Thai woman with foreign husband furious at having to pay 54,000 baht on designer goods

[Excel]

Clearly the other branch of the RTP have advised their immigration/customs pals to be on the look-out for foreigners bringing in all items of value, designer clothes, bags etc and importantly gold necklaces, especially being worn by Indians, so that import duty can be paid prior to them easily being stolen in Thailand ????

[Bert got kinky]

 

Of course charge her with import tax, same as every country, not just Thailand.

Not buying her story that the items were pre-used, everything in that picture looks brand new, most of it still has the original packing.

 

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, RJRS1301 said:

When one has already purchased them, and they have been used? Plain thievery.

Paying duty on previously owned jewellery is outrageous they tried that one on me once, watch  I was carrying in hand luggage in its original case.  

I have yet to see any country's Customs declaration that suggests that used goods are not dutiable. The closest it gets is 'personal items' but even they have to be within a stated value. If you exceed that stated value of fail to declare stuff, tough titty.

 

I hope that Customs gave them some vouchers for the Gucci, Rolex and other high-end stores that are the ONLY ones still trading airside on departure.

[Neeranam]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

In addition they would be blacklisted from coming again. Presumably this just referred to the foreign partner, notes ASEAN NOW. 

That's right.

[Neeranam]

2 hours ago, CharlieH said:

That'll encourage the "high roller" tourists they claim to want to visit Thailand.

 

Always about the MONEY !

 

 

 

 

Not sure why you are taking the woman's side. Seems like a liar to me. 

 

[Neeranam]

1 hour ago, cliveshep said:

Yet more grist to the mill of anti-tourism to Thailand. Simply put if you are fairly wealthy with high priced goods and clothing - don't come to Thailand, you'll leave naked and broke. To quote a quotation I read recently where a Thai Customs Officer said they could impose punitive dues and a box empty except for air if they chose such is their powers.

 

So I'd say go elsewhere or leave expensive goods behind along with your money. 54,000 for personal possessions if the woman was telling the truth is simply armed robbery by customs officers and shows Thailand to be a land of thieves and corrupt officials and a place best avoided - is that the real message TAT wants to show the world?

The bashers appear everywhere. 

 

How about the woman is buying luxury goods for friends and trying to avoid paying tax?

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, steven100 said:

welcome to Lieland  ... er sorry '   Thailand 

Welcome to a country, just like every other country, that imposes import tax on imported items!

[Bert got kinky]

 

Can I bring in my Ferrari Spider F8 in free of tax?

it does have 27kms on the clock.  ????

 

[Neeranam]

1 minute ago, Bert got kinky said:

 

Can I bring in my Ferrari Spider F* in free of tax?

it does have 27kms on the clock.  ????

 

Who doesn't want to pay 327% import tax for this?

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, CharlieH said:

That'll encourage the "high roller" tourists they claim to want to visit Thailand.

 

Always about the MONEY !

Come on, is there any country that does not impose import tax on (luxury) items imported?   It's about the tax that is due, it is not just "about the money". 

[jonclark]

59 minutes ago, shackleton said:

If you can afford to pay for original Designer goods then you can afford the tax enough said 

But isn't that the point - she paid tax when she purchased them in Korea.

 

This is about protecting the massive amount of tax that Thailand levies on any imports and the well connected families that run the businesses here. - But that will all change when Thailand signs / joins the FTAAP. 

[jonclark]

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Come on, is there any country that does not impose import tax on (luxury) items imported?   It's about the tax that is due, it is not just "about the money". 

Not on used goods you are physically wearing  - and is a product that cost 20'000 baht (500 quid) actually a luxury item? I would wager a 500 quid watch is just a fairly average watch, or a 500 quid gold necklace (1 baht of gold by weight) pretty normal.  

[Bert got kinky]

1 minute ago, jonclark said:

But isn't that the point - she paid tax when she purchased them in Korea.

 

This is about protecting the massive amount of tax that Thailand levies on any imports and the well connected families that run the businesses here. - But that will all change when Thailand signs / joins the FTAAP. 

Nonsense, this is about smuggling.

It's about a woman who thinks that she is a hi-so and thinks that the rules should not apply to her.

She tried to break the law and got caught.

 

 

 

 

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, pokerface1 said:

Time to start catching up on all the lost revenue. The desperation of some starts as soon as you step off the plane. 

Or the desperation of those as soon as they step off the plane who spend large amounts on luxury items overseas and then expect to avoid legitimate import duty when they bring them into the country!

[Bert got kinky]

1 minute ago, jonclark said:

Not on used goods you are physically wearing  - and is a product that cost 20'000 baht (500 quid) actually a luxury item? I would wager a 500 quid watch is just a fairly average watch, or a 500 quid gold necklace (1 baht of gold by weight) pretty normal.  

Not on used goods you are physically wearing

They were not used goods and she was not wearing them.

 

[richard_smith237]

Many of us travel with goods exceeding 20,000 Baht. 

Laptop, iPad, Phone, Watches....

 

Customs just don’t seem interested: I’ve brought loads of differing ‘visible’ items....  Ski’s, ski boots, car seats, push-chairs, bicycles.

