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Shipping to Malaysia from Thailand: duty, VAT and what gets through
Air-courier parcels from Thailand with CIF value at or under MYR 500 usually clear Malaysia duty-free and without import sales tax under the de minimis facility. Above that, expect import duty by HS code plus sales tax, typically 5 to 10 percent.
What are the tax thresholds in Malaysia?
| Threshold | Rule |
|---|---|
| Import duty | MYR 500 CIF (air courier / postal) |
| VAT / GST de minimis | MYR 500 CIF (air courier de minimis) |
| VAT / GST rate | 5-10% sales tax on taxable imports |
| Typical duty band | 0% many ASEAN goods with CO; otherwise by HS |
Official references
Thresholds above are summarised for shippers. Confirm edge cases with the destination authority:
How long does delivery to Malaysia take?
| Carrier option | Indicative delivery band |
|---|---|
| Express courier | 2-4 days |
| Economy air (postal) | 6-12 days |
| Economy sea (consolidated) | 8-18 days |
What cannot be shipped to Malaysia?
- E-cigarettes and vaping liquids
- Controlled drugs
- Firearms and ammunition
- Counterfeit goods
- Certain religiously restricted media
The full per-destination list lives on our restricted items policy and is enforced at our warehouse intake.
Worked example: what a real parcel costs
1.5 kg parcel of Thai snacks and crafts, declared MYR 280 CIF
| Cost line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Item cost | MYR 220.00 |
| Express shipping (1.5 kg) | See calculator |
| Duty / import sales tax (under MYR 500 de minimis) | MYR 0.00 |
| Illustrative total | MYR 280.00 |
Express shipping is a live parcel-calculator rate in THB (0.5 kg, 10x10x10 cm). Duty, VAT and other lines use illustrative local-currency maths; total is a guide only until you confirm on the calculator.
Road and sea consignments do not get the MYR 500 air-courier de minimis. Online LVG sales tax rules can still apply when a registered seller collects at checkout.
What happens if it is held at customs?
Malaysian holds usually involve e-cigarette screening, incomplete invoices, or CIF above MYR 500 without a proper entry. Clean air-courier manifests with truthful declarations typically release in 1 to 3 days.
Full failure procedures and refund timelinesRelated operator pages
This page owns duty and VAT thresholds. Use the route page for freight bands, the express parcel calculator for package rates, and the FCL vs LCL volume tool for sea mode guidance.
Shipping to Malaysia: questions we get asked
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