IPhone 16 Prohibited From Circulating, Customs And Excise Disbursed 5,448 Units Have Entered Indonesia

The Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) of the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) noted that 5,448 iPhone 16 units had entered Indonesia through passenger luggage and shipping goods until October 2024.

"If it reaches October, there are 5,448. This is included through passenger goods and also goods sent," said Head of Sub-Directorate for Imports of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise Chotibul Umam in Media Briefing, Friday, January 10.

Chotibul explained in the Regulation of the Minister of Trade Number 36 of 2023 concerning Import Policy and Regulation that passengers are allowed to carry goods such as cellphones, tablets, and computers with certain restrictions.

In addition, this is also regulated in PP No. 46/2021 and Permendag No. 8/2024, the provisions for passengers are allowed to carry a maximum of two devices from abroad for one year in free trade areas and free ports.

"So it was indeed a limit of 2 units per arrival for a period of 1 year in the Free Trade Area and Free Port (KPBPB)," he explained.

Meanwhile, in other areas such as Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Juanda, Ngurah Rai, to Kuala Namu, different provisions are applied, namely between personal goods (not for sale) and non-personal goods (for sale).

However, if it is known that the goods he brings from abroad, even if there are only one or two units to be resold, they will still be subject to import duties.

"If it is a personal item in accordance with Article 34 of the Minister of Trade 36 earlier, then a prohibition and restriction (laltas) is given as long as it is private," he said.

Chotibul said that passengers carrying their iPhone and wanting to activate their IMEI can complete their obligations by paying import duties and taxes.

In addition, Chotibul added that passengers have a limit on exemption from import duties and taxes of up to a value of 500 US dollars. He gave an example that if the price of the iPhone 16 is Rp. 20 million, it will reduce the value of exemption by 500 US dollars, then it will only be subject to import duties of 10 percent, VAT 11 percent (with a multiplication mechanism of 11/12), and PPh 10 percent if it has NPWP.

"So if the Iphone 16 costs Rp. 20 million, then after deducting 500 US dollars for the excess, the import duty is collected at 10 percent, the VAT is 12 percent with a multiplication of 11/12, so the payment is 11 percent, then for the income tax if you have the NPWP it becomes 10 percent if you don't have the NPWP, the tax imposed is 20 percent. As long as the NIK is matched as the NPWP, then the income tax remains at 10 percent," he said.

Director of Communication and Service Guidance DJBC Ministry of Finance Nirwala Dwi Heryanto emphasized that in principle, everyone who comes from abroad is allowed to bring two electronic devices, which include cellphones, tablets, and computers per year.

In addition, Nirwala said that every passenger's item must be registered first. If not paid, the device will not be able to activate its IME.

"Of course, if the passenger's belongings will register first. If they don't pay, and pay the entrance, the IME won't be opened. That may be the details," he said.