3 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Amazon will ship to Thailand but you STILL pay exorbitant import tax. I wanted to buy a package of 5 men's white T-shirts, cost tag ~$20 USD. It was going to wind up costing me nearly $100 USD because of shipping/tax.

Textiles are a protected market, so as such, the duties are very high.

 

Most of the stuff I buy, the duty is low, and the shipping is often free. 

15 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Amazon will ship to Thailand but you STILL pay exorbitant import tax. I wanted to buy a package of 5 men's white T-shirts, cost tag ~$20 USD. It was going to wind up costing me nearly $100 USD because of shipping/tax.

scroll up a little bit and I posted an item with a reasonable import tax that I would pay (16%). The last one I posted was 60% so it swings wildly apparently.

1 hour ago, NorthernRyland said:

scroll up a little bit and I posted an item with a reasonable import tax that I would pay (16%). The last one I posted was 60% so it swings wildly apparently.

You can buy a duty rate book from the customs department which lists the duty for most every item. 

 

I bought my last mini desktop from the US, and it was exactly what I wanted, and it was cheaper than I could have got it here. Not from Amazon, but from B & H, they are great for shipping to Thailand as well. 

On 9/22/2025 at 1:27 PM, skorts said:

Just imported 5 t-shirts from the U.K.  Value ฿2,640. Just received a card to pick up the package and pay ฿2,640 in tax!!

My previous shipment of a similar value last year had 40% tax but only on the value above ฿1,200. 
 

There are no shipment details for us to contact Customs and the Post Office won’t release the shipment until we pay ฿2,640. 
 

Completely bonkers!
 

Anyone know how to sort this import tax out as it cannot be right. 

Dont import anything

On 9/22/2025 at 1:27 PM, skorts said:

Just imported 5 t-shirts from the U.K.  Value ฿2,640. Just received a card to pick up the package and pay ฿2,640 in tax!!

My previous shipment of a similar value last year had 40% tax but only on the value above ฿1,200. 
 

There are no shipment details for us to contact Customs and the Post Office won’t release the shipment until we pay ฿2,640. 
 

Completely bonkers!
 

Anyone know how to sort this import tax out as it cannot be right. 

it can be correct and is quite cheap compared to my experience. A business friend sent me 50 caps and shirts  - all company logo shirts, for poor children at a school we visit in the north thailand. We give shirts and hats to poorer children, but the goverment charged us 300% - an agent eventually got it waved as it was not for selling,

On 9/24/2025 at 11:15 AM, Yellowtail said:

They will not pay the return shipment. It will sit for 60 or 90 days, and then it will be auctioned off. 

 

 

Any idea where to find info on where/when these auctions take place?

5 hours ago, srowndedbyh2o said:

Any idea where to find info on where/when these auctions take place?

At the customs department. 

I've had several run ins with the Customs folks via Thai Post. 1st was a 75 USD cowboy hat from the states, I believe they wanted to charge me somewhere in the range of 300 USD claiming that was the cost for the hat. Long time ago, I don't remember exact amount. Fortunately I had original invoice. I won that appeal but did pay some small customs tax on 75 USD. 
2nd was recently, last year. I had flown to the states on what was an effort to save my life. I had been diagnosed with throat cancer in an advanced stage although the Thai hospital said they didn't use stages. I flew to Minneapolis VA Hospital ASAP, the best for cancer in the VA system and medically on parr with Mayo Clinic. I had stage 4a. Successful so far, few live past a couple of years even in the states, not that long here. I had clothes that I wore and took with me, winter stuff, one coat that was 30 yrs. old that was a gift from a former employer, that the hospital sent back to me. Customs/PO wanted to charge me 3,000 baht for my own clothes. I told them no, can't speak so I wasn't able to say all I wanted. I appealed and somebody released the package and it was delivered. Customs/PO said oh so sorry accident you must give back or pay 3,000 baht. 3 of them came to my house trying to intimidate me, wrong. I have translator on my phone and made it clear I was not ever going to pay for my own clothes and damn sure wasn't giving back. I gave them a oops my one finger slipped off USMC coffee cup handle, salute as they started to leave. Haven't heard a thing from them since.

 

Battle them at your own risk. Most likely you will lose. But good luck one way or the other.

hit and miss,,   as usual   from the U.S.  ordered $100 worth of guitar electronics parts and got hit with a B450 charge

 my wife ordered 3 cook books total about $75 and no tax  go figure

On 9/22/2025 at 1:27 PM, skorts said:

Just imported 5 t-shirts from the U.K.  Value ฿2,640. Just received a card to pick up the package and pay ฿2,640 in tax!!

My previous shipment of a similar value last year had 40% tax but only on the value above ฿1,200. 
 

There are no shipment details for us to contact Customs and the Post Office won’t release the shipment until we pay ฿2,640. 
 

Completely bonkers!
 

Anyone know how to sort this import tax out as it cannot be right. 

 

 

What shipping method did you use?

Everyone should be aware that you should never use courier companies as you'll almost always be charged tax.

 

Always just use regular parcel post - In 18 years of receiving stuff from overseas I've never had to pay any tax.

If a vendor will only ship via a courier service, find another vendor.