What IGDS defers and what it does not
The eleventh edition, published 30 January 2026, explains the Import GST Deferment Scheme under regulation 45D, effective from 1 October 2010. Approved businesses defer import GST to the GST-return submission for the relevant period; this is not exemption or suspension. Customs and excise duties remain payable upfront. It covers dutiable and non-dutiable goods imported directly and goods released from zero-GST/licensed warehouses for local consumption. Ordinary input-tax conditions still determine whether the deferred tax is deductible.
Cash-flow example: the tax is paid later, not removed
For a January period, goods imported on 10 January carry S$10,000 GST and a 20 January sale creates S$15,000 output tax. A non-IGDS importer pays Customs S$10,000 first, then claims that input and pays IRAS S$5,000 net at filing. An IGDS importer pays no import GST upfront, but at filing reports S$15,000 output, S$10,000 input and S$10,000 deferred import GST, producing S$15,000 payable. Both bear the same total; the scheme changes timing. The guide’s timeline labels 28 February as the return/payment deadline in this illustrative non-year-specific example.
All qualifying conditions and ongoing compliance
Normally the business must be GST-registered for at least three years, active and financially solvent, importing or intending to import for its business, on monthly GST returns, and on interbank GIRO with IRAS. It needs good internal controls/accounting, good Customs compliance with no major violations, and good IRAS payment/filing history without overdue taxes or GST returns at application. Complete the certified ASK review unless an ACAP route applies, and comply with other imposed conditions. The Comptroller may approve shorter GST-registration histories subject to a guarantee, reject to protect revenue, or require/increase security. Notify material business changes immediately; conditions must remain satisfied throughout approval.
ASK certification, ACAP alternatives and deadlines
The ASK annual-review and voluntary-error-disclosure declaration must be certified by an in-house or external SCTP Accredited Tax Practitioner (GST) or Accredited Tax Advisor (GST). Successful participation in ACAP removes the ASK-declaration requirement; withdrawal or failure to obtain ACAP status requires the completed certified ASK declaration within six months of withdrawal/unsuccessful notification. A business with valid ACAP status can perform PAR and file GST F28 or apply for renewal with F29. The source additionally says an MES business not renewing ACAP must perform a second PAR and file certified F28A, performed or certified by the accredited professional. Retain ASK section 3 working templates.
Permitted uses: own goods and three agency situations
Use approval for own business goods; as section 33(2) agent for an overseas principal’s goods to be sold locally or exported; or as section 33A agent for goods later re-exported. For those agents the principal must be unregistered or registered only under OVR pay-only. Since 1 January 2015, section 33B can cover re-import of customers’ goods sent abroad for value-added activities, for local customers or overseas customers registered under the normal GST regime rather than OVR pay-only. Since 2012 section 33(2) goods can change form/nature, but the agent must track them and ensure all are supplied. Unrelated third-party or non-business imports are prohibited unless within the specified agency situations.
Non-transferability, deregistration and operational setup
IGDS status cannot transfer with a going-concern sale; the new owner applies independently. On GST deregistration, taxable assets/stocks on hand exceeding S$10,000 can trigger deemed output GST, including IGDS imports. Activate the Customs Account and subscribe to TradeNet to declare directly, or appoint authorised declaring agents through myTax “Apply for Declaring Agents”. GST Preparer/Approver access requires CorpPass authorisation. Maximum authorised agents is 20 at a time, and the importer remains responsible for every permit they declare. Ending IGDS does not automatically restore quarterly filing: request a change if needed.
Courier imports, application, approval and renewal
For express-company imports obtain periodic Inward Summary reports or subsidiary import certificates to support return reporting. Listed operators are FedEx, UPS and DHL; TNT merged into FedEx from 1 October 2021. Apply using signed GST F22, review ASK sections 1–2 and provide certified section 3 declaration unless the ACAP alternative applies. For taxable plus exempt supplies declare due diligence in input apportionment; only tax attributable to taxable supplies is claimable. A complete supported application has an indicated one-month decision period and initial approval is three years as notified. Existing import-only schemes such as MES terminate upon IGDS approval. Renewal invitation depends on continued qualification, review/declaration and retained templates; renewal can be five years or another granted period.
