet permit applications on your behalf, though the importer or exporter of record remains responsible for the accuracy of the declaration.