Container Shipment from Overseas to Indonesia as KITAS/KITAP Holder

[Bonaldi Kresnanto]

Greeting all, first of all, I apologize if this topic sounds redundant from previous posting (if any).

I am US Citizen currently live in Dubai, however, I have KITAS from spouse sponsor (about to renew/convert to KITAP).
I am planning to move to Indonesia at the end of the year as pre-retirement and after checking household goods, especially electronic and appliances, it seems like the price in Indonesia is way more expensive and now I am thinking of taking of all my personal and household goods to Indonesia by sea (20ft container cargo).

I just wondering as foreigner, will I be taxed when the package arrives even 99% of items are used?

Any advices will be greatly appreciated.

 

[centurion]

Greeting all, first of all, I apologize if this topic sounds redundant from previous posting (if any).

I am US Citizen currently live in Dubai, however, I have KITAS from spouse sponsor (about to renew/convert to KITAP).
I am planning to move to Indonesia at the end of the year as pre-retirement and after checking household goods, especially electronic and appliances, it seems like the price in Indonesia is way more expensive and now I am thinking of taking of all my personal and household goods to Indonesia by sea (20ft container cargo).

I just wondering as foreigner, will I be taxed when the package arrives even 99% of items are used?

Any advices will be greatly appreciated.

As I know, only foreign workers are allowed for a temporary import tax free. Update by recent experience from somebody who went through would be beneficial.

Second hand electronics would be a problem.

If you want to get your container enter with less formalities (was possible before, not sure now), the price was in tens of thousands of dollars.

Would be good if somebody had any recent experience in this (not posting links to movement companies).

 

[gemima]

I am no expert (I never imported anything when I moved here) but I thought that the tax free import of stuff linked to a KITAS is only valid for the first 6 month period (so when you first move here). Maybe its different for spouse sponsored KITAS - all the foreigners I know who have used it are working here.

 

[Samoerai]

The 'bea cukai' (import tax) is around 1,2 juta per m3. Maybe more nowadays.
Arrange that your shipment is on behalf of your WNI-spouse.

My advice is to go to the Indonesian Embassy in your country for a 'surat pindah', and while you are there, ask which company they use to ship the household goods of their staff. Maybe they can help you to ship your stuff with one of the employee's household goods, who is moving back.

Also pack your stuff in strong boxes, wrapped with plastic folie (so no insects can come inside).
Number all boxes and keep record of what is inside the boxes (e.g. in Excel).

 

[Shadrach]

The 'bea cukai' (import tax) is around 1,2 juta per m3. Maybe more nowadays.
Arrange that your shipment is on behalf of your WNI-spouse.

My advice is to go to the Indonesian Embassy in your country for a 'surat pindah', and while you are there, ask which company they use to ship the household goods of their staff. Maybe they can help you to ship your stuff with one of the employee's household goods, who is moving back.

Also pack your stuff in strong boxes, wrapped with plastic folie (so no insects can come inside).
Number all boxes and keep record of what is inside the boxes (e.g. in Excel).

To the best of my knowledge, all containers are heavily injected with toxic sprays to kill insects. But my experience is it doesn't work on termites. I sent statues back the States, and after awhile, I noticed powder building up at the base of one statue. I inspected it, and found tiny holes where the termites were living and ejecting the chewed up wood to make their home. I took an hypodermic needle filled with isopropyl alcohol and injected the alcohol into the holes. It killed the termites.

 

[centurion]

The 'bea cukai' (import tax) is around 1,2 juta per m3. Maybe more nowadays.
Arrange that your shipment is on behalf of your WNI-spouse.

My advice is to go to the Indonesian Embassy in your country for a 'surat pindah', and while you are there, ask which company they use to ship the household goods of their staff. Maybe they can help you to ship your stuff with one of the employee's household goods, who is moving back.

Also pack your stuff in strong boxes, wrapped with plastic folie (so no insects can come inside).
Number all boxes and keep record of what is inside the boxes (e.g. in Excel).

Indonesian spouse has to legally reside in foreign country to get "surat pindah".

 

[Wisnu]

Not foreigner, I did 3x as Indonesia returning citizens, recently was end of 2023, where the 40ft container arrived February 2024. Generally no issues; follow all regulation, no taxes and import duties to be paid. The required docs are:

1. Original Passport (MUST BE PROVIDED)
   Original boarding pass when arriving Indonesia + copy eticket (for the whole family)
2. Original Inventory List legalized by Indonesian Embassy/Consulate at origin country
3. Original Statement from Indonesian Embassy/Consulate that customer has been living abroad for working or studying for a minimum of one year, stating date of arrival, date of intended return to Indonesia and customer's intent to ship personal effects. Note: If shipper has 1 air and 1 sea shipment to Indonesia, they must obtain 2 statement letters form the Embassy for clearance process at airport and port.
4. Letter of Assignment and Reassignment by customer's employer or sponsoring company
5. School certificate or diploma for students
6. Authorization Letter from Shipper

I believe for WNA would be slightly different.

