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

[Iamfalang]

My belt is made out of a plutonium-enriched 78C 9.ab/5 compound that is considered priceless throughout the galaxy.

 

What tax will I pay on priceless?  

[pokerface1]

25 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

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!

Yes your right, but when it's specifically Thailand customs I would in this case believe the travelers 100% 

[Liverpool Lou]

29 minutes 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.  

It doesn't matter what you wager, import duty is a legitimate tax here on imported goods, just as it is in every other country, including yours. It doesn't matter if you're wearing them or if they're in your baggage.

[RafPinto]

3 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

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. 

 

Some women wear jewellery at places, you would not think off.
I can already see the eyes of the custom officer.

[Liverpool Lou]

29 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.

 

Even if they were used, or being worn, that doesn't affect whether duty has to be paid.

[Bert got kinky]

2 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

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. 

 

She said

So it's just the word of an honest law breaking smuggler?

The jewelry in the picture is still in the original picture, where is the jewelry that she was wearing?

Was she even taxed on thee jewelry that she states that she was wearing?

 

 

 

[spidermike007]

15 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

"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.

Not necessarily. I could print a receipt book. Who is going to double check this? How do we really know the money will find it's way into the accounts of the government? Do you really believe immigration and customs here are honorable men and women, and the departments are free of corruption? Do you think they paid by check, and the funds are completely accounted for? Really?

[aussiexpat]

So Thailand has been promoting they want only the 'quality tourist', but if you're wearing a $600 watch and necklace (isn't an iPhone more than that) you could be stopped and charged customs duty...way to go Thailand

 

I mean the picture of all her stuff threatened to be confiscated looks nothing special

 

Note: you are not importing items to the country if they are used and for your personal use and are taking them back out again after your holiday 

[Guest truthman]

3 hours ago, 2long said:

They MIGHT be genuine tourists who bought and used the goods outside Thailand, in which case duty is not due. Whether or not they plan to take them when they leave makes no difference.

 

However, there are many cases of people claiming that items are for personal use or have already been worn, but plan to sell them for a profit, in which case the Customs guys are just doing their jobs.

 

Who are we to know for sure?

 

But as @Dmaxdan rightly points out, if they're wealthy enough to have these items, then they can afford to pay the tax.

These custom guys aren't doing their jobs, it's extortion and intimidation. Nine officials taking them into a small room and theatening them? Ridiculous. This means anybody arriving here possessing designer goods faces a shakedown.

[Liverpool Lou]

11 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

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. 

 

Quite right too, wearing them does not exempt them from import duty.

[Liverpool Lou]

9 minutes ago, pokerface1 said:

38 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

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!

Yes your right, but when it's specifically Thailand customs I would in this case believe the travelers 100% 

What do you mean "believe them", what has to be "believed"?    They imported dutiable items, duty was levied and a receipt was provided.

[aussiexpat]

7 minutes ago, Bert got kinky said:

She said

So it's just the word of an honest law breaking smuggler?

The jewelry in the picture is still in the original picture, where is the jewelry that she was wearing?

Was she even taxed on thee jewelry that she states that she was wearing?

 

How do you consider the jewelery to be in original packaging. It clearly look like what she was wearing including what looks like her wedding ring

[Liverpool Lou]

9 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

Note: you are not importing items to the country if they are used and for your personal use and are taking them back out again after your holiday 

Yes, you are.  If you import dutiable items, used or otherwise, they can be taxed.

[Liverpool Lou]

6 minutes ago, truthman said:

These custom guys aren't doing their jobs, it's extortion and intimidation. Nine officials taking them into a small room and theatening them? Ridiculous. This means anybody arriving here possessing designer goods faces a shakedown.

They were doing their job, that's the point.   "Shakedowns", which suggests illegal activity, do not provide official Customs Dept. receipts!

[KanchanaburiGuy]

1 hour ago, Bluespunk said:

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

Yes, probably.

 

So, the next question would be........... Did the things that fell into THAT category exceed the 20,000 baht allowable? The shoes alone almost certainly wouldn't. (Could, but probably not! 555)

 

 

[Liverpool Lou]

Seems that some posters don't know the rules about importing goods to Thailand and legitimate import duty. 

 

Seems, also, that while they're happily bashing these Thai Customs officers, they're forgetting that the Customs officers of their own countries do exactly the same thing.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 minutes ago, KanchanaburiGuy said:

1 hour ago, Bluespunk said:

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

Yes, probably.