Internal controls: receipt, custody, outward movement and reconciliation
Document how inventory/financial information enters GST reporting. Incoming records include received notes, acknowledged delivery orders, import/transhipment permits, airway bills/bills of lading, available commercial invoices/insurance and principal correspondence, identifying goods, dates, quantity, value and supplier. Custody records identify handovers and storage locations. Outgoing records include customer orders, delivery orders, export/transhipment permits, shipping/invoice/insurance records and written delivery/export instructions. Retain comprehensive internal/external stocktakes, discrepancies at receipt/removal/stocktake and reconciliations. Local tax invoices, export invoices plus export evidence, and payment evidence support supplies. Produce records to IRAS on request.
Separate records for each overseas principal and guarantees
Appendix B requires authority from each principal and separate stock records: incoming dates/import or warehouse-release value, description and quantity; outgoing dates, purpose, description, value and quantity; custody handovers/locations; full stocktake and discrepancy reconciliations. Link each principal’s balance to imported and supplied goods and keep section 46 records as if the agent were the taxable person. Appendix C permits an eGuarantee at approval or renewal; IRAS notifies amount and validity. Obtain it through participating financial institutions using eGuarantee@Gov information rather than assuming one fixed amount or period.
Monthly reporting and underdeclared permits
Report IGDS import value and deferred tax in the permit-approval month (approval can be validity-start date). If claim conditions are met, also report imports in Box 5 and deductible input in Box 7. Supplementary IGDS permits are possible only where the original remains unused and valid, for direct imports cleared at a manned ICA checkpoint; use original and supplementary together, reporting the supplementary in its own approval month. Used or expired permits, warehouse-release/non-direct imports or clearance without ICA presence require immediate Customs short-payment permit and payment; IGDS cannot defer that shortfall. Claim eligible short-payment GST in the permit-date period.
Overdeclared permits: same-month and cross-month amendments
An unused valid permit can generally be amended/cancelled within 14 calendar days; relevant non-direct imports cannot use the flowchart’s amendment route. Report amendments in their month. For a 25 January 2024 S$100,000 permit changed on 4 February to S$80,000, January reports S$100,000 and S$9,000 tax, February reports −S$20,000 and −S$1,800. A 30 January amendment instead reports S$80,000 and S$7,200 in January; if already filed without amendment, submit F7. The PDF’s opening lines in examples 1–2 still call the original tax S$8,000, contradicting its subsequent S$9,000 and 9% arithmetic. The figures above follow the consistent 9% calculation. Its February-2024 timeline also labels 28 February/month-end despite leap year; use actual period dates and deadline, not that illustrative label.
Overdeclared permits beyond the amendment window
If the permit cannot be amended because it is used or out of time, keep its values in the IGDS boxes while using the correct pre-GST purchase value for Box 5 and permit-based actual GST in Box 7. Example 3: S$100,000 permit should have been S$80,000, with S$9,000 tax; discovery on 15 February is outside the window. For January, Box 5 is S$80,000, Box 7 S$9,000, Box 19 deferred import GST S$9,000 and Box 21 IGDS goods value S$100,000. Do not reduce the deferred-tax declaration simply to mirror the corrected commercial value.
TradeNet codes and control of declaring agents
Appendix E specifies: non-dutiable imports INP/APS/IGDS; dutiable imports with duty payable IPT/DUT/IGDS; duty-exempt imports INP/GTR/relevant exemption code such as TOBSP. Valid unused underdeclarations at manned checkpoints use INP/APS/SPIGDS; used or expired permits require IPT/GST/SPNOSTK and immediate payment. Duty-payment permit value amendments within 14 days must not change duty payable. Appendix F recommends complete agent permit listings or regular TradeNet listings, matched to supplier invoices and agent records to detect unauthorised use. The body incorrectly refers to Appendices F/G for permits/controls; the actual attached sections are E/F respectively.
Revocation, penalties and current-edition changes
Breach may revoke approval at any time; arrange upfront Customs GST for subsequent imports immediately. Late GST return or late accounting/payment of deferred import GST attracts 5% of deferred import GST. Non-business or unauthorised third-party use can require repayment plus penalties and prosecution; section 33A exceptions require the Imports guide. Enquiries use myTax Mail for registered businesses, GST Contact Us for others, or the source’s weekday 8am–5pm live chat. The 2026 revision clarifies ASK/ACAP and application wording; 2024 updated eGuarantees and 9%, 2023 digital guarantees and 8%, 2017 online agents and five-year renewal. The scheme conditions, responsibilities and Appendices A/B are expressly stated to have legal force.
Official source
This article independently explains the substantive contents of the official PDF, including the relevant conditions, procedures and annexes. The linked document remains the authoritative source for its original wording, and later changes should be checked separately.
Read the official PDF ↗