Japan Import Tax & Duty Guide · Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore
Shipping Japanese goods to HK / TW / MY / SG — what duty applies? De-minimis thresholds, common rates, real examples and how proxy shoppers help you stay compliant.
TL;DR
- ✓ Hong Kong: most goods duty-free (alcohol / tobacco excepted)
- ✓ Taiwan: free under NT$2,000 CIF; 5–30% + 5% VAT above
- ✓ Malaysia: free under RM500; 5–25% duty + 10% SST above
- ✓ Singapore: free under SGD$400; 9% GST above
- ✓ Under-declaring is fraud — 5–10× fines plus blacklist
1. Hong Kong
No VAT or GST. Most goods enter duty-free. Exceptions:
- Alcoholic drinks > 30% ABV: 100% duty
- Tobacco: HK$2,008 per 1,000 sticks
- Petrol, cars, certain cosmetics
2. Taiwan
- Personal use CIF under NT$2,000: free
- NT$2,000–50,000: 5–30% duty + 5% VAT — apparel ~12%, cosmetics 5%, cameras 0%
- Over NT$50,000: full customs declaration (broker recommended)
- Same recipient > 6 parcels + NT$10,000 in 6 months → treated as commercial import
3. Malaysia
- De minimis: CIF under RM500
- Above: 5–25% import duty + 10% SST
- Apparel 0%, cameras 0%, watches 5%, perfume 5%, cosmetics 0%, alcohol 150%+
- SIRIM cert required for some electronics (routers, wireless)
4. Singapore
- CIF under SGD$400: free
- Above: 9% GST (no import duty except luxury goods)
- LVG GST since 2023: 9% applies to all values for low-value goods
5. Legal ways to minimise duty
- Split shipments: stay under the threshold per package (different days to avoid aggregation)
- Use sea freight: lower freight = lower CIF = lower duty
- Gift declaration: small low-value items can be declared as personal gifts in some markets
Don't do this: under-declare value — that's fraud. Customs in HK, TW and MY can fine 5–10× the duty and blacklist the recipient.
6. How proxy shoppers help
Professional Japan proxy shoppers will plan split shipments, mix sea / air / EMS, and quote you a total-cost-after-duty so there are no surprise customs bills. Browse experienced shoppers on the Michi directory.
FAQ
What about my own carry-on luggage allowance?+
HK: HK$5,000 personal use. Taiwan: NT$20,000 per entry. Malaysia: RM900. Singapore: SGD$500.
My recipient got a duty notice — what now?+
Verify the duty-to-CIF ratio against the rates above. Pay via the designated bank / app and collect. You can appeal if valuation seems excessive.
Will the shopper pay duty for me?+
Usually the recipient pays. Some Premium shoppers offer all-inclusive quotes (including duty) — convenient but typically 10–15% more expensive.