Bo
The GST applies to goods imported, whether used or not. and the $1000 valuation is based upon what Customs think it is worth, they will sometimes jump on the internet to find out what the
new value of an item is and then you are left trying to prove that it is actually second hand and thus worth less than $1000!
In Singapore, you can get a refund on GST for good purchased at a booth at the airport. When I did it it took about 15mins, but it is a small booth in each terminal. They are big terminals and the one we were in the booth was not easy to find, so allow time to do the transaction!
The info for Singapore is here
http://www.yoursingapore.com/content...ax-refund.html Having just read it it sounds like they have streamlined the process from when we were there in 2012!
Not sure what the VAT rules in the UK are.
Malcolm