 

So, the next question would be........... Did the things that fell into THAT category exceed the 20,000 baht allowable? The shoes alone almost certainly wouldn't. (Could, but probably not! 555)

"Did the things that fell into THAT category exceed the 20,000 baht allowable?"

Very obviously, they did.  If they did not, she will be able to use the official Customs receipt to appeal the import duty charge.

[aussiexpat]

14 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Yes, you are.  If you import dutiable items, used or otherwise, they can be taxed.

Wow, I just confirmed on the Thai customs website which says you must go through the red channel if you have:

 

"Personal belongings in reasonable quantity, which are worth no more than 20,000 baht in total..."

 

So pretty much most people are lying when they tick nothing to declare as who wouldn't have 20,000 baht in total worth of personal items in their suitcase

 

[Bert got kinky]

13 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

How do you consider the jewelery to be in original packaging. It clearly look like what she was wearing including what looks like her wedding ring

 

OMG, you are actually showing the package in your picture.

You didn't think this through, did you? ????

 

[pokerface1]

11 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What do you mean "believe them", what has to be "believed"?    They imported dutiable items, duty was levied and a receipt was provided.

IMO its a cash grab. If customs wants to be fair then they could have recorded the items in question and once the travelers check in to leave Thailand and return home then  a check of those items could easily be made. At that point anything item that wasn't present would be taxed. 

That's why I side with the travelers.

[Letseng]

3 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?

No, they don't spend it in Singapore. Go and compare prices. The ones who can afford these goods buy them regardless. 

[KanchanaburiGuy]

53 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.

 

The article says her jewelry was removed. Articles of clothing being worn could have easily been factored in, too. 

[CharlieH]

1 hour ago, Neeranam said:

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

 

Not sure why you assume I am taking anyones "side"

[Nickelbeer]

The outrage of the privileged when the tables are turned, is always entertaining. ????

[ChaiyaTH]

In defence of customs, even i do not like them at all. Many Thais know and bring back designer goods as it is usually sold in no-time with very decent margins (10+K per item). Aside of that she also claimed certain items were gifts already. Many items were in packaging etc. 

If they had only brought actual items without packaging, without being gifts, doubt it been an issue. Else this would have been in the news way more often too. She had enough with her to open a small fashion shop with exclusive items.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 minute ago, pokerface1 said:

19 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What do you mean "believe them", what has to be "believed"?    They imported dutiable items, duty was levied and a receipt was provided.

IMO its a cash grab. If customs wants to be fair then they could have recorded the items in question and once the travelers check in to leave Thailand and return home then  a check of those items could easily be made. At that point anything item that wasn't present would be taxed. 

That's why I side with the travelers.

That's not the way that importing goods, and their being taxed, works, though, that's just an idea of yours!   Siding with the woman, against all the Customs Dept regulations is a pointless waste of time.

 

If Customs were not being legitimate, they would not have provided an official receipt and if the woman wants to she can appeal the duty she had to pay and open an investigation.  

[KanchanaburiGuy]

4 minutes ago, pokerface1 said:

IMO its a cash grab. If customs wants to be fair then they could have recorded the items in question and once the travelers check in to leave Thailand and return home then  a check of those items could easily be made. At that point anything item that wasn't present would be taxed. 

That's why I side with the travelers.

Yes, and be sure to arrive 5 hours early for your international flight........... Hmmm?

 

Cheers! 

[aussiexpat]

7 minutes ago, Bert got kinky said:

 

OMG, you are actually showing the package in your picture.

You didn't think this through, did you? ????

 

That's not original packaging. Expensive jewellery would come in their own individual box (more like a tray customs use to hold and show the jewellery?)

[ChaiyaTH]

6 minutes ago, Nickelbeer said:

The outrage of the privileged when the tables are turned, is always entertaining. ????

Well they always avoid tax too don't they, so maybe this was karma. She can always sell one item and be in green digits again already.

[ChaiyaTH]

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Nobody ever complained about my 150B Sukhumvit T-Shirts.

Just don't buy that expensive useless designer stuff.

And those shirts look like <deleted> or shrink after 5-10 times washing too, to then buy new ones again and again. Nothing wrong with brand and quality clothing, the issue is more the always-repeating black and white thinking around. Big difference between quality clothing or buying a 100K hand bag for the brand only.

 

My brand clothing lasts for many years while not losing the quality or looks + have a better fit as well. I actually save money with it compared to low quality stuff, it is just the initial purchase of changing all to it. 

Doesn't mean all needs to be expensive either. Exactly the same with decent furniture and IKEA.