SGD Importers specialises in the import and distribution of a wide range of products, including plants, accessories and more. The company offers a great variety of products at affordable prices and strives to keep its customers satisfied. It offers Australia-wide discount freight services to all towns, suburbs and cities.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) on Importing into Singapore
Generally, all goods entering Singapore are subject to a 7% Goods and Services Tax (GST) upon arrival. This is based on the Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value of the goods. In addition, the taxable value is also based on the applicable duties and taxes.
Importers must have a presence in Singapore to act as their fiscal representative when importing goods into the country. This is important as they must provide a valid business registration number and other documents to the Customs Department when importing goods into Singapore.
The GST threshold for importing is currently $400 SGD. This means that online merchants who sell goods to consumers in Singapore will need to ensure their shipments exceed this amount before they can be liable for the 7% GST.
It is important for all businesses to be aware of these changes and to make sure their customers understand the implications. For example, if the customer is a residential or commercial property owner in Singapore, they will need to inform the local authorities of the import and export of their goods.
For the importation of food produce, it is a criminal offence for a licensed food importer to fail to arrange for the inspection, examination and certification of their imported food consignments by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). On 13 February 2023, the SFA issued a media release that stated that a food importer was fined SGD 13,500 by the court for illegally importing 324kg of fresh fruits, vegetables and processed foods from Malaysia that were not declared or under-declared in their export declarations.
The SFA is an independent body that provides a regulatory framework for the trade of fresh and processed fruit and vegetable products. Its duty is to prevent food fraud and ensure compliance with the law.
Medicare Coverage for SGDs
The January 1, 2001 policy change that Medicare enacted to reimburse beneficiaries for the use of SGDs has had a direct positive impact on beneficiaries’ access to this equipment, as well as on insurers’ willingness to fund these devices. Moreover, it has had a direct effect on SLPs’ reimbursements for this equipment as well, since it means that SLPs are more likely to be acknowledged and approved for these assignments if they meet the Medicare R egional Medical Review Policy (RMRP)’s requirements for their SGD Importers assessment and reports.
SLPs should make it clear to the manufacturers/suppliers of these devices that their refusal to accept assignment is limiting beneficiary access to the most appropriate SGDs that will meet their needs.
SLPs should also encourage their patients to contact Medicare and appeal any denial of coverage for an SGD or if their funding source denies the purchase of an SGD. These calls may have a significant impact on the availability of these SGDs to beneficiaries and will ultimately result in a greater impact on their quality of life.