For many Malaysians, driving down to Johor Bahru for a late-night drive or supper is a familiar weekend routine. But for one Singaporean content creator, a routine trip took an unexpected turn when customs officers flagged a second-hand portable speaker in his car.
Taking to TikTok, Norvin Ong, known online as @qmaonunyong, shared his late-night experience at the Singapore-Johor border, warning other drivers about the unexpected tax issues they could face when bringing items across.
Stopped at midnight over a used 2024 speaker
According to Norvin, the incident happened at around 11.40pm while he was driving to Johor Bahru. As he passed through customs, enforcement officers stopped his vehicle and inspected his car boot.
During the check, officers flagged a small, rechargeable portable speaker that he had bought in 2024 for personal use at his office and was bringing home.
“They asked me if this speaker had a receipt. I told them I bought it in 2024, so the receipt was probably gone. Then they checked Google for the price, and I even went to search my plastic bags just to check.
“Miraculously, I actually found an old receipt from 2024 showing it cost RM587.50 (S$185)!”
Despite the speaker being second-hand, customs officers converted its value into Malaysian Ringgit and imposed a 10% tax, requiring Norvin to pay RM59 on the spot.
The situation became even more frustrating when Norvin chose to pay by Visa, as he was told the payment could only be processed after midnight.
“Then he asked me, ‘Would you like to pay by cash or Visa?’ I told him I didn’t have cash because I usually use Touch ‘n Go, so I opted to pay by Visa.
“He then told me that I had to wait until midnight for the Visa payment to be processed. It was already around 11.45pm, and I was being held up there just to wait until midnight. I don’t understand why the payment had to wait until then to go through,” he shared.
Another traveller claims she was taxed RM200 for a lucky draw prize
Norvin also shared that another traveller nearby was hit with an even higher tax bill over an item she had won in a lucky draw.
“My friend beside me was taxed RM200. Her item was a purifier she won from a company D&D (dinner and dance) lucky draw, and she got taxed RM200 for it!” he said.
Following the encounters, Norvin advised fellow motorists travelling to Johor Bahru to check their car boots before heading across the border.
He suggested removing unnecessary items, especially electronics and lucky draw prizes, to avoid potential complications during customs inspections.
How to avoid customs tax hassles: What the guidelines say
To avoid unexpected customs charges when travelling across borders, travellers can refer to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department’s (RMCD) Traveller’s Guide for information on declaration requirements and duty-free exemptions.
Under Malaysian customs regulations, taxable goods must be declared upon arrival where required. However, certain used personal effects may qualify for exemptions, subject to the conditions outlined in the Customs Duties (Exemption) Order 2017. Travellers carrying valuable personal belongings may also wish to keep receipts, dated photographs or other proof of ownership in case customs officers ask about the items.
Before travelling, check the latest RMCD guidelines to understand the applicable exemptions and declaration requirements, especially when carrying electronics or other valuable belongings across the border.
Have you ever encountered unexpected checks or tax assessments at the customs checkpoints? Let us know your experiences in the comments below!
