Singapore

The Overseas Vendor Registration (OVR) regime for Goods-and-Services Tax (GST) in Singapore is Singapore’s equivalent to the EU’s DAC7 platform-reporting rules for foreign digital platforms. Although OVR is a GST-collection framework for overseas sellers (rather than an income-reporting duty like DAC7), it is presently the only Singapore VAT rule that obliges foreign-based digital platforms and online marketplaces to register, file periodic returns, and share transactional information with the tax authority (IRAS – Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore). Singapore has not yet adopted the OECD “Model Reporting Rules for Digital Platforms”, so OVR is currently the primary compliance requirement for foreign B2C platforms. Singapore is expected to consult on adopting the OECD Model Reporting Rules for Digital Platforms in the next few years. When that arrives, seller-level income reporting (similar to DAC7) will likely sit on top of, not instead of, the existing OVR obligations.

Who must register

Foreign digital service providers or electronic marketplace operators whose:

• Global turnover exceeds S$1 million (~USD 740,000) (past or next 12 months)
• B2C supplies to Singapore exceed S$100,000/year (~USD 74,000/year), must register under the simplified pay-only OVR scheme for overseas suppliers and obtain a Singapore GST registration number

Operators that do not have to register

• Platforms (local or overseas) below both thresholds
• Operators dealing exclusively in B2B supplies (the customer provides a valid Singapore GST registration number)
• Platforms that only host advertisements without processing payments or concluding sales (i.e. no “contractual supplier” role)
• Marketplaces that facilitate goods already imported under DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) by a local GST-registered seller

Low-value goods (LVG) and GST treatment

The de minimis threshold for import GST in Singapore is S$400 (~USD 290). Orders valued below this amount are exempt from customs duties and GST at import. If the intrinsic value of goods exceeds the S$400 LVG threshold, the transaction falls outside the OVR model. In this case, remote sellers must not charge GST at checkout. Instead, Singapore Customs will levy import GST, typically collected from the importer-of-record – often the consumer or courier service in B2C e-commerce.

OVR registration process for foreign sellers

• Apply for OVR within 30 days of reaching the threshold
• Upload supporting turnover evidence
• Appointing a local tax agent in Singapore is optional
• IRAS will issue a Singapore GST registration notice, effective from the 1st day of the month following liability

What must be reported

A quarterly GST-F5 return disclosing the total value of:

• Remote digital services to Singapore customers
• Low-value goods (≤ S$400 / ~USD 295) imported via platform
• GST collected and any eligible input tax the platform may withhold

Seller-level income reporting is not yet required (unlike under DAC7), but transaction-level records must be retained for 5 years and provided upon IRAS request.

Reporting deadlines

Returns and payments are due one month after the end of each quarter (e.g., Q1 ends 31 March → due by 30 April)

Penalties for non-compliance

• Failure to register on time: fine up to S$10,000 (~USD 7,400) + 10% of GST due
• Late or non-filing of GST-F5: S$200 (~USD 150) penalty + S$200/month (~USD 150/month) (capped at S$10,000 per return (~USD 7,400))
• Late payment: 5% surcharge on unpaid GST + 2% monthly interest (up to 50% total — equivalent to a possible ~50% increase in payable GST)