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Purchasing the iPhone 7 as a tourist. No tax?

D

drewjonn

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 15, 2016
139
30
So, I live in Indonesia and even the iPhone 6S is not here yet (you read it right)

I'm thinking about flying to Singapore for a weekend night this September, get myself the iPhone 7, hang around for a night, then come back (I have school)

Also heard that purchasing from the Changi Airport would leave me GST free alongside the tax reimbursement. Now I'm wondering if it is true. Singaporean base price is pretty reasonable and no tax sounds a great deal. Is it possible to pay only the iPhone's base price if I purchase from Singapore?

Anybody with the experience or has any knowledge about it? How do I ask for the tax reimbursement btw? Not even sure if Changi would have them that soon though, or airport's price might be expensive even without GST.
 
obeygiant said:
If you're flying in just to buy an iPhone for $800, 6% tax is $48. The reimbursement for tax is the last of your worries.
Click to expand...

Thought it was tax free since I'm not a citizen? by last of my worries, did you mean that the reimbursement is kinda obvious? So even 6% tax would be refunded, is that correct?

I'm thinking about spending a night there and purchase at the airport upon my departure, but if they don't have it at Changi, I might be kinda screwed.
 
I would wait till the 6S is launched in Indonesia, due to potential problems if there was a warranty claim after getting home.
 
drewjonn said:
Thought it was tax free since I'm not a citizen? by last of my worries, did you mean that the reimbursement is kinda obvious? So even 6% tax would be refunded, is that correct?

I'm thinking about spending a night there and purchase at the airport upon my departure, but if they don't have it at Changi, I might be kinda screwed.
Click to expand...
You are spending almost $1,000 on a phone, a few hundred on flights and hotel and you are worried about $50?
 
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I'm an American who grew up in Indonesia (13 years starting from the age of 2), it was not uncommon to fly to Singapore to buy electronics. We used to go to Singapore just for the dentist... It is a quick flight from Jakarta to Singapore.

You might be able to buy it duty free in the airport, but like said above, you may run into issues with warranty/repairs.
 
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drewjonn said:
So, I live in Indonesia and even the iPhone 6S is not here yet (you read it right)

I'm thinking about flying to Singapore for a weekend night this September, get myself the iPhone 7, hang around for a night, then come back (I have school)

Also heard that purchasing from the Changi Airport would leave me GST free alongside the tax reimbursement. Now I'm wondering if it is true. Singaporean base price is pretty reasonable and no tax sounds a great deal. Is it possible to pay only the iPhone's base price if I purchase from Singapore?

Anybody with the experience or has any knowledge about it? How do I ask for the tax reimbursement btw? Not even sure if Changi would have them that soon though, or airport's price might be expensive even without GST.
Click to expand...
[doublepost=1466430190][/doublepost]Ok for Tax Free shopping ino Singapore.
You need to buy in the local apple store and mention that you want to purchase duty free. They will provide you with a specific form which you will need to keep together with the receipt.
Once in the airport, there are Duty free self service machines where you can register your purchase. The machine will give you another form.
Once you passed security, you have to go to the Duty free return office. They will pick up both forms (the one from the shop, and the one from the machine ) and register your credit card.
The fund will be back on your credit card (the one you used to purchase the goods in the first place) up to a month later.
 
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drewjonn said:
Thought it was tax free since I'm not a citizen? by last of my worries, did you mean that the reimbursement is kinda obvious? So even 6% tax would be refunded, is that correct?

I'm thinking about spending a night there and purchase at the airport upon my departure, but if they don't have it at Changi, I might be kinda screwed.
Click to expand...

We believe in everyone being equal and even you, a non-citizen will have to pay sales tax in the USA.

If non-citizens did not have to pay tax, half our current population would be living tax free!
 
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I
Newtons Apple said:
We believe in everyone being equal and even you, a non-citizen will have to pay sales tax in the USA.

If non-citizens did not have to pay tax, half our current population would be living tax free!
Click to expand...
I suppose you agree with the US government charging income tax on citizens living and working abroad even though they using the country they are working in services!, but anyway this is way off topic.
 
IFRIT said:
I

I suppose you agree with the US government charging income tax on citizens living and working abroad even though they using the country they are working in services!, but anyway this is way off topic.
Click to expand...

We had to do this. My father worked overseas for 30+ years, all the time paying Federal and State income taxes. But, to be fair, we do use US services, heck, this is why we have embassies and military all over the world (to protect US citizens and interests abroad).
 
Newtons Apple said:
We believe in everyone being equal and even you, a non-citizen will have to pay sales tax in the USA.

If non-citizens did not have to pay tax, half our current population would be living tax free!
Click to expand...

lol I did not mention anything about USA here and fact is that I know people go to Singapore from my country to purchase goods duty free. There you go, nothing to do with US sales tax or whatever you're saying.
[doublepost=1466446678][/doublepost]
heehee said:
You are spending almost $1,000 on a phone, a few hundred on flights and hotel and you are worried about $50?
Click to expand...

Well say that I'm also travelling there for 2 days so it would be worth it ;)
 
drewjonn said:
lol I did not mention anything about USA here and fact is that I know people go to Singapore from my country to purchase goods duty free. There you go, nothing to do with US sales tax or whatever you're saying.
[doublepost=1466446678][/doublepost]
Click to expand...

They are Americans. They can't help being self obsessed. Go easy on them.
 
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