SINGAPORE: More than S$7.1 million (US$5.4 million) in penalties was imposed after 23,742 travellers were caught evading duties and goods and services tax (GST) across air, land, and sea checkpoints in the first 10 months of 2025, Singapore Customs said on Monday (Dec 1).
This marks a sharp increase from the same period in 2024 and 2023, when 13,099 and 7,139 travellers were caught and fined S$3.47 million and S$2.3 million respectively.
The number of offenders fined the maximum S$5,000 penalty for making incorrect or incomplete declarations to Customs also jumped to 142 in the first 10 months of this year, compared with 46 and 51 in the corresponding periods in 2024 and 2023.
Evading duties or GST at checkpoints is a serious offence, said Customs, adding that revenue collected belongs to Singapore and supports fair competition for local companies that comply with tax obligations.
"We will take firm action against all offenders, including imposing the heaviest penalties on those who wilfully violate our laws."
Customs noted that, as in previous years, violations typically involved commercial goods such as machinery parts, apparel and accessories, consumer products like skincare items, and cigarettes and alcohol.
In one case, a female traveller arriving from Bangkok on Oct 17 was fined the maximum S$5,000 for failing to declare new luxury goods, including a bag, a wallet and three pieces of jewellery.
Continue reading...
This marks a sharp increase from the same period in 2024 and 2023, when 13,099 and 7,139 travellers were caught and fined S$3.47 million and S$2.3 million respectively.
The number of offenders fined the maximum S$5,000 penalty for making incorrect or incomplete declarations to Customs also jumped to 142 in the first 10 months of this year, compared with 46 and 51 in the corresponding periods in 2024 and 2023.
Evading duties or GST at checkpoints is a serious offence, said Customs, adding that revenue collected belongs to Singapore and supports fair competition for local companies that comply with tax obligations.
"We will take firm action against all offenders, including imposing the heaviest penalties on those who wilfully violate our laws."
Customs noted that, as in previous years, violations typically involved commercial goods such as machinery parts, apparel and accessories, consumer products like skincare items, and cigarettes and alcohol.
In one case, a female traveller arriving from Bangkok on Oct 17 was fined the maximum S$5,000 for failing to declare new luxury goods, including a bag, a wallet and three pieces of jewellery.
Continue reading...