davita
A Value Added Tax (VAT), currently 10%, is applied to all goods purchased in Indonesia. According to the link this will, in future, be re-funded to tourists if totalling more than US$440.Indonesia does manufacture many cheap products such as clothing, furniture and art/craft which is popular in the rest of the world. This latest law will make them even cheaper.link: [url]http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2...es-online.html[/url]
Markit
Does anyone have a clue what the time restrictions on this might be? What I mean: If I buy a shed load of stuff (to get to 440) and take it out of the country, claim my vat back, stay in where ever for say 2 months. Can I bring the stuff, now used, back into the country? Without having to fork out the refunded vat?
davita
Markit...As the Kalihan of Karangasem Banjar I doubt you can be considered a tourist......and thus be eligible for this benefit of the refund.
Markit
You mean I should be duty free anyway?
SHoggard
In the UK (Sing & elsewhere) the refund scheme applies:-1. To 'selected' & 'approved' retailers - I'm guessing Ubud market stalls wouldn't qualify, BatikKris would2. Retailers (or maybe the government) fix a minimum spend per outlet - in the UK it's about 1003. UK used to refund to a bank a/c (which is bloody stupid, cos if you're a tourist you don't have one) or credit card.... in Bkk they pony-up the cash on the nail at the window at the airport... a very good reason to go to Bkk on the next visa run if you need a new laptop or camera.
Markit
A bit off theme here but Shog any chance of some details on the visa run to Bkk?
SHoggard
Sorry, Markit, no experience of htat: living in Sg & never needed to do that.But (back on topic): I went to Bkk last year; bought a Mac Powerbook & Mac Mini (the tiny square one, no monitor or keyboard) form an authorised dealer in Puttenam Plaza.Given that most global companies fix more or less the same price across borders (I checked the Apple Store prices in Sg/Uk/Bkk) I managed a saving of about 17% - which given that the total Sg price was more than $5k - paid for the AirAsia Sg-Bkk ticket!Not much haggling on price (fixed by Apple), got some free extra ram thoughMain savings were on the Sg-Bht exchange rate and the cash refund (in Baht so you can use at duty free or save for the next trip)The counter is air-side, after immigration, just show [I]'official VAT refund'[/I] receipt from the store, air ticket, passport & make a gesture towards showing the product (hence the 'Mini')... et voila the refund is forthcoming. Arrive with plenty of time for the flight - there will be a queue like an execution'' (as my old red clydeside granny used to say)Oh... don't forget to bin the packaging, you wouldn't want uncomfortable questions from customs on arrival ;)
