This is meant for those who are buying games from overseas - eBay or direct from other vendors - your stuff might be blocked at our local customs pending clearance. You'll need to clear customs (basically paying tax!) in order to get your hands on your lovely games!

This is a simple instructions on how you can clear customs and have your games delivered to you (with thanks to Edwin for his help).

You have two options; either appoint Pos Malaysia as your clearing agent (additional charges apply) or go personally to Pos Malaysia's Mail & Courier Centre (near KLIA).

OPTION 1: APPOINT POS MALAYSIA

1. If you choose to appoint Pos Malaysia, I think the additional charges are RM49.50 over and on top of your custom duties. Refer to this link for more info http://www.geocities.com/fnf_klia/charges.htm.
2. Pos Malaysia can also arrange for a special delivery direct to your place but at a not-so-cheap price (refer this link http://www.geocities.com/fnf_klia/ExDelivery.htm)

OPTION 2: GO PERSONALLY
If you wish to go personally to clear customs, here's your Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Direction to Pos Malaysia Mail & Courier Centre
   1. Go towards KLIA
   2. When you reach the Sepang F1 Track exit, turn left to enter the road heading to Sepang F1
   3. Proceed following direction to "Kargo"
   4. Go all the way till you reach Sepang F1 (on your left)
   5. Continue driving past F1 and in about 10 minutes time you'll reach a roundabout
   6. Go round the roundabout and get out at the 3 o'clock exit (again, refer to Kargo signboard)
   7. You should see the Pos Malaysia building
   8. You'll need to pass security check - show them your Customs Notification letter and leave your driving license with the security guards in exchange for a security pass
   9. You'll then enter a large warehouse-like building (if you are not sure which one, ask the guard)
       
2. Clearing Customs and Paying Tax
   1. You'll first need to go to Counter 1, show them your Customs Notification Letter.
      1. Wait a short moment while they search for your barang
      2. When your barang has been found, they'll ask you for your security pass in exchange for your barang which would be on the conveyor belt. Aha.. this is to avoid you grabbing your barang and rushing out the warehouse. We did thought of that but then realized our security pass and hence my driving license is with them (sic)
          
   2. You then take your barang to Counter 2 where they'll ask you what it is blah blah blah.
      1. Basically they just want you to open the barang and show them
      2. Open your package, show them the box and tell them this is similar to Sahibah.
      3. If they still look blurred, then tell them it's "barang mainan" and emphasize the word "toys". Try not to mention the word "boardgame"
      4. The officer on duty would write down "barang mainan"
          
   3. Now you need to take your stuff to Counter 4 for it to be accessed (for tax)
      1. At this point, turn on your charm and friendly face, smile at all times... be nice.. the world is very good to all of us... smile
      2. Start small chat with the officer, compliment him if you can...
      3. If he asked whether you want to pay tax, reply "Oh course I want to. All responsible citizen should pay tax..."
      4. If he asked how should he classify this item, reply that this is a barang mainan similar to our wonderful Sahibah and you think it should be classified under "Toys"
      5. If he buys everything so far, he'll put the item under toys which gets a 15% tax
      6. A invoice will be printed which you bring to Counter 6 to make the payment
          
   4. Make payment at Counter 6
      1. After making payment (with the printed receipt), you proceed to Counter 1, showed them you'd the item cleared and the tax/duty paid.. they'll return your security pass to you
      2. You may now leave the building (and you can stop smiling if you wish to)
          
3. Tips & Notes
   1. If they classify your item under "Games", the tax is 20% so whatever you do, try to work the word "toys" many times into your conversation with the office.
      1. Convince him this is a toy.
      2. If you tell him it's a "boardgame", he may suddenly realize there's another category call "games" which has a higher tax rate!
   2. Sometimes the tax can be as high as 30%
   3. Your item will be taxed regardless of whether you got it for US$50 or FREE.
      1. Some vendors or eBay sellers, you can asked them to report a lower sales price say US$20 instead of US$50
      2. But if you wish to insure your item, your vendor/seller would have to report the full selling price otherwise they would not be compensated in full if the item is lost in shipment! Aargh.. dilemma
   4. Shipping charges are included in the tax! This is to avoid sellers reporting sale price as shipping charges (they are getting smarter!)
   5. And finally as my buddy Edwin commented - this is why so many ppl like to buy from us as we take care of freight, duties and delivery for our customer!

Note: If the procedures have changed, can someone please inform us to have this FAQ updated. Thank you.

 

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CK Au (jack208)
Boardgame Meetup photos at Flickr
Angkor Wat blog

Sounds like the time when I took my girlfriend to collect the stuff she shipped back from Australia. Of course when they opened the boxes to find something to tax, a toy bear fell out and they can't do naught cuz personal items are not taxable... :).

