Ruth Haines
Changi Airport in Singapore offers a tax refund for tourists who meet the eligibility criteria outlined by Singapore Customs. The Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) allows tourists to claim a refund on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) paid on goods purchased from participating retailers. To be eligible, tourists must have spent a minimum of SGD 100 in a single receipt, and the goods must be brought unused out of Singapore within two months of purchase. Changi Airport uses the Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS) to simplify the refund process, with eTRS self-help kiosks located in all terminals. After passing through immigration, travellers can finalise their refund at airside refund counters, with cash refunds collected on the spot and electronic refunds credited within 10 days.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Changi Airport, Singapore |
| Scheme Name | Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) |
| Administered By | Singapore Customs on behalf of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) |
| Eligibility | Tourists who have spent a minimum of SGD 100 (including GST) in a single receipt from participating retailers |
| Conditions | Items must be brought out of Singapore within two months of purchase, unused, and only travellers departing by air from Changi Airport are eligible |
| Process | Use eTRS self-help kiosks in all terminals to scan passport or eTRS ticket, verify, choose refund method (credit card, Alipay, or cash), and receive a notification upon approval |
| Inspection | High-value items or manually issued eTRS tickets may require inspection by customs officials at the Customs Inspection Counter |
| Refund Processing | Cash refunds are instant, electronic refunds are credited within 10 days, and not all transactions may be eligible for immediate payout pending verification |
| Exclusions | Hotel accommodation, services (e.g., medical or beauty), consumables, items consumed or used in Singapore, purchases by crew members, and non-participating retailers |
| Contact | Global Tax Free Pte Ltd for enquiries: (+65) 6513 3756 (weekdays 9 AM-6 PM), (+65) 6546 5074 (weekdays after 6 PM, weekends, and holidays), [email protected], touristrefund.sg |
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What You'll Learn
Eligibility criteria for claiming a tax refund at Changi Airport
To be eligible for a tax refund at Changi Airport, you must meet the following criteria:
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be 16 years of age or above at the time of purchase.
- You must not be a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore.
- You must not be a crew member of an aircraft departing Singapore.
- You must not be a "Specified Person" on the date of purchase or within three months before or after the purchase date. This includes individuals with specific work passes, dependent passes, or student passes.
- You must be a tourist (non-resident) and have spent a minimum of SGD 100 (including GST) in a single receipt from participating retailers.
- The goods must be brought out of Singapore within two months of the purchase date and remain unused.
- You must depart from Singapore Changi Airport by air.
- You must have purchased goods from participating eTRS retailers and presented your passport during payment to link your transactions to your eTRS record.
- You must not have consumed or used the items in Singapore, as these are excluded from the tax refund scheme.
How to Claim Your Refund
Once you have confirmed your eligibility, you can claim your tax refund at Changi Airport by following these steps:
- Before checking in your goods, proceed to the eTRS self-help kiosks located in the Departure Check-in Hall. Scan your passport to retrieve your transactions and apply for your GST refund.
- Present your goods, passport, original purchase receipts, and boarding pass details for inspection at the Customs Inspection Counter.
- Choose your preferred refund method: cash, credit card, or bank transfer.
- Collect your cash refund on the spot or wait for your electronic refund to be credited within 10 days.
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Using the Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS)
Changi Airport uses the Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS) to simplify the tax refund process. The eTRS is a digital refund scheme that allows tourists to claim a refund for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) paid on goods purchased from participating retailers. This refund is only available if the goods are brought out of Singapore via Changi International Airport or Seletar Airport.
To use the eTRS, travellers must first shop from participating eTRS retailers and display their passports during payment, ensuring that the GST-inclusive amount is reflected. Using a credit card for purchases can help auto-link transactions to the eTRS record.
At the airport, travellers can then proceed to the eTRS self-help kiosks, which are located in all terminals, including the Departure Check-in Hall and the Departure Transit Lounge. At the kiosks, travellers can scan their passports or eTRS tickets to retrieve transaction records. After verification, travellers can choose their preferred refund method: credit card, Alipay, or cash. Once approved, the system will issue a notification confirming the refund claim.
In some cases, goods must be inspected and approved by customs officials before completing the refund process. Travellers with high-value items or manually issued eTRS tickets may be directed to a Customs Inspection Counter, where customs staff will check the goods, receipts, and passports before approving the refund.
It is important to note that not all purchases are covered under the eTRS. Certain goods such as hotel accommodation, services (e.g., medical or beauty), consumables, and items consumed or used in Singapore are excluded from the scheme. Additionally, purchases made by crew members or from non-participating retailers do not qualify for the eTRS refund.
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Inspection and approval of goods by customs officials
To obtain a tax refund at Changi Airport, travellers must first meet the eligibility criteria outlined by Singapore Customs. Tourists must have spent a minimum of SGD 100 (including GST) in a single receipt from participating retailers. These goods must be brought out of Singapore within two months of the purchase date and be unused at the time of departure. Only tourists (non-residents) can claim tax refunds, and they must depart from Singapore Changi Airport by air.
