What Is "Tax-Inclusive Clearance"? The Most Common Way to Ship Taiwan to Malaysia (and How It Differs from DDP)

Almost everyone shipping from Taiwan to Malaysia for the first time gets stuck on one word: customs. Do I need to declare? Will it be taxed? Does the recipient have to collect it from customs in person? Choose tax-inclusive clearance (also called "double clearance, tax paid") and you rarely have to think about any of it, because clearance at both ends and the import taxes are handled by the consolidator and the recipient pays nothing on delivery.

In this guide

• What is tax-inclusive clearance, in one sentence?
• How does the tax-inclusive process actually work?
• What does the price include?
• Which items suit tax-inclusive clearance?
• How does tax-inclusive clearance differ from DDP?
• When should you use formal declaration instead?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Summary: for everyday shipping to Malaysia, tax-inclusive clearance is the easiest route

What is tax-inclusive clearance, in one sentence?

Tax-inclusive clearance is a service from the consolidator covering export clearance in Taiwan, import clearance in Malaysia and the import taxes, with the tax already inside the freight rate so the recipient pays nothing on delivery.

Tax-inclusive clearance = export clearance in Taiwan + import clearance in Malaysia + import taxes, all handled by the consolidator, with tax already in the freight, so the recipient pays nothing on delivery.

"Double" means both ends are cleared: an export declaration when the parcel leaves Taiwan, and import clearance when it enters Malaysia. "Tax paid" means Malaysia's import taxes (SST and import duty) are already included in the freight and will not be charged again on delivery.

For you, the experience is simply this: ship from Taiwan, wait, and it is delivered to the door in Malaysia, with no customs runs and no extra tax.

Taken apart, "double clearance" and "tax paid" are two separate things, and it takes both to make the service complete. Without the clearance the parcel stalls at the border; without the tax being included the recipient still has to pay on delivery. Some quotes cover freight only and notify the recipient of tax at the door, and that is not tax-inclusive clearance. Checking exactly what a quote covers before you book is the most practical way to avoid a dispute.

How does the tax-inclusive process actually work?

The process has four stages: consolidation intake, packing and export, import clearance in Malaysia, and last-mile delivery. Your part is sending the goods to the warehouse and entering the recipient details correctly; the consolidator takes it from there.

For a GoodvShare Taiwan to Malaysia shipment, a tax-inclusive parcel goes through these stages:

1. Consolidation intake: send your goods to the Taiwan warehouse (the air warehouse is in Dayuan, Taoyuan; the sea warehouse is in Xitun, Taichung), then create a label in the system and enter the Malaysian recipient details.
2. Pack and export: the warehouse consolidates your parcels and ships them after Taiwan export clearance, by air or by sea.
3. Malaysia import clearance: once the goods arrive, the consolidator handles import clearance collectively and pays SST and import duty.
4. Last-mile delivery: after clearance the parcel goes straight to the recipient's address, and the recipient pays no further tax and does not have to visit customs.

For a walkthrough of each step, see the shipping process guide or read the complete GoodvShare consolidation tutorial.

Within that process there are really only two things you have to get right: describe the contents honestly and make sure the box contains nothing that cannot be shipped. Do those two and the remaining three stages need almost nothing from you.

What does the price include?

Tax-inclusive clearance is quoted on an all-in basis: international freight, Taiwan export declaration, Malaysia import clearance, the import taxes and last-mile delivery in West Malaysia are all inside the freight rate, with a remote surcharge applying to East Malaysia.

The biggest advantage is transparent, all-in pricing. The freight you see when you place an order already includes:

Note: East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) carries a remote-area surcharge because of its location. High-value goods, luxury items, or anything needing a formal tax certificate fall under formal declaration and are arranged separately.

For how actual and volumetric weight are calculated and which works out cheaper, see the Taiwan to Malaysia freight calculation guide, or run a quick estimate with the homepage cost calculator. For background on the tax applied at the Malaysian import stage, see Malaysia SST and import tax explained.

Which items suit tax-inclusive clearance?

Tax-inclusive clearance runs on consolidated bulk clearance, so it suits everyday, personal-use and small-value goods. The test is simple: properly packed and free of batteries, and most things can go.

Because it runs on a consolidated bulk-clearance model, it suits everyday, personal-use, small-value goods. The principle is straightforward:

As long as it is properly packed and contains no batteries, almost anything can ship.

Commonly shipped items include:

• Cosmetics, skincare and perfume (liquids have quantity rules)
• Health supplements and general food (must meet Malaysian import rules)
• Clothing, shoes, bags and accessories
• General electronics accessories and household goods
• Toys, stationery and gifts

The main restriction is batteries: lithium batteries, power banks and items containing batteries, and loose spare batteries in particular are prohibited by air, all of which fall under dangerous goods. For the full list of what can and cannot ship, see the complete prohibited items list.

