Singapore Redditor upset that friends ask to buy luxury goods from Europe, but unwilling to pay GST
A Singapore Redditor has expressed their frustration about friends constantly asking them to purchase luxury items from Europe, as these friends also expect the items to be brought back without paying Goods and Services Tax (GST).
GST payable if value exceeds personal relief allowance
The r/askSingapore post on 15 March described how such requests often arise whenever the Redditor travels to Europe.
According to the Original Poster (OP), friends or relatives sometimes ask them to help purchase branded items overseas.
This is because luxury goods can be cheaper in Europe due to tax refunds such as Value-Added Tax (VAT).
Friends asking me to buy luxury goods from Europe but expecting me to “try” not paying GST when coming back… anyone else find this annoying?
byu/BraveJackfruit1350 inaskSingapore
However, things get awkward when the OP explains that GST is payable when the items exceed the traveller’s personal relief allowance on returning to Singapore.
Instead of understanding, the response they often get is along the lines of: “Just try lah, usually nobody checks.”
Risk borne entirely by traveller
While the OP acknowledged that people are simply trying to save money, they said the expectation makes them uncomfortable.
“If anything happens at customs, I’m the one who has to deal with it,” the OP wrote.
Source: roafly.com
The OP also pointed out that they do not mind helping friends or family buy items while overseas.
