Purchasing an iPhone Duo abroad can lead to unexpected expenses, especially regarding customs duties. YouTuber Indra iTechlife recently shared his experience of paying a customs fee of Rp 8,215,000 for a 512 GB iPhone Duo he bought in Malaysia.
Understanding the Cost of Importing
In a YouTube video titled "Pulang Wajib Bayar Pajak iPhone Duo 10 Juta?!", Indra detailed the process of bringing the foldable iPhone back to Indonesia, including the necessary steps for IMEI registration at customs. Before arriving in Indonesia, he estimated that the customs fees would range between Rp 8 million and Rp 9 million, based on the iPhone's price in Malaysia, which was approximately Rp 46 million to Rp 47 million.
IMEI Registration Process
Upon landing in Indonesia, Indra headed straight to the customs IMEI registration service. He noted that required documents include a passport, boarding pass, and the iPhone that needs to be registered. After completing the administrative process, he learned the exact fee he had to pay.
Total Expenses for the iPhone Duo
"The amount is Rp 8,215,000. The iPhone Duo in Malaysia is around 10,499 ringgit, which translates to about Rp 46-47 million. So, with the customs tax of Rp 8.2 million, my total expenses reached around Rp 54.2 million," he explained. This total is actually more expensive by around Rp 2.2 million compared to the official price of the iPhone Duo 512 GB in Indonesia, which is about Rp 52 million.
Cost Comparison and Official Purchase Benefits
Considering all these expenses, purchasing the iPhone Duo through official channels in Indonesia could prove to be more economical. Moreover, buying through iBox comes with additional benefits such as 0% installment plans and discounts on AppleCare+ and original Apple cases.
Indra also learned from customs officials that fees for higher storage capacity iPhones could reach even higher amounts. For instance, the customs fee for the 1 TB variant could be around Rp 10 million, while the 2 TB version might incur fees nearing Rp 14 million. However, these figures are based on personal estimates and not official customs rates.
It’s worth noting that IMEI registration at customs is technically free; the paid amount is for import duties and taxes on devices brought from abroad. Passengers can enjoy a duty-free allowance for personal items valued up to USD 500. Items exceeding this limit may incur applicable fees.
IMEI registration is essential for using foreign iPhones on Indonesian telecom networks. Without proper registration, there's a risk that the device won't work with local SIM cards. As Indra succinctly put it, "If you don't want to pay taxes, just buy the official one in Indonesia. That's it."
Source: https://inet.detik.com/consumer/d-8723984/bawa-iphone-duo-ke-indonesia-pajak-bea-cukai-tembus-rp-8-juta
