Hi Guys,

I was thinking of buying 1 or 2 units of unlocked 8gb iphones from the US and get it shipped to KL but I'm curious about whether our "beloved" customs would impose any tax on them? Can anyone tell me if there'll be any tax? IF so, how much? Would choosing a premium courrier service helps in bypassing custom tax?

if u can check it first through your friend then it's good. Only got the risk on the delivery. Dunno the exact cost of the tax, but it will be rather high. Just standby the approximate of 1.7k (includes the phone price itself). Plus if u don't declare first the tax before shipment, u need to go to KLIA to proceed for the tax. Yup one thing to remember, the tax is quite high. U can read such encounter with taxing around trade zone resource forum.

wah...tat's so risky...how if the item lost??
who's reponsibility??

Even if you do wrap your precious in used underwears, the X-Ray machines doesn't care about its state of hygiene. Once they see it, they will ask YOU to remove your used underwears around the iPhone.  Those X-Ray machines are there for a reason.

The best advice is by tr|n|ty here. Act casual, don't be nervous. Guilty people always make the first move, so maintain your cool. When I was bringing back those headphones from Osaka, I had to go through the normal lane for us staffs to go through. Bear in mind, they do not give any leeway for you even if you're staff. But I remained cool, even make small talk/chat with the officer, just like how always do when I meet them. Treat them like how yo'd do others, and they'd wave you off.

Of course, if your push trolley is so obviously bulging with stuff, and you are coming back from places where they've earmarked as being tax-prone,  then all those tips I posted above means abosolutely nothing. When it comes to this, either take advantage of the rush  of passanger hustling out of the baggage area, and hope the guy next to you gets selected for inspection and not you.

I have not been on the domestic arrival areas, they may flag you down and do manual search only.

Things are a little bit complicated for international arrivals. Those X-Ray machines are there to do the heavy work. If you're not flagged as most likely carrying dutiable items, then they'll just wave you through.

Also, your destination you're arriving from also determined how heavy the screening would be. Flights from destination in which passangers have historically been detained and found carrying dutiable items in large numbers, are screened heavier than those say, arriving from Siem Reap or Ho Chi Minh City. After all, you can only smuggle so much from those areas.

Demeanor and how you carry yourself also important. I suppose you do carry yourself well, and with confidence, that they don't feel compelled to search you more thoroughly. These customs guys, they are trained to smell fear.

Where from, if I may ask?

Just that I dont want to give others false hope, or the impression that the customs are easily trickable. They are not.

i read most of the pages. most are phones ship from uk or us. any idea about phone shipping in from aus? the same tax and sirim applies?

i thought sending as gift we dont have to pay tax?

i read most of the pages. most are phones ship from uk or us. any idea about phone shipping in from aus? the same tax and sirim applies?

i thought sending as gift we dont have to pay tax?

hi..i just bought iphone 3gs from ebay last week...sadly, i dont know we need to pay tax+AP from sirim..it is my fault because i dont make a deep research before i bid at ebay...now i'm tracking my phone at USPS.

so i want to ask whether i can go to sirim directly first before i go to Custom? What documents that i need to apply the AP? I believe my phone will stuck at Custom...but now i live at KK sabah..hope i can settle all the process in my place here and get my phone.

and one more thing, the total cost that i need to get the iphone is more than the Maxis iphone!

Thanks for reply 
Because faulty iphone is cheaper, and i can fix it by myself. I would like to ask seller to declare as" faulty MP3 player", dunno it will escape from customs

Tat means handphone will never escape from tax/SIRIM, no matter it is faulty unit or how description declared?

I have experience tat i purchased more than 5 units of earphones from oversea before, and it arrived my house smoothly without any tax.

i believe electronic products are taxable (first point)

and all electrical/electronic products have to be SIRIM approved; will cost you about RM300 if my memory serves right (second point)

not declaring it, will be futile as packages are scanned upon arrival and is dependent on your luck (third point)

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Added on August 24, 2009, 11:03 pm*disclaimer: your experience may differ from another user.

can anyone tell me how much is US selling Iphone now?? i saw the price in apple online store website is USD199 wo.. need to add anything more??

clause 2

# (2) Requires new two-year AT&T wireless service contract, sold separately to qualified customers; credit check required; must be 18 or older

then how much is it if you buy without all the contract thing??