Company director fined over $1 million for evading duty and GST on imported motor vehicles 

From 1 August 2026, Singapore Customs will require all applications for an Ordinary Certificate of Origin to be filed electronically via the digital platforms of five authorised organisations, eliminating the need for manual submissions by exporters and manufacturers using the OCO regime. 

 Circular No. 07/2026,

The stipulation was articulated in Circular No. 07/2026, promulgated on 7 May 2026, with Singapore Customs stipulating that the transition to comprehensive electronic submission is envisaged to enhance processing efficiency and empower applicants to submit and monitor applications in an online capacity.

The recently implemented protocol

The recently implemented protocol encompasses OCO applications that are processed through the five authorised organisations that have been consulted by the agency and the Ministry of Trade and Industry: The Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce, the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Singapore Manufacturing Federation.

Origin documentation

According to Singapore Customs' guidance on origin documentation, OCOs are part of Singapore's broader framework for certificates of origin for locally manufactured goods, alongside those used under free trade agreements

Evading duty and GST

Conversely, on 24 April 2026, the State Courts fined Subash, the director of Concordway Pte Ltd (“Concordway”), $1,068,000 for the fraudulent evasion of duty. This was committed by declaring suppressed values for 34 motor vehicles imported into Singapore between October 2018 and February 2024. Mr Subash, a 59-year-old Singaporean, has until 25 May 2026 to pay the fine for his customs offences. If he fails to do so, he will be imprisoned for 12 months and two weeks. 

Nine charges under the Customs Act

Subash pleaded guilty to nine charges under the Customs Act: three for fraudulent evasion of duty and six for abetment by intentionally aiding the making of untrue declarations to evade duty fraudulently. These charges involved evading duty amounting to approximately $161,251. Ten other charges were considered during sentencing: four for fraudulent evasion of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and six for abetting the making of false declarations to evade GST. 

Related : Trump's tariffs rejected, the US may have to repay $175 billion

# Customs Act #State Courts # Singapore Customs #OCO applications #Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce #Concordway #Services Tax (GST) #l electronic OCO filing