Woman charged nearly 70,000 baht tax for her own handbag at Bangkok airport

[webfact]

Picture Snook

 

A Thai woman went on Facebook furious that she was charged nearly 70,000 baht in customs duty for her designer handbag that she was using herself.

 

She posted a picture of the item along with a customs receipt for 68,929 baht.

 

She moaned about what Sanook called a "cruel tax" saying why didn't the authorities go after people with fake items.

 

Why were they targeting individuals using real bags to carry their personal things. She had had the problem at Suvarnabhumi airport.

 

Comments on the post indicated that many people had fallen foul of the rules.

 

These were contained in the Sanook report and a related article that contained confirmation from Thai customs that they were legitimately charging people.

 

Picture: Sanook

 

Bags of the value of 20,000 baht up can be taxed even if they are being used to carry personal items and are not intended for sale.

 

Especially if they look new.

 

Goods under 20,000 baht can be taxed as well if it is decided they are being sold commercially.

 

Different rates for bags (20%) watches (5%), cosmetics (30%) and belts (30%) exist along with a further 7% VAT. 

 

Sanook explained how this is calculated reporting that many are being caught out by the rules at the nation's airports. 

 

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[tonray]

So wait....the actual value of the bag is almost 350,000 baht and she had no qualms about paying 70K baht to bring it in ? As crazy as it seems....even crazier to own a 350,000 baht bag

[keith101]

If she is carrying it and using for personal items then it is no longer a new bag and should not be charged as such , if it was in a suitcase and unused then fair game .

[worgeordie]

She bought the handbag overseas , and expected to bring 

an expensive handbag in, even if she was using it, and expected

to pay no tax , sorry but your not HiSo enough to do that.

regards worgeordie

[cocoonclub]

6 minutes ago, keith101 said:

If she is carrying it and using for personal items then it is no longer a new bag and should not be charged as such , if it was in a suitcase and unused then fair game .

That’s nonsense. It doesn’t matter how “new” it is. I could buy 20 Rolex and put them around my wrist 30 days later to say they’re not “new” anymore.

It’s really not that difficult: If you import something you may have to pay import duties, whatever way of shipping you use. 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

7 minutes ago, tonray said:

So wait....the actual value of the bag is almost 350,000 baht

That might be the retail price. The value is probably more like 10% of that price. After all, someone has to pay for all that expensive marketing and the huge markup for the luxury shops in the luxury malls.

 

[asiam110]

Ive had people bring me expensive items from abroad, like a laptop before, always instruct them throw away the box, instruction manual, peal off the protective plastic the thais so dearly love, put a car sticker on the lid, wipe your greasy hands on the screen.., never been questioned.

 

Maybe she left the price tag on?  ????

[Pravda]

Hilarious. Next - taxing digital nomad ipads and laptops.

[ourdon]

8 minutes ago, tonray said:

So wait....the actual value of the bag is almost 350,000 baht and she had no qualms about paying 70K baht to bring it in ? As crazy as it seems....even crazier to own a 350,000 baht bag

From the price I'd say Shopping on the Champs-Elysees'.  

Why is this newsworthy??  Just another smuggler caught bringing in luxury goods illegally.  Every country on this planet has some law regulating the flow of goods across its borders.. 

Canadians are allowed to bring back about $800.00 duty free after 72 hours outside of the country. Anything above is taxed.

[david555]

16 minutes ago, tonray said:

So wait....the actual value of the bag is almost 350,000 baht and she had no qualms about paying 70K baht to bring it in ? As crazy as it seems....even crazier to own a 350,000 baht bag

Might be meant for sale after all .....just some lesser profit .....comes to my mind ????

[RafPinto]

Surprised that it was not a foreigner.

 

Thais won't like to read that story.

They look to do their shopping in NY, London etc and imagine a low paid customs agent, questioning a HI-SO

[RafPinto]

Do you know who I am?

This bag costs more than you earn in 1 year, she probably told the customs guy.

[robblok]

Isnt this normal to pay tax on items even if for personal use bought outside Thailand ? I mean if it was bought inside Thailand it would not be taxed. Even in Europe if you come in with something really expensive from abroad you can get taxed. 

 

https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/de-Germany-customs-currency-airport-tax-regulations-details.htm

 

4. other goods (for air travelers) up to a total value of EUR 430.- (per adult) or EUR 175.- (per passenger aged under 15 years).

[david555]

25 minutes ago, robblok said:

Isnt this normal to pay tax on items even if for personal use bought outside Thailand ? I mean if it was bought inside Thailand it would not be taxed. Even in Europe if you come in with something really expensive from abroad you can get taxed. 

 

https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/de-Germany-customs-currency-airport-tax-regulations-details.htm

 

4. other goods (for air travelers) up to a total value of EUR 430.- (per adult) or EUR 175.- (per passenger aged under 15 years).