Before checking in their goods, travellers must proceed to the Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS) self-help kiosks located in all terminals and at the Departure Check-in Hall. Travellers can scan their passports or eTRS tickets to retrieve transaction records. After verification, travellers choose their preferred refund method: credit card, Alipay, or cash.
In some cases, goods must be inspected and approved by customs officials at the Customs Inspection Counter before completing the tax refund process. Travellers with high-value items or manually issued eTRS tickets may be directed to the Customs Inspection Counter. Customs staff will check the goods, receipts, and passports before approving the refund. It is important to arrive at the airport early, especially during busy travel seasons, to ensure sufficient time for inspection and refund processing.
To summarise, here is a step-by-step guide to the tax refund process at Changi Airport:
- Shop from participating eTRS retailers and verify that the GST-inclusive amount is reflected properly.
- Present your passport during payment, as this can auto-link transactions to your eTRS record.
- Before checking in your goods, proceed to the eTRS self-help kiosks to initiate the refund process.
- If required, proceed to the Customs Inspection Counter for inspection and approval of your goods.
- After approval, collect your cash refund or receive confirmation of your electronic refund.
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Methods of receiving a refund: cash, credit card, Alipay
To receive a tax refund at Changi Airport, travellers must first meet the eligibility criteria outlined by Singapore Customs. Tourists must have spent a minimum of SGD 100 (including GST) in a single receipt from participating retailers. These goods must be brought out of Singapore within two months of the purchase and be unused at the time of departure.
Changi Airport uses the Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS) to simplify the tax refund process. eTRS self-help kiosks are located in all terminals, and travellers can scan their passport or eTRS ticket to retrieve transaction records. After verification, travellers choose their refund method: cash, credit card, or Alipay.
Cash refunds are collected on the spot, while electronic refunds are credited within 10 days. Credit card purchases can help auto-link transactions to the eTRS record. Changi Pay is a digital e-wallet that can be used to improve the payment and shopping experience at Changi Airport and Jewel Changi Airport. It is free to sign up and available within the Changi App. Changi Pay users can also make overseas payments via the Alipay+ QR network. Changi Pay also supports eligible transactions made via Alipay (China only).
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Time taken for refunds: cash on the spot, electronic within 10 days
Changi Airport offers tax refunds to tourists under the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) administered by Singapore Customs on behalf of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). The scheme allows tourists to claim a refund of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) paid on goods purchased from participating retailers. To be eligible for a GST refund, tourists must meet specific criteria and conditions.
The Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS) simplifies the tax refund process at Changi Airport. eTRS self-help kiosks are available in all terminals, allowing travellers to scan their passports or eTRS tickets to retrieve transaction records. After verification, travellers can choose their preferred refund method: credit card, Alipay, or cash. It is important to note that cash refunds are provided on the spot, while electronic refunds may take up to 10 days to be credited.
To ensure a smooth tax refund experience, travellers should be aware of the eligibility criteria and conditions set by Singapore Customs. For example, tourists must have spent a minimum amount, including GST, in a single receipt from participating retailers. The goods must remain unused and be taken out of Singapore within two months of the purchase date. Additionally, only travellers departing Singapore by air from Changi Airport are eligible to claim a tax refund.
To receive a cash refund, travellers can proceed to the GST Cash Refund counter in the Departure Transit Lounge after passing through immigration. For electronic refunds, travellers can expect to receive their refund within 10 days of their claim. It is important to note that not all transactions may be eligible for immediate payout if further verification is required.
By understanding the eligibility criteria, conditions, and refund process at Changi Airport, travellers can maximise their savings through the Tourist Refund Scheme and have a stress-free departure from Singapore.
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Frequently asked questions
The Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) is administered by Singapore Customs on behalf of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). The scheme allows tourists to claim a refund of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on goods purchased from participating retailers if the goods are brought out of Singapore within two months of the purchase date and are unused.
To claim a tax refund at Changi Airport, travellers must first meet the eligibility criteria outlined by Singapore Customs. Tourists must have spent a minimum of SGD 100 (including GST) in a single receipt from participating retailers. It is recommended to shop from retailers that operate the TRS, clearly display your passport during payment, and verify that the GST-inclusive amount is reflected. At the airport, proceed to the Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS) self-help kiosks located in all terminals and scan your passport to retrieve transaction records. After verification, choose your refund method (credit card, Alipay, or cash), and once approved, a notification will be issued confirming your refund claim.
The tax refund counters at Changi Airport are located airside after passing through immigration. The GST Refund counter is also located at Jewel Level 1, near the iShopChangi Collection Centre and Changi Lounge, but this service is only available to passengers who use the Early Check-in facility at Jewel.
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