Customs Declaration (exemptions/duties) - Are things changing?

[R Cameron]

I think you hit one of the points I've been seeking when starting this post. If you bring in brand new boxed items, and worse yet carrying it in the branded store bag, you're a prime target. However, bringing in some expensive items that are unboxed, repacked, being worn or carried, and are somewhat obvious for personal use - may not be targeted.

Also thanks for explaining all those different taxes, and their breakdown.

This is the key. I've come in with over 10,000USD worth of electronics before (cameras, computers, tablets, phones), most of it was already used for 6+ months, but even the brand new ones I made sure to open and leave behind the boxes and packaging.

 

[waarmstrong]

I noticed no difference when we returned with 12 pieces of luggage in July at CGK.

We do bring a lot of gifts back, mostly inexpensive gifts and the like. I also bring lots of food items, at least 30-40kg of stuff. Nothing really expensive, though. Usually under $500 for the family.

It's been many years since I was hassled by customs at CGK. I've had my bags marked with a chalk X a handful of times, to be checked, but have never paid any fees or such.

Same here, no problems at all over the years, and nothing for us has changed; our most recent return being this past summer. Our gifts are, like yours, of the food and clothing variety with a bit of cosmetics or an Iphone now and then. We seldom bring anything at the request of Indonesian friends in the USA and absolutely never anything in an unopened package or case.

 

[steveandpenny]

Yes, this is the same story going viral among the Indonesian crowd here. Here's the video about the Chanel handbag (recorded in Bahasa Indonesia):


The quick summary of the story from my limited Indonesian goes like this: The lady went to Singapore and bought a purse for 7090 SGD (roughly Rp70 juta). She was then taxed almost Rp28 juta - which according to my calculator is about 40%. From a screen grab on the video, it looks like they were taxed on the import duty, PPN VAT, and an income tax.

We watch that weekly show a couple of times ( its a reality show kind of like cops except at customs). My take away from it , is if you dress rich you will be checked out closer than others especaly if traveling from singapore. If you are blinged out and have expensive luggage guess what will happen.
I have also found out that scuba dive bags hardly ever get checked ( don't know if that works in Jakarta or not).
Now I'm not a smuggler or anything but alwas seem to have a bit more than I'm surprose to have. So I use my beat up dive bag, dress casual ie tourist minus the socks and a smile.

 

[Davita]

Wife's pal's son (on a course in UK) last week brought a pair of custom-made shoes back from UK declared at GBP300 (but I believe they cost more) and had to pay Rp2.5 juta to get them thru' Customs. I'm hearing similar recent stories from other sources... so I think dafluff's post #7 is a plausible explanation.

Jokowi's infrastructure projects have stalled. The Finance Minister cannot fund them because the amnesty program didn't bring the expected revenue. What better way to increase immediate revenue than from taxing expensive imports...always an easy choice....and doesn't sway the general public's vote.

 

[Anglian]

I came in customs once with 3 suitcases full of aircraft avionics, worth many thousands of dollars, when I arrived from Singapore I got a phone call from the handling agent he couldn't meet me, so I had to do it myself, I went to the anything to declare, What is it, Avionics, Oh just take it to the Green gate, at the Nothing to declare, What is it , Avionics. The customs at the other gate told me to come here, Ok off you go, I was astounded, nobody was interested, the airline were over the moon I had avoided customs duty on thousands of dollars of equipment

 

[john madden]

Too embarrassed to admit they didn't know the word?

 

[Davita]

Some news about the 'recent' rigid application of applying duty at Soekarno Hatta. I hesitate to say 'good news' as the implementation of rules/law in Indonesia are often ' the best laid schemes gang aft agley.'
from Jakarta Post....

"The government is advised to increase the ceiling for the import tax on goods purchased in other countries, currently US$250 for each individual and $1,000 for a family.
“It is time to revise the policy by considering the inflation rate, people’s income and people’s purchasing power,” said Center for Indonesia Taxation Analysis (CITA) executive director Yustinus Prastowo over the weekend as reported by tempo.co.
He referred to Finance Minister Regulation No. 188/2010 on imported goods.
He called for an increase in the import tax ceiling to $2,000 for individuals and $10,000 for families.
Although the regulation has been in place since 2010, it has been enforced only recently, causing people some surprise to discover they have to pay various taxes at airports for goods they purchased abroad.

The issue went viral on social media when two travelers had to pay Rp 5.4 million ($408) to customs officers at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport for a bag they purchased in Singapore. They had to pay a 15 percent excise tax, 10 percent added value tax and 10 percent income tax.
The Finance Ministry’s customs and excise director general, Heru Pambudi, denied that his office had failed to disseminate information about the regulation.
“We appeared on radio and television. We distributed information through social media and Android apps,” Heru said. "

 

[nd_eric_77]

This whole situation has an eerily similar feeling to when the Manpower Ministry started enforcing qualification requirements for foreign teachers. People who had gotten by for years suddenly found themselves facing intense scrutiny, resulting in an atmosphere of uncertainty bordering on paranoia.

