Import Duty for foreign travellers

Layby2k

I have heard that customs officials at Bali airport are charging people import duty for their personal electronic devices. I have been living in Bangkok for six months and have bought a few things such as a 42" lcd tv, dvd, laptop and gaming console. I am going to Bali for 2 months on a 60 Social Visa to visit some friends there before returning to Australia. I would like to take these items with me as they are not too heavy and will fit in with my checked baggage limits. laptop would be carry on of course. Is it true these customs officials will try to charge me excess duty on second hand, open and personal belongs over $250? Seems quite outrageous considering I will take them out again. Any help and advice would be welcome.

Vin

The limit of US$ 250- is only for Indonesian Nationals and residents, and does not include tourists.

ronb

Yes, but the TV (and maybe the DVD player) is not an item tourists usually carry around, so they may think you are bringing it for a local and if so, they would then think import duty.

BKT

I brought an old DVD recorder and XBox into Bali a few months go and it was fine, I didn't realize it had to be declared until the guy at the gates noticed it in my bag. He just looked at me, smiled and said it was ok before letting me go through. This new import duty rule has actually been around for along time, they just never seem to enforce it.

Jimbo

I can hardly see carrying around a 40 lcd TV as easy :icon_razz:

Layby2k

Cool, thanks for the comments. Given I don't really have a choice, I guess I'll just have to lug the tv box though and see what happens.

Vin

Layby2k wroteCool, thanks for the comments. Given I don't really have a choice, I guess I'll just have to lug the tv box though and see what happens.

Have them endorse the TV on yr passport....and have the same deleted when you are exiting Bali with the same TV. This way you can prove to the customs that you have no intentions to sell it.

Layby2k

Vin wroteHave them endorse the TV on yr passport....and have the same deleted when you are exiting Bali with the same TV. This way you can prove to the customs that you have no intentions to sell it.

Oh Ok cool, How would I go about doing that?

Vin

only if the customs man stops you...you could suggest the endorsement idea. Otherwise just walk out of the customs hall. The fact is that the TV is for your personal use...and you will take it with you when you leave Bali. It worked for me a few times...and hopefully it will work for you too

Layby2k

Vin wroteonly if the customs man stops you...you could suggest the endorsement idea. Otherwise just walk out of the customs hall. The fact is that the TV is for your personal use...and you will take it with you when you leave Bali. It worked for me a few times...and hopefully it will work for you too

sounds good, I will give it a go. So should I still declare having stuff over $250 if I try this method? Thanks for you advice

Vin

Layby2k wrotesounds good, I will give it a go. So should I still declare having stuff over $250 if I try this method? Thanks for you advice

Yes, you should. As said before $250- limit is only for Indonesians and Residents and not for TOURISTS

matsaleh

Yes, you should. As said before $250- limit is only for Indonesians and Residents and not for TOURISTS

Vin, this may or may not be correct. There was a discussion recently on the forum about an article on Balidiscovery.com. https://balipod.com/forum/threads/article-new-proposed-import-duty-on-personal-belongings.5247/

Fred2

My father has just arrived from Australia, I asked him to bring some equipment with him that I needed. I told him when coming through customs if they ask it is second hand value 250us. The suitcase were excess 45kgs & the airline did not charge him for excess baggage, as he went through customs they scanned he's bags & no problems. Now the stories I have been told by Indonesian people is a lot different, they get charged. So if you are old & white you will have no problems:icon_mrgreen:

Vin

Vin, this may or may not be correct. There was a discussion recently on the forum about an article on Balidiscovery.com. https://balipod.com/forum/threads/article-new-proposed-import-duty-on-personal-belongings.5247/

This import duty regulation is not new...its been there for years. The authorities finally woke up and decided to do something about people who had made a business of bringing in stuff from overseas and then reselling it for profit. I travel to Indonesia every month, and have carried equipment and some big ticket items (including a 46 inch LED TV) for friends and family. I have always declared them to the customs on arrival...and have till date never paid a cent in import duty. I guess the custom guys have trained eye to locate the good and the bad.

Layby2k

Vin wroteThis import duty regulation is not new...its been there for years. The authorities finally woke up and decided to do something about people who had made a business of bringing in stuff from overseas and then reselling it for profit. I travel to Indonesia every month, and have carried equipment and some big ticket items (including a 46 inch LED TV) for friends and family. I have always declared them to the customs on arrival...and have till date never paid a cent in import duty. I guess the custom guys have trained eye to locate the good and the bad.

Thanks Vin, So the fact that my visa is a 60 day social visa, does your situation apply to me aswell?

Vin

Layby2k wroteThanks Vin, So the fact that my visa is a 60 day social visa, does your situation apply to me aswell?

I prefer a Visa on arrival, as my visits are for a max of 3 to 5 days. In any case...you are still a TOURIST...with a VOA or a 60 days social visa.

Ilovetravel

to be frank, I really hate the import duty policy>< I asked my sister who is working in HK to bring me an iphone next week when she is going to visit Xi'an on holidays. but she saied that it is impossible....

Layby2k

Thought I'd give an update on how this turned out. I thought I would do the right thing and declare the Television with a value of $500. The customs official said I must leave it at the airport or pay AU$120 for duty and then I could take it. I tried to explain that I wanted to use it whilst visiting my friends here and I will take it to Australia when I leave in 2 months. He wouldn't budge or register it in my passport unless I coughed up the dough. I don't trust them at all so I decided not to leave it there. So I gave him 4000 baht (~$120) and he let me go. He also tried to make me pay duty on a $30 vacuum cleaner and my $200 xbox console to which I said, I will not pay you duty for something less than $250 as per the declaration card and I would rather break it and throw it in the bin than pay him any more money. To my surprise he accepted what I said and let me go... The 4000 Baht ended up going straight into the dirty bastards pocket with no receipt or paperwork of any description.

ronb

Thanks for the update. Your story illustrates quite well how the arriving traveller is not in a strong position to bargain effectively - and they know it. So I think the advice to others is avoid bringing electrical items (except as part of household effects in a relocation) if you can.

Fred2

The 4000 Baht ended up going straight into the dirty bastards pocket with no receipt or paperwork of any description. You can now see why they do this, NO RECEIPT NO MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!! This is why all customs & police officer wants to work in Bali, had you entered Indonesia at any other port you would not have problems.