Just wondered how they work it out.

I just had to pay 1,193 baht tax on a package where the contents only cost me under 2000 baht.

The package came from the UK and contained scar cover cosmetic.

Pretty gobsmacked at the duty they slapped on that and wondered why on earth some cosmetic cream would have import tax on it....

Anyone know?

They go by your name,if it's a western name they make up a figure times it by 2 and add 250.

Plus the homegrown cosmetics market here is huge,so your said cream could be a real threat to the Thai economy.

They go by your name,if it's a western name they make up a figure times it by 2 and add 250.

What you pay to customs is solely dependent on the phase of the moon and whether the customs offical concerned got his leg over his Mia Noi the night before

Edited July 30, 201213 yr by Soutpeel

sounds right.

You pay import tax from product and shipping costs, not only from the content.

And on top of it, you pay the VAT. So you pay VAT also from the import tax and shipping costs.

Was it sent DHL?

Not exactly sure how to read these tables. The top line states the Ceiling charge of 50% on cosmetics and General charge of 20%. Sounds like 'flexibility'.

This is the customs department search engine and you can enter 'Cosmetics' in the description to see the lists.

Customs.go.th

Not exactly sure how to read these tables. The top line states the Ceiling charge of 50% on cosmetics and General charge of 20%. Sounds like 'flexibility'.

This is the customs department search engine and you can enter 'Cosmetics' in the description to see the lists.

Customs.go.th

The ceiling rate is the max by law the the MFA can make the the import duty. The general rate is the actual current rate that the MFA has set to be collected at the present time ( unless some other duty privilege is in place)

Was it sent DHL?

No sally. Registered airmail.

Ahh well!

Feeling a little bit about it. But it is what it is!

Eek, if it makes you feel any better...

Cosmetics require the importer to also have an import permit with the Thai FDA, so they could have made things a lot worse for you if they were really trying to be a_ _holes

There is a process to apply for an exemption of import permit from the FDA if the volume is small enough, but sounds like they did not even make you jump through that hoop. Mostly likely because it came in via airmail rather than courier.

So overall you were actually pretty lucky

OH!

Well, when you put it like that...feels better! Thanks.

My fault really for not checking. Just very surprised!

In that case easier to have someone from UK send it and undervalue it. I've never been charged on small parcels but always had someone mark them as gift.

But DHL the worst ones. The prices you mentioned sound more like DHL experiences.