 

Given the existing rules customs could have a field day... But, IF Thailand was a country that stopped me every time I came in and charged me duty on the items I travel in and out with I simply wouldn’t live here and neither would many people. 

 

 

 

Customs know their mark: Middle Class people with some money.

My wife’s very wealthy friends bring in loads of things. One of her friends recently brought in 3x Hermes Birkin handbags (they’re about 1 million baht each or something silly) - Of course, people that wealthy have connections and are not stopped. 

 

 

Who knows IF this lady was going to sell her items in Thailand, but if she was only here for a few weeks visiting family there is a simply solution.

 

IF this lady had more than one of the same item it would indicate she may wish to sell it on (as many do), however, if its just one each, then it may well be for personal use and she’d carry it home (overseas again). 

 

Taxing personal jewellery is outrageous - how can they even price that up.

 

Refund her the tax when she leaves.

Or leave the items at Customs Storage to collect when she departs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DJ54]

A little off subject but concerns luxury tax… Triumph motorcycle were made outside of Thailand 

and Import applied as usual for all imports.  Triumph opened Thailand manufacturing facility 

which you think it would lower price due to no import duties… ahhh but now gets a luxury tax on it… 

 

 

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Why not remove these silly luxury taxes? Then foreign tourists will come here on shopping trips and spend a fortune in the Thai malls (and hotels, restaurants etc.), instead of Thais saving all their money and spending it on hotels, restaurants and malls in Singapore?

This not about "silly luxury taxes" (whatever they are), it's about import duty on items brought into the country, just like in every other country.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Did they get a receipt? if not, a definite scam, Thais can't help themselves

Definitely not a scam, she got a receipt.   Some Thaivisa posters can't help themselves.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, cliveshep said:

54,000 for personal possessions if the woman was telling the truth is simply armed robbery by customs officers and shows Thailand to be a land of thieves and corrupt officials and a place best avoided

The receipt that she was given refutes that wrong accusation.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Customs is a racket, just like immigration, the border patrol, the RTP, and the army. They are all corrupt beyond imagination. And the level of corruption simply escalates, the further up the food chain you go. The police and army are not expected to be honest, and they are not expected to engage in law enforcement, traffic or public safety, on any level. It is an irrevocably broken and dysfunctional system. Any hyperbole to the contrary, is just a smoke screen, intended to deceive the most naive amongst us.

"Any hyperbole to the contrary, is just a smoke screen, intended to deceive the most naive amongst us".

The receipt that she has refutes all that naïve hyperbole of yours.

[Liverpool Lou]

56 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

The problem is they don't live in Thailand. They shouldn't be penalized for having exorbitant taste when traveling.

That's not the problem, they were not "penalised for having exorbitant taste".   The problem was that they expected to not have to pay import duty on dutiable items when they imported them!

[RafPinto]

3 hours ago, CharlieH said:

That'll encourage the "high roller" tourists they claim to want to visit Thailand.

 

Always about the MONEY !

 

 

 

 

I am scared now.
Just boarding my flight to Swampi.
Plenty of presents for my future parents in law and the girlfriend which I don't have yet.

Hope all goes well and nobody searches my bags. I spent a fortune to impress.

Some Wicksky for the father in law.
Some slippers for mom.

Some perfume for the brother in law.

And some sweeties for the lady.

[Liverpool Lou]

58 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Some shoes were brand new and were a present for a relative

So, in effect they were being imported into the country... 

That's right, but not just "in effect", in actuality they were importing dutiable items.

[Liverpool Lou]

49 minutes ago, Excel said:

Clearly the other branch of the RTP have advised their immigration/customs pals to be on the look-out for foreigners bringing in all items of value

She's a Thai, not a foreigner.

[Neeranam]

15 minutes ago, DJ54 said:

A little off subject but concerns luxury tax… Triumph motorcycle were made outside of Thailand 

and Import applied as usual for all imports.  Triumph opened Thailand manufacturing facility 

which you think it would lower price due to no import duties… ahhh but now gets a luxury tax on it… 

 

 

Listen to the lyrics of "made in Thailand", an old classic. 

 

[RafPinto]

21 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Customs just don’t seem interested: I’ve brought loads of differing ‘visible’ items....  Ski’s, ski boots, car seats, push-chairs, bicycles.

Sure.
They must think, farang tingtong.????

[Liverpool Lou]

32 minutes ago, Bert got kinky said:

 

Can I bring in my Ferrari Spider F8 in free of tax?

it does have 27kms on the clock.  ????

 

No, used cars cannot be imported personally now!

[aussiexpat]

24 minutes ago, Bert got kinky said:

Not on used goods you are physically wearing

They were not used goods and she was not wearing them.

 

OP states she had to remove all her jewellery she was wearing

 

She said that she was taken to another room and searched and her jewelry such as bracelet, ring, necklace and earrings were removed. 

 

[Liverpool Lou]

29 minutes ago, jonclark said:

1 hour ago, shackleton said:

If you can afford to pay for original Designer goods then you can afford the tax enough said 

But isn't that the point - she paid tax when she purchased them in Korea.

It is the point.  She did not pay Thai import duty when she purchased the goods, that is what she has to pay to import these items.