Is it safe to purchase watch from Overseas seller? and is it subject to Tax?

[SeaDwellerR]

i bought a watch from the USA. the seller shipped with Fedex and labelled it as "Stainless Steel Ladies Chronometer" with a value of USD75.

Our ever illiterate "Kastam" here charged me RM95.97 under "Kod Tarif 7326.90.900" which by Google told me it was some stainless steel spacer/plate...

 

anyway, the amount was too small to argue with Fedex or to demand a refund from Kastam. Fedex won't release the parcel without paying what the brokerage dept. had already paid Kastam.

ah well...

See. Thats an example where you got to pay tax for a watch. Was the watch undervalued by any chance bro? Usd75?

[besview]

To avoid theft, i always use terms like "professional timing device" or "time keeping mechanism".... Personally, i would avoid using "watch" as it will raise the awareness of thieves.
And regarding taxes, always have you watches insured and declared to the actual amount as watches are tax free in Malaysia.

One fine day you will be summoned to LCCT like I had,.You think those flers can comprehend those terms?Since then I almost always request my sellers to describe as "broken watch for repair/parts" and have never looked back since.Smooth sailing all the way and I buy up to 5 watches a month fron mainly the US

Thanks for the advice Besview bro. "broken watch for repair/parts" thats very helpful. People and custom would not want a broken watch. But are we effectively telling lies when the watch isn't broken?

Knowing the land we live in,its better to be safe than sorry as we are only protecting our own interests.So out the window goes regimented and truthful descriptions.Would you want to tell it like it is when your Rolex watch is sitting pretty in the box waiting to be "discovered"?

[dpkong]

i bought a watch from the USA. the seller shipped with Fedex and labelled it as "Stainless Steel Ladies Chronometer" with a value of USD75.

Our ever illiterate "Kastam" here charged me RM95.97 under "Kod Tarif 7326.90.900" which by Google told me it was some stainless steel spacer/plate...

 

anyway, the amount was too small to argue with Fedex or to demand a refund from Kastam. Fedex won't release the parcel without paying what the brokerage dept. had already paid Kastam.

ah well...

See. Thats an example where you got to pay tax for a watch. Was the watch undervalued by any chance bro? Usd75?

Quite obvious the watch was undervalued. For less than RM100 in taxes, do you think I was going to open the box in front of them and show them a USD1x,xxx watch was inside the box? Do you think the seller/sender was going to put it on the Fedex label that the item inside was worth USD1x,xxx for everyone who handles the package??

I'd rather them not know what was inside than to open it up and possibly get my future packages thoroughly checked on arrival.

I'm very sure watches are tax-free to import. It was not taxed as a watch.

[Enkidu]

Thanks for the advice Besview bro. "broken watch for repair/parts" thats very helpful. People and custom would not want a broken watch. But are we effectively telling lies when the watch isn't broken?

Lies?? What lies?? That run runs +2sec/day. It must be broken.

[SeaDwellerR]

Thanks for the advice Besview bro. "broken watch for repair/parts" thats very helpful. People and custom would not want a broken watch. But are we effectively telling lies when the watch isn't broken?

Lies?? What lies?? That run runs +2sec/day. It must be broken.

Haha.. endiku bro knows your stuff. Good point. Lol.

[SeaDwellerR]

Quite obvious the watch was undervalued. For less than RM100 in taxes, do you think I was going to open the box in front of them and show them a USD1x,xxx watch was inside the box? Do you think the seller/sender was going to put it on the Fedex label that the item inside was worth USD1x,xxx for everyone who handles the package??

I'd rather them not know what was inside than to open it up and possibly get my future packages thoroughly checked on arrival.

I'm very sure watches are tax-free to import. It was not taxed as a watch.

Couldn't agree more with you bro, obviously we don't want people know the actual $$$$price of the watch. But how do you go about to insure the watch if you declare an undervalued watch?  Please help me with this, thanks!!!

[Enkidu]

Couldn't agree more with you bro, obviously we don't want people know the actual $$$$price of the watch. But how do you go about to insure the watch if you declare an undervalued watch?  Please help me with this, thanks!!!

Hi, SeaDweller,

I am sure there are plenty of members in this forum who would be prepared to share their personal experiences with you, but their answers / inputs / comments may just land them in trouble with the tax authorities. The suspicious ones may also suspect you are actually a Pegawai Penguatkuasa Kastam masquerading as a watch lover to nab a few of us to fill your Q3 arrest quota (government now needs money mah......). 

[dpkong]

well.. watches being tax-free, there is no fear of being caught... for other items, well.. heheh...

actually, the answer is common knowledge on many forums. most sellers who regularly ship high priced items do so with Fedex but insure separately with ParcelPro. i don't know what the fees are though and i also do not know how the customs declaration affect the insured value either.

come to think of it, maybe the seller shipped my watch and insured it for only USD75 ??   

[Enkidu]

well.. watches being tax-free, there is no fear of being caught... for other items, well.. heheh...

Watches are tax free, but kastam declaration must still be properly done. My point is....better to discuss these "sensitive" matters at GTGs, where all participants will have to leave all their mobile phones at least 20 metres away from the table and will be body-searched before the GTG. We do live in uncertain times. 

[Kevlarr]

Just to add my experience with buying watches from US sellers. Most US sellers I dealt with do not put "watch" in the descriptions because of 2 reasons: 1. To reduce the possibility of people stealing the package. 2. If they send the package using USPS (eg international / global priority mail), I think USPS does not insure watches when sent overseas (similar to our Poslaju who does not cover watches or phones). So these sellers  tend to use works like "Timing instrument" in the description to get the package insured.

[SeaDwellerR]

Just to add my experience with buying watches from US sellers. Most US sellers I dealt with do not put "watch" in the descriptions because of 2 reasons: 1. To reduce the possibility of people stealing the package. 2. If they send the package using USPS (eg international / global priority mail), I think USPS does not insure watches when sent overseas (similar to our Poslaju who does not cover watches or phones). So these sellers  tend to use works like "Timing instrument" in the description to get the package insured.

Thanks for sharing bro! 

[timenut]

Today I learnt the hard way that watch boxes (and watch winders) attract a 20% tax. On top of that, there is another 10% sales tax. 

And here's the kicker.. the tax is charged not only on the item cost but on C+I+F (i.e. Cost of item + Insurance Cost + Freight Charges). 

I guess this is the last time I will be shipping in watch boxes.

The custom officer did give me a tip though.. if the watch box came with a watch, then there is no tax.

[besview]

Today I learnt the hard way that watch boxes (and watch winders) attract a 20% tax. On top of that, there is another 10% sales tax. 

And here's the kicker.. the tax is charged not only on the item cost but on C+I+F (i.e. Cost of item + Insurance Cost + Freight Charges). 

I guess this is the last time I will be shipping in watch boxes.

The custom officer did give me a tip though.. if the watch box came with a watch, then there is no tax.

Whoa...din know that.I had a couple of watch winders shipped in from the US but guess I was lucky to have escaped duties

[timenut]

Mine was shipped in a huge box. I guess they couldn't just let it go based on the size alone. 

[SeaDwellerR]

Today I learnt the hard way that watch boxes (and watch winders) attract a 20% tax. On top of that, there is another 10% sales tax. 

And here's the kicker.. the tax is charged not only on the item cost but on C+I+F (i.e. Cost of item + Insurance Cost + Freight Charges). 

I guess this is the last time I will be shipping in watch boxes.

The custom officer did give me a tip though.. if the watch box came with a watch, then there is no tax.

Wow. Unlucky man!


Anyway, hope you enjoy your very expensive BOX!