 

[R Cameron]

Don't these laws exempt goods that you will be taking out of the country? In other words, foreigners have no problem coming in for a vacation with expensive items that they will be taking with them when they leave a few weeks later. Whereas Indonesians (and possibly KITAS/KITAP holders?) have no grounds to say the items they're bringing in will later be taken out. Is that right?

Bring in your new $5000 Gucci purse in original packaging and the tags still on it and anyone could get hit under section E, and Indonesian citizens/residents under F also. If you really bought it for personal use, take the tags off, leave the packaging behind, put your normal items inside, and they have no grounds to say you didn't have it when you left for your trip out to Singapore.

 

[dafluff]

Don't these laws exempt goods that you will be taking out of the country? In other words, foreigners have no problem coming in for a vacation with expensive items that they will be taking with them when they leave a few weeks later. Whereas Indonesians (and possibly KITAS/KITAP holders?) have no grounds to say the items they're bringing in will later be taken out. Is that right?

This is correct, tourists shouldn't get hassled for bringing items that are obviously leaving with them (gadgets, cameras, etc). Those goods are not being imported.

 

[Davita]

That is right and is a similar declaration to most countries. It's a voluntary declaration and up to Customs to dispute if not believed...even for citizens and Kitas/Kitap holders.
There are ways to prove...i.e. present the item outbound or pay a deposit and have it returned when the item is presented outbound.

A story...We immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong and imported all our belongings in a 40foot container. However, whilst our PR status was in process, the container arrived. It had many thousands of dollars of furniture and possessions including a dozen of my wife's Ferragamo shoes, still in boxes...

As we were still not PR I was asked for the declaration as the Customs wanted to charge duty.
I was gobsmacked and nervously asked how much?....he said "How about you deposit C$250 and get a refund when you get your PR."... and they actually did give me the refund some months later.
Gotta love Canada

 

[Daniel50]

A story...We immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong and imported all our belongings in a 40foot container. However, whilst our PR status was in process, the container arrived. It had many thousands of dollars of furniture and possessions including a dozen of my wife's Ferragamo shoes, still in boxes...

As we were still not PR I was asked for the declaration as the Customs wanted to charge duty.
I was gobsmacked and nervously asked how much?....he said "How about you deposit C$250 and get a refund when you get your PR."... and they actually did give me the refund some months later Gotta love Canada

Amen. Oh did I mention. The end.

 

[Davita]

Amen. Oh did I mention. The end.

hahaha...Please check all videos and memorize the words...there will be a test!

https://search.aol.com/aol/video?q=canadian+national+anthem&s_chn=prt_bon&v_t=comsearch

 

[William King]

My wife and friends have also heard the warnings that customs are cracking down.

 

[Jamu]

Given the supposed crackdown, I was surprised to breeze through Jakarta customs last week without the usual x-ray of my bags at the customs control point. Same thing happened on an international flight to Bali last month. Hit or miss I guess.

 

[steveandpenny]

A little off subject but a freind asked a question of me and I checked it out. This is in regards to bringing in cigars.
A few years ago you could bring in 50 cigars then it was changed to 25 cigars.
On Wonderful Indonesia website it said you could again bring in 50 cigars...it was copyrighted in 2016. So I inquired at the airport and they said the limit was 25 .
Anyone know which is right. Rules change slow up here lol

 

[Davita]

A little off subject but a freind asked a question of me and I checked it out. This is in regards to bringing in cigars.
A few years ago you could bring in 50 cigars then it was changed to 25 cigars.
On Wonderful Indonesia website it said you could again bring in 50 cigars...it was copyrighted in 2016. So I inquired at the airport and they said the limit was 25 .
Anyone know which is right. Rules change slow up here lol

Post #29 above, on the Indonesian Customs Declaration Form, item D states anything above 25 cigars must be declared ...and I presume can be taxed.

 

[Jamu]

Post #29 above, on the Indonesian Customs Declaration Form, item D states anything above 25 cigars must be declared ...and I presume can be taxed.

Yep, that's one box of cigars.

 

[Bad_azz]

I never really get what they mean by accompanied bags & unaccompanied bags... If I am there filling in the form surely I am accompanying the bags- so I always put 0
Then I start thinking do they mean bags in the cabin vs bags in the hold... just seems silly.

& I always put 0 for family members travelling with me lol.
I recall decades ago (i was 15) going into UK from Tunisia, my aunt was with us & had 1 extra bottle of booze- my dad had filled my bag with a few bottles of booze ( I didn't know) & I had already gone through.
She got stopped & told them she was travelling with my mum & dad- so they got stopped - I was sat ages in the car park waiting.
Dad was furious at her for grassing up that she was travelling with them but they all forgot to mention me
So I guess the "number of family members travelling with you" bit is just to facilitate grabbing others in the group if you happen to have a miscalculation on quantities.

 

[William King]

Accompanied means the bags are on the same flight as you.

Unaccompanied means you laid for extra bags to go on a different flight to you.