Get started on your first trip with ease: Top 5 Malaysia travel shopping tax refund tips

▲ Shopping in Malaysia can be refunded, but there are important details to know. (Photo / Provided by Tourism Malaysia)

Reporter Chen Ziying / Comprehensive report

The Malaysian government recently announced that starting April 1, 2015, foreign travelers shopping in Malaysia can apply for a 6% GST refund. But how exactly do you claim a refund on your first trip to Malaysia, and what should you pay attention to? Here are five essential tips to help you master the process of getting your first tax refund while shopping in Malaysia.

1. City Shopping and GST Refunds
When shopping in the city, it’s especially important to note that only purchases made at GST-registered stores are eligible for refunds. Registered stores will display a GST refund logo at their entrance, which lets you know if the goods sold there qualify for a refund. You can also directly ask the shop staff whether their products are eligible for a refund. However,remember, after making a purchase, you must obtain the original tax-inclusive invoice or receipt from the store, as well as the GST refund form, in order to successfully apply for a refund.

2. GST Refund Eligibility and Procedures
Only non-Malaysian citizens and non-permanent residents of Malaysia are eligible to apply for a GST refund. Items eligible for a refund include: clothing, cameras, watches, and laptops; items not eligible for a refund include: beverages, food, chocolate, and perfumes that have been wholly or partially used.

3. Refunds Available at Airport Departure
Travelers can apply for a refund within three months of purchasing the goods, before boarding a flight at a Malaysian-approved airport, provided they bring along the tax-inclusive invoice or receipt (with a minimum spending amount of MYR 300 or more) and the completed GST refund form.

4. Refund Processing Fees
When processing a refund at the airport, 15% of the total refund amount will be charged as a processing fee. The GST refund can be issued in cash (if the amount does not exceed MYR 300), refunded to your credit card account, or issued via a bank cheque.

5. No GST Refund for Airport Shopping
Duty-free goods purchased at the airport are not subject to GST, so travelers can shop more conveniently without worrying about refunds. (For example, shops on the islands of Langkawi, Tioman, or Labuan are all duty-free stores, meaning all goods there are exempt from additional GST payments.)

Below is the city shopping and airport refund process flowchart(Provided by Tourism Malaysia)