One practical test helps here: ask whether this box would make a customs officer want a second look. Liquids, food, items containing batteries and obviously commercial quantities all belong in the confirm-first category, while ordinary clothing and household goods are far simpler. For anything uncertain, asking support before you ship costs less than sorting it out afterwards.

How does tax-inclusive clearance differ from DDP?

Tax-inclusive clearance is a clearance service provided by a consolidator, while DDP is a delivery term in the international trade rules, so the two sit at different levels. Treating them as the same thing is what leads people to assume consolidated clearance equals formal import declaration.

This is the point people confuse most, and the one where they are most often misled. Plenty of articles write "tax-inclusive clearance" as "DDP", but the two are concepts at different levels:

Put simply: DDP is a contract term about who bears which costs, while tax-inclusive clearance is a service that settles both-end clearance and the taxes for you. For everyday consolidation, "tax-inclusive clearance" is the precise description. If you are a company importing formally and you need a tax certificate for your accounts, use formal declaration instead of tax-inclusive clearance.

We deliberately avoid calling it "DDP" so that nobody assumes consolidated clearance is the same as formal import declaration. The two differ in legal standing and in purpose.

When should you use formal declaration instead?

Use formal declaration rather than tax-inclusive clearance when you need a tax certificate for your accounts, when you are importing formally under a company name, or when you are shipping high-value or luxury goods. Neither route is better than the other; they simply fit different situations.

Three typical situations:

• A company needs a tax certificate for its accounts: tax-inclusive clearance runs on consolidated bulk clearance and generally provides no formal import tax certificate, so a certificate means importing formally in your own name.
• High-value goods and luxury items: these fall under formal declaration and are arranged separately.
• Obviously commercial quantities: bulk imports intended for sale in Malaysia have to pay duty through the formal route to be compliant.

If you are unsure which route applies, contact support with the details of the goods and their intended use before deciding. For a full comparison of the two, see formal declaration versus tax-inclusive clearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the recipient really pay nothing at all on delivery?

Yes. For a tax-inclusive shipment that is not going to a remote part of East Malaysia and is not a high-value item requiring formal declaration, the tax is already in the freight and nothing further is charged to the recipient at the door. East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) carries a remote-area surcharge because of its location, and that appears when you place the order rather than being added on delivery.

Is tax-inclusive clearance tax evasion, or legally risky?

No. A consolidator with clearance capability clears the goods legally in Malaysia and pays SST and import duty on your behalf, so no tax is being avoided. The only difference is that it uses consolidated bulk clearance rather than a formal import declaration in the consignee's name, which is why no personal tax certificate is issued.

What if I need a tax certificate for my accounts?

Choose formal declaration in that case. Formal declaration imports the goods in your own name and provides tax documents, which suits company imports and high-value or luxury goods. It is arranged separately, so contact support directly.

Does Malaysia charge GST or SST?

Malaysia abolished GST in 2018 and adopted SST (Sales and Service Tax). Tax-inclusive clearance already includes the relevant taxes at the import stage, and the tariff lines and rates that actually apply follow whatever the Malaysian authorities currently prescribe.

Are both air and sea freight tax-inclusive?

Both are. Air freight to West Malaysia takes about 5 days and sea freight about 30 days, and both run as tax-inclusive clearance. To choose between them, see the air freight route and the sea freight route.

Can I ship anything at all under tax-inclusive clearance?

No. What can be shipped is still governed by the prohibited and restricted item rules, and the main restriction is batteries: lithium batteries, power banks and items containing batteries, with loose spare batteries prohibited by air in particular, all fall under dangerous goods. Categories such as food and cosmetics also have to meet Malaysian import rules, so confirming shippability before you send is the safest approach.

Summary: for everyday shipping to Malaysia, tax-inclusive clearance is the easiest route

If you are an individual or a small seller shipping goods from Taiwan to Malaysia and you would rather not deal with customs and tax paperwork, tax-inclusive clearance is almost always the first choice: transparent pricing, tax included, nothing due on delivery, and as long as the goods are properly packed and contain no batteries, most of them arrive without incident.

If you need a formal import declaration, a tax certificate, or you are shipping high-value goods, use formal declaration instead. The whole guide condenses into three sentences. First, tax-inclusive clearance means clearance at both ends plus tax already included, with nothing due on delivery. Second, it is a consolidator's clearance service rather than the DDP term in the trade rules, and it does not provide a personal tax certificate. Third, ordinary goods that are properly packed and free of batteries suit it best, while anything needing a certificate or of high value should go by formal declaration.

Ready to go? Create a label and start shipping, or read the complete Taiwan to Malaysia shipping guide for the full picture. For clearance details, see the complete Malaysia customs clearance guide.