I'm trying to send an external hard drive and set of cd's to my fiancee, and I'm worried about the taxes levied by (I'm assuming) the Indonesian government. I sent her an mp3 player last year for her birthday, and the taxes ended up being $50.

I've always used FedEx as the carrier, and they require you to fill out a form with the approximate value of the item. However, when I had Kanti ask at the local FedEx carrier, they said that the tax charged isn't based on the value, but the type of product. For example, I was planning on sending her an old laptop, which is worth maybe $200 on the market, yet they wanted to charge $200 in tax.

Does anyone know if this is correct, and, if so, what the cheapest way to send her presents will be?

Thanks,

Sean

I ran into this with China, I sent my fiance a digital camera, and she was taxed 20%, so we decided to stay with low cost items, Candy, shirts, consumable items, less for her to pack when she travels back to the states this spring.

Send her the money and let her buy the items. Alternatively, hand carry the items on your next visit.

Electronics are really inexpensive in Indonesia, if you know where to buy.

Send the money. It cost a lot less than sending the goods. Unless you are sending something that is not available in Indonesia

Yes sending money is a great idea, Use a service like iKobo, or Western Union to send the money.

I've already got a bank account set up for her there, so sending money isn't the issue. Unfortunately, this is something that I'm going to have to buy here, because I've got to do the configuration on it before hand. Out of curiosity, does anyone know what they tax? Is it based on the declared value, or something else?

btw, William33, do you have any suggestions on where to look for electronics in Jakarta?

thanks,

Sean

Sean,

One place would be Ratu Plaza, accross from Carrefour on Sudirman. However, you can get really good deals in Glodok, which is in Chinatown. You may want to get your Fiance to negotiate the prices without you there, unless your Bahasa is really good. Otherwise you might get the "harga bule" (foreigner price), which is a heck of alot more.

I'll pass the info on to her. I just got her set up with broadband at home, so I'm looking for some cheap webcams. But, I also need to work some mojo on her system, which will necessitate parts being sent from here. It's not the availability of the parts over there, it's just the expertise required to get everything tweaked the right way.

My Bahasa is poor, and I know what you mean about the harga bule. I normally do okay with haggling though, I'll dance around the pricing for awhile, set a ridiculously low price, and then walk away. Works more than half the time Right now though, I'm state-side, so she'll be bargaining anyway.

Thanks for the advice, I'll definitely pass it on.

Sean

Other option is send the stuff using USPS. More risky, but almost no charge to the receiver. Hubby sent me webcam using USPS when I was still back in Jakarta, it arrived safely in 10 days and I only had to pay around Rp 4,000 (40 cents USD).

Sending package using FedEx, UPS, DHL will always cost the receiver a fee. I think they called it "importation" fee, the amount depends on what type of things that you send. Cost me around $4 when hubby sent stuffed animals (3 of them), I believe more valuable things will cost more.

I've sent MANY package over 6+ years to my now wife in Jakarta.. the 'fees' imposed are not logical at all, seemingly just complete corruption... the post office will say that their was 'postage due'..

Most of the packages i've sent had between $10 and $200 in value in them.. but usually the likes of clothing that without new labels on them, very hard to assign a value so i considered the value of 'rummage sale' for all items when putting on a customs form.. also.. 'vague is your friend!' trust me.

USPS express mail is by far the best value starting at $25 or so and i sent 9# once for like #70.. gets there in about 3-4 days typically and never once a lost package.. regular mail on the other hand.. might as well just leave it on the curb!

Oh.. BTW... married 2 dec.. marriage certificate in-hand 22 dec .. I-130 delivered to embassy 26 dec (a very long weekend).. i left indo 26 dec.. she had her appointment and visa approved 4 jan. .visa in-hand in passport 9 jan.. her plane leaves for the states 24 january... DCF.. it's your best friend.

-awr

Interesting, I once Fed Exed a huge(8kg) box with a down coat, chocolates, CDs, and other little things to my fiance in Nepal, was advised to describe it as 'clothing' with a value of $30 (apparently anything over that is subject to duty even if a gift), and he didn't have to pay anything, and this is in one of the most corrupt countries in the world... It cost me $145 to send that puppy...

He has since gotten a GPO box and last Friday I sent him a packet slightly under 2kg(4 lbs) for $30 with the letter of intent and biographical form by Global Express Mail. Hopefully he will get it tomorrow... The guy at the post office didn't think K would have to pay anything, but we'll see.