 

[Wisnu]

Second hand electronics would be a problem.

No problems for used or second hand electronics or other non-restricted items. New items will be subjected to import duty. I brought back lot of used electronic items, appliances and even road bikes.

 

[Wisnu]

The 'bea cukai' (import tax) is around 1,2 juta per m3. Maybe more nowadays.
Arrange that your shipment is on behalf of your WNI-spouse.

My advice is to go to the Indonesian Embassy in your country for a 'surat pindah', and while you are there, ask which company they use to ship the household goods of their staff. Maybe they can help you to ship your stuff with one of the employee's household goods, who is moving back.

Also pack your stuff in strong boxes, wrapped with plastic folie (so no insects can come inside).
Number all boxes and keep record of what is inside the boxes (e.g. in Excel).

No import duties and taxes has to be paid if you are eligible. There's charges incured at port of destinations, ie:
1. Local Port Charges for Sea Shipment
Local Port charges will always occur from the arrival date of the shipment until it’s customs cleared.
 For FCL shipment : US$2.00/Cbm/day min. USD550
 For LCL shipment : US$20.00/Cbm/day (min 4 Cbm)
2. Demurrage Charges:
 1 X 20FT Container
i. Free of charge for first 3 to 5 days
ii. 5 to 10 days - US$20/day
iii. 11 to 15 days - US$30/day
iv. 16 days & onwards - US$40/day
 1 X 40FT Container
i. Free of charge for first 3 to 5 days
ii. 5 to 10 days - US$30/day
iii. 11 to 15 days - US$40/day
iv. 16 days & onwards - US$55/day
3. Airport Storage Charges for Air Shipment
 1st day onwards - US$0.12/Kgs/day
NOTE: This Port Storage, Demurrage and Airport Storage charges are in approximate amount only as they are always based on the SS Line or Airline choice. Final charges can be higher or lower than this amount.
However, this is good indication and will hopefully assist.


Import taxes and duties are based on the HS and value of the items or estimated values if no invoices.

 

[mas_dam]

Spend the money for a reputable international moving company.
There is a reason they exist, things are complicated and subject to frequent change.
Everything needs a customized approach and end-to-end alignment, i.e. already identifying potential issues early on and finding the right solutions, avoiding problems, etc.
It's money well spent.

I just wondering as foreigner, will I be taxed when the package arrives even 99% of items are used?

All items are supposed to be used items only, non-commercial quantities, regular household goods, whatever customs find to be a typical removal.

To the best of my knowledge, all containers are heavily injected with toxic sprays to kill insects.

This is outdated practice. Only local players will still do this.
The containers should air out after the fumigation for 24hrs. Time is money. Nobody lets the container air out for 24hrs (truck/trailer parked, paying maybe origin detention charges to the shipping line etc.).
Any international quality moving company will not fumigate containers due to health hazards (absorbed to your cloths, bedding etc.). Even shipments to Australia/New Zealand with tightest biosecurity rules do not require fumigation. Countries like the Netherlands outright forbid fumigation due to health hazards for port workers. The cases where fumigation is really required are super rare.

I am no expert (I never imported anything when I moved here) but I thought that the tax free import of stuff linked to a KITAS is only valid for the first 6 month period (so when you first move here). Maybe its different for spouse sponsored KITAS - all the foreigners I know who have used it are working here.

3 months deadline for Expats.
6 months deadline for Diplomats.

The 'bea cukai' (import tax) is around 1,2 juta per m3.

It's per Gross Weight on the Bill of Lading and also depends on the total shipment size and origin country (certain factors are applied).

Original Passport (MUST BE PROVIDED)

Sea shipments to Jakarta don't need Original passport anymore. Softcopy all pages scanned is sufficient.

while you are there, ask which company they use to ship the household goods of their staff. Maybe they can help you to ship your stuff with one of the employee's household goods, who is moving back.

Groupage shipments are not possible to/from Indonesia. One shipment one identity.
To ship "together" you would need someone who is willing to take the full legal responsibility to ship your goods under their name. It's like carrying a suitcase on an international flight that you didn't pack yourself, from a total stranger.... this can get you to prison if drugs are found. Nobody will take this risk unless you have very close trust relationship.

Indonesian spouse has to legally reside in foreign country to get "surat pindah".

