Nett and ++?
 

I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't know what it means. I see this all the time and never bother to ask anyone to explain it to me.

++ - stated price not including GST (VAT) and Service Charge (1st plus is for GST, 2nd for Service Charge). It's so commonplace, that even places without Service Charge use "++" even if it's only GST.

GST is 8%, Service Charge 10%, nett price is the price with both GST and Service Charge included.

Other than copying Americans, I could never fathom why they chose to display gross prices with "++" symbol - except the obvious, the price looks "lower" if you don't add "++" amounts to it.

I don't get the point of ++ then since most of Asia doesn't copy the American model where the taxes are added at the point of purchase. Basically, nett is whatever the number is then that's what I'll pay?

Correct. If it's ++, add 18%, and that's what you'll pay. If it's not, then the price quoted is nett. Except in restaurants/bars, where they might have small print in the bottom of the menus saying that stated prices do not include prevailing tax and service charge.

I don't get why they have to make it this confusing.

At least, unlike the US, the tax rate and service charge is the same throughout the country... 🤦🏻‍♂️

Easy. For most restaurants in a shopping centre, add a value x 1.188 and you'll get the exact amount you'd pay. That final figure would be the nett price.

This is for 2023.

In 2024 this will become 1.199

Maybe my math is really bad, but where did you get the extra 8 from? Shouldn't it be 1.18?

Slightly OT, but I thought Singapore was supposed to be a low-tax country? I was surprised to learn the GST went up 1% this year!

1.1 x 1.08 = 1.188

The 10% and 8% are not cumulative and are in fact independent of each other.

Last year was still at 7%. This year went up to 8% and next year will be 9%.

🫣😊