Hi

I'm not sure if I'm in the right forum, but I need some advice.

My wife, kids and I are planning to return to Thailand next year after living in the Gulf for 12 years. We plan to ship our used household goods back with us, but the shipping company tells us we will have to pay duty on the goods because my wife has not been outside of the country for 1 year due to that fact that we took our two month summer break in Thailand last year. Is this true? Is there anything we can do about it? Thanks

It could be an interesting problem. I assume your wife had a residence permit or long term visa from the country you were living in? That should be good enough, but staying in Thailand 2 months within the year may be pushing it.

In my case, when we returned after two years working outside Thailand, my wife had made two trips home within the year, but both were only for two weeks. There was no problem with getting the customs exemption. Is this the agent in the Gulf or the Thai office that will be handling the process through Thai customs?

If the Gulf located agent, they may be just reading the regulation without understanding the residency requirment. If the Thai agent is saying that, you might be screwed.

Nevertheless, the Thai agent will get your container through customs. They will let you know what is required. Hopefully you are being demob from a full package and the cost is paid for by your company anyway.

TH