OMG that scary lah... i just about to order a handphone oversea....
So the sirim thing sure kena one ah ??

I am a frequent importer from US due to my online business.

I always have problem with duty tax.
Same amount, same item.
One month ago - NO tax. Straight Lepas custom.
2weeks ago - Taxable RM300
1week ago - Taxable RM580
Then recently - NO tax.

It is realy difficult for me as a business person to calculate the costing of my products.

Some ppl tell me to use the same slip (which not taxable one) to tell escape from tax.

Some tell me that they will say : Bagus, this is cukai tidak dipunggut. Can tax me on my current and my previous one.

I importing mostly playing cards, DVDs, and magic prop.

Worth around 500usd - 700usd per shipment.

Anybody know how?

Isaac

Somebody did that and it costs them a bomb. Don't do that.

SIRIM ... So you get your permit for 20X + 30 Ringgit ?! Or is it a one time payment and you have to pay again the next payment.

Besides, how many phones are you importing ? XD

Hmm.. I wanna ask a question here..
How would you know whether the customs are holding up your item?
Will they contact you or send you a letter or something like that?

Sure kena lah = = !!!
If u no SIRIM letter to give the kastam then u cannot take ur hp


One time payment for SIRIM ~ Need to pay 10% import tax for kastam
I import one only lah ....... import more i think will more expensive


They will send u a letter ~

Damn it lah...... like that i cant buy japan moble phone le...
thanks for the info bro....

i thought i would like this share this page...
http://www.kastamjh.gov.my/kastamjh/pelancong2_eng.php

http://www.kastamjh.gov.my/kastamjh/pelancong3_eng.php

what i usually do try to escape from taxes.. u always ask ur seller to fake an invoice.. but if u do purchase insurance.. and ur bulk purchase do go missing.. u will be insured on the amount u writen.. i always try to ask my seller to fake an invoice less than RM500 and write them as gift... that.. u'll be more likely to escape from taxes...

anyway.. have anyone know where to find a lists of goods import that will be tax.. or won't be tax? so at least.. we can use that as black and white.. and argue with the custom ppl.. because.. buying stuff overseas.. is always depending on luck.. whether they want to tax u or not.. they suka suka open and see what u bought.. suka suka destroy ur original packaging as well..

This post has been edited by secretsummer: Feb 8 2008, 06:05 PM

Anyone imported goods in bulk before? Was thinking of importing min. 21 tons in a 20-foot container worth of Himalayan rock salt lamps from a manufacturer overseas to trade here. Anyone knows how much is the tax for such items?

21 tons... why dont you find the importing agent.... they can it handle for you..

how does the custom check what's the item inside the package? x-ray? it's not like they'll rip off everything to see it directly right? so, let's say I send a porn magazine or something, they will only know it's a book, and not more than that is it?

Porn or anything related is not advisable la. If you are lucky then good for you. But if not, the item will be confiscated. Worse, they will fine you with this saman and that saman.... then embarrassed summore... then they will stamp 'sex pervert' on your forehead.

When importing goods from overseas, are there such a thing as Port Charges?

i want to ask, if i import computer stuff such as motherboard, vga, ram .. do i need to tax... please advise..

Some say computer parts are tax free. But there are some cases where importing computer parts are taxable. Something about fan... need you to search other threads as well...

But 1 thing can make sure... limit your value to below rm500, some say below rm500 is tax-free. Even kalau kena tax pun, easier for you. kena pandai-pandai kow-tim sama itu officer... (talk soft-soft ma).

Future experience, pls share with us. Can pm me cause I'm also in the middle of importing some computer parts from US. Small-small only, personal use.

I know someone here imported phones from Japan but what if I ask the seller to declare it as a gift and below RM500 (USD conversion use Kastam one). Will they open the gift? Suka suka can open?

(Buying iPhone from Germany shhh)

Declaring an item below its market value somewhat is risky. Do you think the Kastam ppl is stupid? They have their own guidelines they can refer to. If they found out, you could be fine.

My own experience (true story 1): Once I bought a used Nokia hp from ebay originatd from Singapore. The market value is around rm400 (mid end model though it is used item). I guess when the seller post it from Sg it flew straight to Ipoh, not KL. Cause I guess there's a direct flight from Sg to Ipoh. It stuck at Kastam Ipoh and they send me a letter to claim the item. My place to Ipoh is quite far and I'm sure I would spend a whole day tending to the matter, so instead I call them. Note: the item was clearly declared as a used hp with value at rm400. When I call them, they admit they hadn't open the parcel, but they know its a hp because of the declare form. They told me the item is taxable and I need to attain a Sirim certification (obtainable only in Putrajaya). I beg them (via call) to consider because its a used item. At that time I don't know the procedure and just decide to give the item up. At last, after a lengthy negotiation (I can't remember how much I spend on phone bills), they decide to let me go but after they advise me to do it via proper channel in the future. 1 week later I receive my parcel with the packaging still intact. They ask me why do I need to import it when you can obtain similar item in Malaysia? I just told them that it was a used item and it was a gift from a friend.

(true story 2): Once again my itchy fingers won a bid, this time from ebay UK. A new phone (Mot A1000), so cheap you can buy 4 phone of the same model with malaysian market price. Seller post it via Royal Mail straight to KL (my address is Perak). 3 weeks later I receive my package with no stamping whatsoever from kastam, even though the package was clearly declare as a hp with its original UK value. No tax...

So, my conclusion is... it depends to who (or where) your item arrive. I guess kastam KL had so many packages coming in and they were busy, just let go individual parcel without checking them. It all depends on your luck. But seriously, for hp, you need to obtain a Sirim certificaton to import them and it is taxable.

I also live in Ipoh. And from your story I guess I am out of luck. Guess I will have to pay that SIRIM piece of plastic stick for RM 200+.

Yes your second story is similar to mine. PRICE IS SO DAMN LOW that you can buy 2 phones here in M'sia. Hearing from your experience there is only several possible solutions.

1. Use your solution in Story 1.
2. Declare market value of iPhone..god its almost RM2000+ ! + Pay SIRIM
3. Pray to god that Story 2 will repeat itself.

To play safe, if you want to import handphones from oversea, just make sure their price is so much lower than similar item in Malaysia market. Plus RM200+ (sirim) + 10% tax (need someone familiar to verify the percentage).

If your item not stuck in Kastam, then you are lucky. If not, they will tax you according to above + time and money to go to Putrajaya (only) for Sirim. Sigh!

But sometime phones from european country such as UK, their price is so much lower... I admit, so tempting LOL. Cause they got this principle: Subscribe to their network and get free handphone?

Is the SIRIM permit one payment for all future import or one per item?

I always ship my USA imported products to Singapore which is a tax-free country, unless your freight + value of your items exceeded SIN$ 400, then you have to pay 7% GST.

This post has been edited by sgdrugstore: Mar 24 2008, 11:53 AM