Legally reside and registered with the embassy (lapor diri).
Only able to duty-free import if formal employment or studies abroad min. 1 year. Housewife will pay duties, if able to import at all.

Local Port charges will always occur from the arrival date of the shipment until it’s customs cleared.
 For FCL shipment : US$2.00/Cbm/day min. USD550

FCL (Full container load) shipments will never have storage cost per CBM/m3. It doesn't matter for the port or shipping line what is inside the container. It's a charge per container type/day.

etc. etc.
Talk to a specialist

 

[Samoerai]

Spend the money for a reputable international moving company.
There is a reason they exist, things are complicated and subject to frequent change.
Everything needs a customized approach and end-to-end alignment, i.e. already identifying potential issues early on and finding the right solutions, avoiding problems, etc.
It's money well spent.


All items are supposed to be used items only, non-commercial quantities, regular household goods, whatever customs find to be a typical removal.


This is outdated practice. Only local players will still do this.
The containers should air out after the fumigation for 24hrs. Time is money. Nobody lets the container air out for 24hrs (truck/trailer parked, paying maybe origin detention charges to the shipping line etc.).
Any international quality moving company will not fumigate containers due to health hazards (absorbed to your cloths, bedding etc.). Even shipments to Australia/New Zealand with tightest biosecurity rules do not require fumigation. Countries like the Netherlands outright forbid fumigation due to health hazards for port workers. The cases where fumigation is really required are super rare.


3 months deadline for Expats.
6 months deadline for Diplomats.


It's per Gross Weight on the Bill of Lading and also depends on the total shipment size and origin country (certain factors are applied).


Sea shipments to Jakarta don't need Original passport anymore. Softcopy all pages scanned is sufficient.


Groupage shipments are not possible to/from Indonesia. One shipment one identity.
To ship "together" you would need someone who is willing to take the full legal responsibility to ship your goods under their name. It's like carrying a suitcase on an international flight that you didn't pack yourself, from a total stranger.... this can get you to prison if drugs are found. Nobody will take this risk unless you have very close trust relationship.


Legally reside and registered with the embassy (lapor diri).
Only able to duty-free import if formal employment or studies abroad min. 1 year. Housewife will pay duties, if able to import at all.


FCL (Full container load) shipments will never have storage cost per CBM/m3. It doesn't matter for the port or shipping line what is inside the container. It's a charge per container type/day.

etc. etc.
Talk to a specialist

Groupage shipment to Indonesia not possible?
Since when?

Move to green Indonesia with Transpack - Transpack

www.transpack.nl

 

[Wisnu]

Spend the money for a reputable international moving company.
There is a reason they exist, things are complicated and subject to frequent change.
Everything needs a customized approach and end-to-end alignment, i.e. already identifying potential issues early on and finding the right solutions, avoiding problems, etc.
It's money well spent.


Sea shipments to Jakarta don't need Original passport anymore. Softcopy all pages scanned is sufficient.


FCL (Full container load) shipments will never have storage cost per CBM/m3. It doesn't matter for the port or shipping line what is inside the container. It's a charge per container type/day.

etc. etc.
Talk to a specialist

Agree, our experience with Sirva relocation (2x) and TGG relocation (1x) was good.
Re. passport and port charges; provided by Allied Pickford - their partner in Indonesia. Make sense for FCL the charge apply per container, they didnt charge anything to me.
On the recent shipment February 2024, Allied Pickford sent their courier to collect my passport and to sign the authorization letter, but I cant recall if it's for air or sea freight or both.

 

[jstar]

All items are supposed to be used items only, non-commercial quantities, regular household goods, whatever customs find to be a typical removal.

That is all well known. But as all of us you avoid the ‘hot potato’ and don’t answer the question whether it’s only for WNA who will work here, as vaguely mentioned in the documents provided by the embassies/consulates.

I can not imagine that’s true btw, I‘ve seen enough cases of private citizens as retirees moving to Bali the last couple of years who took their belongings and did not have to pay taxes on their used items.

Groupage shipment to Indonesia not possible?
Since when?

True. We only use groupage. But the rules have recently changed somewhat.

 

[mas_dam]

Groupage shipment to Indonesia not possible?
Since when?

The link you shared does not show services to Indonesia:

 

[Samoerai]

The link you shared does not show services to Indonesia:
View attachment 4485

I think they have services to Indonesia ..

 

[Balifrog]

I think they have services to Indonesia ..

The shipping is not the difficult part. Prices are agreed in advance when you confirm your order.
The "unknown" part is customs...And if they withold your shipment you will be liable for demurrage and storage charges (on a per day basis)