I don't know if it helps or if it's cheaper, but when I bought trading cards over ebay or from card game publishers, they always declare my stuff to customs as gifts. Can anyone else confirm on this?

ayheng wrote:

Sounds like the time when I took my girlfriend to collect the stuff she shipped back from Australia. Of course when they opened the boxes to find something to tax, a toy bear fell out and they can't do naught cuz personal items are not taxable... :). I don't know if it helps or if it's cheaper, but when I bought trading cards over ebay or from card game publishers, they always declare my stuff to customs as gifts. Can anyone else confirm on this?

Declaring as gifts help only to a certain extent ie. the customs officer not being able to tell the real value of the items. For eg, we bring in an expensive game (say RM350) and the Customs Clearance Form says "Gift" meaning no value but has a shipping of say US$30.

What happens next is that the Customs Officer will confirm whether the item is taxable or not. If it falls under a taxable category, then even if it's a gift, you'll still be taxed.

If it's taxable, the Customs Officer will have to ascertain the value of the item since it says Gift and therefore won't state any value. In this case, you can try to wriggle out of this (Edwin's tactics) by claiming this is like our local-made Sahibba. Basically try to hint to them the price of this is similar to Sahibba but maybe 30-50% more expensive. So if Sahibba is selling for RM59.90, we are talking about RM90 only...

You'll also be taxed on the shipping charges hence in this example you are likely to be taxed for the amount RM90 + US$30, in which case you saved compared to the real cost of the game at RM350.

Personal items are different. Personal items meant something we've been using overseas for a certain timeframe (I think it's more than 2 weeks in order to qualify) and the item must not be shrinkwrapped. Even better if it looks "used". In that case, yes you may not be taxed.

 

 

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CK Au (jack208)
Boardgame Meetup photos at Flickr
Angkor Wat blog

You don't get taxed for shipping, unless its lumped into the price of goods.
If you can try to get your shipper to declare your goods a toys. Its easier that way. If you game is declared as boardgames you gonna get 20% tax. Toys is taxed at 15%.

Normally they'll just charge accordingly to what is listed on the declaration form. Its up to you to 'plead' with the custom officer to use a different category such as toys to get a lower tax rate.

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Oh. And... that means Trading Card Games are either not taxed or the customs officer thought that the cards price is negligeble?

LoStBoYz wrote:

You don't get taxed for shipping, unless its lumped into the price of goods. .

Long, my experience is that if the shipping price is mentioned in the Customs form, not necessarily lumped together, you'll be taxed unless it is not mentioned. Did u not get tax for shipping for your AoS?

In common sense, we shouldn't be taxed on shipping but Edwin says they do not think common sense. :P

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CK Au (jack208)
Boardgame Meetup photos at Flickr
Angkor Wat blog

ayheng wrote:

Oh. And... that means Trading Card Games are either not taxed or the customs officer thought that the cards price is negligeble?

Usually yes.. unless you happen to have one officer who's children are Pokemon geeks!

"Ini collectible kan? Mahal lor...." (die!!)

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CK Au (jack208)
Boardgame Meetup photos at Flickr
Angkor Wat blog

<BLOCKQUOTE><table width="85%"><tr><td class="txt4"><img src="/community/Themes/default/images/icon-quote.gif">&nbsp;<strong>jack208 wrote:</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="quoteTable"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="100%" valign="top" class="txt4"><P>Did u not get tax for shipping for your AoS?</P>
</td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

No. Normally when you prepare a shipping invoice, you don't put in the shipping cost. ONLY the price of goods. If your suppliers puts into the cost of shipping into the shipping invoice, then he is pretty silly.

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What's with the "garbage" on my post above? Looks ok on preview but garbled when posted.

Oh, watch out for the guards posted in the main entrance, the ones that take your IC/driving license. They have the cheek to ask for "minum" money when you leave the complex. So beware.

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Hi boardgamers

I am curious on how much you folks, Malaysian boardgamers need to pay, say for importing your boardgame directly from an online vendor overseas, say for a typical US$25-35 boardgame?

I would appreciate if you can provide me with some details like the name of the game product, its base cost and the total cost of importing including tax and shipping delivery.

Is it better to buy through online vendor or through the local retail shops? Which one is better?

Please enlighten me. Thanks!!

Hi ymir, welcome to Boardgamecafe.net!

From your question, it seems you are not from Malaysia, am I right? Where are you from - the States?

Anyway here are some answers.

1. If you are shipping surface, that's probably US$20 from US to Malaysia. But if you wish to get the game faster (who wouldn't) you'll need to ship air and that usually cost more than the game itself!

2. Besides shipping, there's the custom tax you need to pay when the game arrives.

3. All added up (including your own time!) it's far better to get the games from local retail shops.

If you are looking to buy games, pls drop me an email.

 

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CK Au (jack208)
Boardgame Meetup photos at Flickr
Angkor Wat blog