Importing Used Household Goods

[edd]

Sorry this is so long

This is taken from Thai Customs Department.

It appears that you can no longer bring in your household goods free of tax

Importing Used/Secondhand Household Effects

Returning Thai residents who have been abroad for one year or longer, for the purposes other than touring are eligible to bring in household effects acquired abroad free of taxes and duties. In addition, nonresidents changing their residence to Thailand may import the household effects subject to the conditions stated below without payment of import taxes duties.

The term “household effects” includes all goods which are normally necessary to equip a self-contained home e.g. furniture, carpets, books, musical instruments, paintings, tableware, stereos, linens, and similar household furnishings, etc. To be eligible for tax and duty free allowance, the importers are required to have owned, possessed, and used the household effects before they return to Thailand to resume residence. It is important that the importers meet the three requirements of ownership, possession, and use. For example, if they owned and possessed the goods without using them, the goods would be subject to regular taxes and duties.

Personal effects accompanied with the owner traveling into or out of Thailand, including any goods used or will be used commercially are not eligible as household effects cannot brought in tax and duty free as the household effects

NOTE: Motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages and tobacco are excluded from this rebate.

Requirements for Duty Free Allowance

Both Thai and non-Thai residents changing residence into Thailand are eligible to bring used/secondhand household effects into Thailand, in reasonable quantities, free of taxes and duties. It is also required that the imported used/ secondhand household effects have been owned, possessed, and used in the country where the importers resided before returning to Thailand to resume residence.

In case where the household effects are electrical appliances e.g. radios, televisions, refrigerators, microwaves, ovens, air conditioners, etc., only ONE unit each of such items is eligible for tax and duty free allowance. However, if it is the family change of residence, TWO units each of the items will be allowed to bring in tax and duty free. Any excess unit shall be subject to regular taxes and duties, and Customs will place the items that have the lowest rate of duty under tax and duty exemption.

It is important that the used/secondhand household effects must be imported not earlier than one month before or not later than six months after the arrival of the importers. Under exceptional circumstances, Customs may extend the time limits for the importers.

Requirements for Changing of Residence

Nonresidents: Nonresidents may import the used/secondhand household effects acquired abroad tax and duty free if such household effects accompanied them in the change of residence and they are qualified under the requirements listed below:

Nonresidents resuming residents in Thailand must be granted a non-immigrant quota as shown in a passport or a Nonresident Identification Card; or

Nonresidents granted to work in Thailand will be regarded as resuming residents in Thailand provided they have a one-year non-immigrant visa issued by the Immigration Department. In case where the non-immigrant visa has not yet been granted, either of the following documents may be accepted:

(2.1) The letter from the Immigration Department certifying that the nonresidents shall be granted an annual temporary stay in Thailand; or

(2.2) The work permit from the Department of Labor to work in Thailand for at least one year.

Nonresidents entering Thailand as an expert, specialist, or under a contract of government agencies are required to present the letter from relevant agencies certifying that such nonresidents are granted a non-immigrant visa issued by the Immigration Department and shall work in Thailand not less than one year.

Accompanying spouses of the nonresidents in (2) and (3) will be regarded as resuming residence in Thailand provided the spouses have non-immigrant visas issued by the Immigration Department to stay in Thailand for the first 90 days.

******

Note : Nonresidents entering into the Kingdom with a non-immigrant visa "code O" who wish to retire in Thailand or accompany spouses of Thai residents are not qualified for (1)

******

[Pikey]

Thanks for the post Edd. I'm moving to Chiang Mai in a few weeks from the UK and from the way I read this, having a non-imm B visa (but no work permit yet), I should be OK to bring my household stuff in tax-free so long as I respect the quantities.

Anyone got anymore info? Also, prob a stupid question but does anyone know what forms of payment customs accept if they do tax me? cash, visa e.t.c.???

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Cash.

[Boon Mee]

How does all this affect those returning to Thailand on a O-A supporting Thai Wife Visa?

Cheers,

BM

[astral]

Only ONE tv set??

We have 5 in our house!!

Boon Mee, you sound like you are changing your country of residence, and with the O-A visa you should qualify.

[Boon Mee]

Only ONE tv set??

We have 5 in our house!!

Boon Mee, you sound like you are changing your country of residence, and with the O-A visa you should qualify.

I am - permanently!

Cheers Astral

[Steve2UK]

Only ONE tv set??

We have 5 in our house!!

Boon Mee, you sound like you are changing your country of residence, and with the O-A visa you should qualify.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Astral, do you mind expanding this a bit? As I understand it, the O-A (i.e. for retirement) visa no longer qualifies the holder for tax-free import of household goods.

Or do you mean that you're assuming that the import will be done in the name of Boon Mee's returning Thai wife and that's the reason for tax-free status?

[dr_Pat_Pong]

A returning Thai or a foreigner holding a work permit is the only way to avoid duties/taxes.

[Boon Mee]

A returning Thai or a foreigner holding a work permit is the only way to avoid duties/taxes.

Well, everything will be in the wife's name and I'm for sure not going to show my lily-white Farang face anywhere around the customs dock where our shipment comes in!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Then all should be well.

[Axel]

A returning Thai or a foreigner holding a work permit is the only way to avoid duties/taxes.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's it. Customs officers so far have no way of recognizing any other form, neither OA nor O for retirement.

And one more thing, even if import done under Thai wife's name, bear in mind that a customs officer knows from experience, there might be more than 1 electr. piece, each, perhaps deep inside a fully stocked bar? Some new gadgets, still in the original packing and just bought before moving to Thailand?

Might be worthwhile for the officer on duty to thoroughly investigate and open each carton, unless.....

Some officers can be nice, others might have a bad day, others....?

To do import procedures for trade importers is one thing, personal effects can give a customs brokers considerable headaches and finally complains on the handling fee.

[Boon Mee]

A returning Thai or a foreigner holding a work permit is the only way to avoid duties/taxes.

That's it. Customs officers so far have no way of recognizing any other form, neither OA nor O for retirement.

And one more thing, even if import done under Thai wife's name, bear in mind that a customs officer knows from experience, there might be more than 1 electr. piece, each, perhaps deep inside a fully stocked bar? Some new gadgets, still in the original packing and just bought before moving to Thailand?

Might be worthwhile for the officer on duty to thoroughly investigate and open each carton, unless.....

Some officers can be nice, others might have a bad day, others....?

To do import procedures for trade importers is one thing, personal effects can give a customs brokers considerable headaches and finally complains on the handling fee.

Good points Axel - cheers