are there custom duties on cameras?

[jenn]

hello,

this was probably on the old forum but i just found the site (hope am not the jinx :oops: ). My question -- if i ordered new/used camera stuff from B & H, will kastam malaysia run after me?

thanks

jen

[freelancer]

Yes, but sometimes the Kastam will let go if it is not big items. Depends on the officer who looks at the stuff coming through

[bimmer]

But why?
I thought all photographic equipment are tax free in Msia?

[freelancer]

Bags are definitely taxable. It depends on how the item gets classified under the harmonised custom codes. Basically if it comes with the camera that's fine but if it comes on its own it may end up classified under another custom code and hence taxable :-)

[engku]

Brian send me a camera from Taiwan and put it as a GIFT, so that it won't be taxed. It arrived in good condition at my office.

[khoking]

if you buy from reputable store (B&H), they will not put it as gift.

Still, I believe photography equipment are duty free (camera, lenses...etc.), just that sometimes the custom people try to get under table $$$ from you...so they will try all ways to troublesome you... :?

Do we have a custom officer here? :P

[atwl77]

just that sometimes the custom people try to get under table $$$ from you...so they will try all ways to troublesome you... :?

Yes that happens depending on your luck and the officer's mood... sometimes even items marked as gifts can get taxable - it depends a lot on the method of sending:
- express or priority shipment is deemed important and stands a higher chance of being stopped
- items declared with high cost (over USD250, I think) are also in the same boat

The best way to get stuff like this from overseas is to have a friend buy it and ship it to you, but before that he should open the box and put some personal marking on it (like your name or something). This is to ensure that the item looks like a personal item rather than a brand new just-bought-off-the-shelf item.


:)atwl

[PhotoNut]

Not all photography equipment are tax-exempt. The harmonised trariff codes have peculiar ways of classifying goods. Camera bags for instance, may not be classified under a tax free code.

Importers and the Customs are always at odds when it comes to classification and some funny stories do come out of it. A few years ago, there were two virtually identical PDAs that were imported, one OEMed and another under the original manufacturer's brand. Because of marketing, one company put in a tagline that refers to the PDA as some sort of personal computing assistant while the other didn't. They were classified under different trariff codes - one got taxed while the other didn't eventhough both were the same thing!!!

[jenn]

Yes that happens depending on your luck and the officer's mood... sometimes even items marked as gifts can get taxable - it depends a lot on the method of sending:
- express or priority shipment is deemed important and stands a higher chance of being stopped
- items declared with high cost (over USD250, I think) are also in the same boat

atwl


hiya. So used 300 EDIF nikon could be taxed? :( How much % is usual?

jenn

[atwl77]

Can be as high as 30% for some items... not sure about photo gear. Then again, depends on the classification and as usual, this depends on the mood or some funny reasoning from the officers :shock: :evil:


:)atwl

[nabghani]

Ordered these between 1998-2001 while in Malaysia:

- 2001 : Nikon & Leica R bodies from www.keh.com ... no tax.
- 1998-99: Nikon lenses (105/1.8, 135DC, 180EDIF, 200EDIF, 300EDIF) from Cathay Photo Spore separate orders ... no tax on all of them.
- 2000: Arca Swiss B-1, Schneider loupe, DW light table from Cathay Photo Spore ... no tax. Had to explain to custom guy that B-1 was actually a photo accessory that attaches to the bottom of the camera. :lol:
- Nikon DB18 from from Cathay Photo ... no tax. Had to explain to DHL representative at point of entry that it's only a case for batteries ... not batteries. Item description was "Battery pack" which confuses the custom guy. Took a week to resolve but ended up tax free too. :lol:

DHL/Fedex fellas are your friend ... they know the rules. As far as I know, photo cameras + accessories are "duty free" in Malaysia and you shouldn't be taxed but from other posts it seems that this is pure luck ... perhaps you should consider "mandi bunga" or similar elaborate luck enhancing acts!

[timothyc]

I once sent a 23kg package, which is basically a computer and some accessories (w/o the monitor & keyboard) to UK. Arrived at my friend's doorstep untouched. Sent via DHL express, valued at almost RM8k. BTW, UK's VAT is 17.5% on everything (including gifts if I'm not wrong)

My guess is that customs don't have the time to look through each and every package that comes through, especially when it arrives in bulk through courier services. If its not your day and customs impose a duty on it, explaining to them like what nabghani did would definately help. :)

[bimmer]

Computer equipment are tax free too. I ordered a chip from USA, local customs "insisted" it was taxable and so i had to "pay".

Oh yeah, i remember about the PDA issue. Palm made headlines then.

[PhotoNut]

Whether the goods get taxed or not depends a great deal on the description you put on the customs declaration. Certain phrases in the declarations will act as magnets to Customs officers to classify it under a taxable tariff code. :evil:

[red406]

i stumbled across this website, http://www.sovietcamera.com.ua/products/lenses/nikon.shtml

quite tempted to order some of the lens especially the Peleng and the mirror lens...anyone tried ordering from them before? experience? comments?