How Do I Get Item Replaced W/o Paying Import Taxes Twice?

[buzzer]

Hi,

I received several things yesterday that were via US Post Office in coordination with the Thai Postal Service. I paid about 3,500 baht import duties. One of the items was broken. In order to get a replacement for it quickly, I'm just going to buy a second one from the seller for about $550 US. Then I will send the broken unit back to the seller, and they will credit the price to my credit card when they receive it.

As I've already paid import taxes, I certainly don't want to do so again. Can anyone tell me how to get this through Thai Customs without paying the tax again?

Thanks,

Buzzer

[Soutpeel]

Hi,

I received several things yesterday that were via US Post Office in coordination with the Thai Postal Service. I paid about 3,500 baht import duties. One of the items was broken. In order to get a replacement for it quickly, I'm just going to buy a second one from the seller for about $550 US. Then I will send the broken unit back to the seller, and they will credit the price to my credit card when they receive it.

As I've already paid import taxes, I certainly don't want to do so again. Can anyone tell me how to get this through Thai Customs without paying the tax again?

Thanks,

Buzzer

Going this route you are almost certainly going to get hit for import tax, as in the eyes of customs, this will be seen as two separate items as the broken item will still be in country.

In order not to pay import tax again, going to have to ship out the broken item for replacement and document it as such with Thai customs, then when the replacment item comes back it would be allowed in tax free...

If you really need it quickly going to have to eat the import tax IMHO on the replacement

[gregb]

Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. In fact, the law is actually quite nasty about this. Not only do you have to send the item back first, with pictures inspected by the guys down at Hua Lampong, but the picture has to clearly show the serial number of the item.

The incoming item has to have the same serial number according to the law. You can't get a replacement. The defective item has to be repaired. A replacement is considered a new item, and taxable. Now, my guess is that they might not follow the letter of the law too closely anymore today since so many things can't be repaired, but those are the rules.

Your best bet is to take a Thai speaker with you, and head down to the customs department at Hua Lampong. Take a camera with you that has a lens which can focus closely on the item. You'll need to take pictures in the presence of the customs officers, go get them developed, and then give them to the customs officers and send the item out of the country. They will keep the photos and the paperwork and give you a receipt. This will take you all day, and they will be none too happy about helping you. They will do it though. It is their job.

Don't lose this receipt. When the item comes back in, you will need to bring the receipt with you. They will again open the box in your presence and compare the item to the ones in the photos. Again, if there is a serial number, technically it should match, but they may be willing to overlook this, or if not a purple note would probably convince them not to give you too much headache over it.

Good luck. If it were me, 3500 baht isn't worth the headache. Just pay it again. You may feel differently though. Mind you,it's been 7 years since I was actually naiive enough to even want to waste my time doing this, so things may have changed.

[buzzer]

I talked to my post office guys today, they photocopied something and told me to take it to my local Thai Customs (Ko Samui). So I'll try to apply what I've learned here during my visit there.

Thanks!