That would already reached for a smartphone alone , not even taken in consideration a travelling laptop .????

Such old  travelers money value rules do not fit anymore present times . Are in high need to adapted to  present times , as governments themselves  require some apps to be used by citizens !

 

Who travel whiteout smartphone or laptop lately ?

[khunPer]

If you are travelling abroad with such an expensive new handbag, it would be worth keeping the receipt to show in customs that all taxes had been paid when the bag was bought, before it was brought a trip out of the Kingdom...

Oops, perhaps the bag was bought abroad...

[RafPinto]

8 minutes ago, khunPer said:

If you are travelling abroad with such an expensive new handbag, it would be worth keeping the receipt to show in customs that all taxes had been paid when the bag was bought, before it was brought a trip out of the Kingdom...

Oops, perhaps the bag was bought abroad...

She wouldn't walk around with that thing in Thailand.

Hey peasants, look my 350k handbag whilst you are on a 300 baht a day.

[SheikYabodyline]

Her name's not Mrs Ferrari by any chance?

[RafPinto]

When we came back from our shopping trip abroad, nobody questioned my ex GF about her expensive handbag.

[mtls2005]

1 hour ago, tonray said:

So wait....the actual value of the bag is almost 350,000 baht

 

More like 700,000 - 800,000 baht.

 

And probably not a model which is available here?

 

I thought that I read one article which mentioned this person was from Belgium, and just visiting Thailand. 

 

 

 

Hopefully the high-value tourists, being lured to thailand, are made aware of this. Might backfire if they get shaken down at the airport?

[bristolgeoff]

Maybe it looked fresh or too new i don,t know.It could have being a bad day for them at the border and she spoke the language too.I  remember the watch issue and the value of them,he said he borrowed or something like that

[david555]

8 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

More like 700,000 - 800,000 baht.

 

And probably not a model which is available here?

 

I thought that I read one article which mentioned this person was from Belgium, and just visiting Thailand. 

 

 

 

Hopefully the high-value tourists, being lured to thailand, are made aware of this. Might backfire if they get shaken down at the airport?

"And probably not a model which is available here?"

 

ahhhgh .....!! it is the model to become "copy-catted "here .......!  now it start understanding she paid anyway ....

So  soon available on the markets and Shopping malls here in Thailand ????

[FritsSikkink]

1 hour ago, keith101 said:

If she is carrying it and using for personal items then it is no longer a new bag and should not be charged as such , if it was in a suitcase and unused then fair game .

Carrying it has nothing to do with it. If it is bought abroad you pay tax.

[johnnybangkok]

1 hour ago, tonray said:

So wait....the actual value of the bag is almost 350,000 baht and she had no qualms about paying 70K baht to bring it in ? As crazy as it seems....even crazier to own a 350,000 baht bag

That's not even that expensive.

My ex used to buy high end handbags often shelling out 500- 1 million baht in the knowledge they would all go up in a short space of time. I was incredulous about this until I started seeing the prices she's would get for the re-sale - at least twice the price, often 3, 4 times.

It's all about the exclusivity of them, with many being so limited that they double in value as soon as they are bought. It's much the same as high-end watches or even cars - rarity (and of course high quality) always inflates prices.

 

https://financesonline.com/top-10-most-expensive-handbags-in-the-world-louie-vuitton-diamonds-crocodile-skin/  

[ronster]

Looks like a Hermes bag so probably cost a fortune.

Cant believe they charge 30% on belts !

[johng]

15 minutes ago, ronster said:

Cant believe they charge 30% on belts !

30% on shoes too

[tonray]

8 minutes ago, johng said:

30% on shoes too

I'd better be careful or I might have to  cough up 150 baht next time! 

[JoePai]

12 minutes ago, tonray said:

I'd better be careful or I might have to  cough up 150 baht next time! 

Must be an expensive pair of flip flips !

[Henk Langeweg]

Wonder or she investigated or she can claim the local tax back in the country where she bought it. Otherwise double taxed.

[thaibook]

2 hours ago, RafPinto said:

She wouldn't walk around with that thing in Thailand.

Hey peasants, look my 350k handbag whilst you are on a 300 baht a day.

 

6 minutes ago, abeeur said:

 

you really think that this kind of people walk ?

anyway, I walk since 20 years with a $50000 US watch, anywhere in the world

 

At Central Chidlom, Cental World, Paragon, etc you will see dozens of women with the same model.  All with the padlock undone to show it is the real thing.  It is Hermes but not a particularly expensive model.  The cheapest Hermes bags in Paris are about 6,500 Euro.  You can get a very nice Longchamp bag for 400 Euro and in this case woul dnot be charged tax as it is under the 20k baht threshold.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, tonray said:

So wait....the actual value of the bag is almost 350,000 baht and she had no qualms about paying 70K baht to bring it in ? As crazy as it seems....even crazier to own a 350,000 baht bag

It's like a Ferrari but cheaper...