Import Fees For Purchased Laptop?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Just a fore warning and laptops (mobile computers including tablets) are on the 40% duty bracket. If by DHL, UPS or Fedex odds are high you will be hit by that. If USPS Global Express or similar USPS delivery, the odds are much lower. This is based on my personal experience.

In my experience, the usually minimal duty/tax that Thai Post assesses for handling USPS shipments is entirely different and unrelated to the usually much higher duties and tax amounts assessed by FedEx and DHL. They seem to work from entirely different playbooks.

It's also been my experience that computers sent via USPS and delivered by ThaiPost also typically draw only a 7% VAT charge based on valuation only. Good luck getting that kind of minimal surcharge from FedEx or DHL, who start out instead with a higher contents+insurance+freight (CIF) base value, and then just get worse from there.

[Digitalbanana]

Here's a copy of my last Fedex bill.

[Gulfsailor]

Just a fore warning and laptops (mobile computers including tablets) are on the 40% duty bracket

Are they heck. Computers/laptops are 0% import duty and 7% VAT.

Re-read my post. 1st, I said the odds are high not 100% one will be hit. 2nd, my personal experience as of a few weeks ago on importing a portable computer via UPS was hit with 40% duty on it. I thought there was an error but verified it on the Thailand customs website and 40% is correct. I am not one to make up numbers. Trust me, I wasn't happy about it either. Also reports from other members getting hit by these numbers are scattered throughout the forum. Those who got by without being hit are the lucky ones.

Unless this was prior to 2012, You have been screwed. As per general notification, duties are exempted.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

In the image above, I see a "ceiling rate" reference that says 40%, and then a "general rate" that says exempted, both regarding laptops, effective starting 2012....

But I don't know what "ceiling rate" and "general rate" are supposed to mean/be used in this context.

[patjk]

So I guess the way to ship is via Fedex or USPS, right?

[patjk]

Here's a copy of my last Fedex bill.

Why did you blur out the year on that?

[raro]

Once again, everything you bring into a country is subject to import duties, whether in Thailand or elsewhere, whether the item is new or used doesn't matter.

AFAIK, the import duties are 0% (which contradicts Tywais' post, again not sure here and cannot be arsed to look it up) and the VAT is 7%.

Duties and VAT are calculated on the value of the item arriving in Thailand, which includes the shipping and the transport insurance. Also this is international standard.

Under declaring is illegal and will result in hefty fines when you get busted.

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[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Raro, generally speaking, items sent by USPS and then delivered here by ThaiPost are only taxed based on the declared value -- not the higher CIF value used by private couriers like FedEx and DHL...

The VAT rate typically would be the same, but the value of the item being taxed usually is going to end up being lower with the USPS/TP method.

And of course, the actual cost of shipping itself is likely going to be considerably lower using USPS as compared to FedEx...

[raro]

In the image above, I see a "ceiling rate" reference that says 40%, and then a "general rate" that says exempted, both regarding laptops, effective starting 2012....

But I don't know what "ceiling rate" and "general rate" are supposed to mean/be used in this context.

ceiling rate is the maximum that the law allows the customs office to charge.

The general rate is what the customs office will charge if no free trade agreements apply. So the customs office (head office in Bangkok, not your local office) determines the duty rate as they feel fit but not higher than the ceiling rate.

Please note that the custom's website has not been updated for a while, the information in there must not be accurate.

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[raro]

Raro, generally speaking, items sent by USPS and then delivered here by ThaiPost are only taxed based on the declared value -- not the higher CIF value used by private couriers like FedEx and DHL...

The VAT rate typically would be the same, but the value of the item being taxed usually is going to end up being lower with the USPS/TP method.

This is correct. The declared value is supposed to include the shipping.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect App

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

In the image above, I see a "ceiling rate" reference that says 40%, and then a "general rate" that says exempted, both regarding laptops, effective starting 2012....

But I don't know what "ceiling rate" and "general rate" are supposed to mean/be used in this context.

ceiling rate is the maximum that the law allows the customs office to charge.

The general rate is what the customs office will charge if no free trade agreements apply. So the customs office (head office in Bangkok, not your local office) determines the duty rate as they feel fit but not higher than the ceiling rate.

Please note that the custom's website has not been updated for a while, the information in there must not be accurate.

Thanks for clarifying on that!

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Just a fore warning and laptops (mobile computers including tablets) are on the 40% duty bracket

Are they heck. Computers/laptops are 0% import duty and 7% VAT.

Re-read my post. 1st, I said the odds are high not 100% one will be hit. 2nd, my personal experience as of a few weeks ago on importing a portable computer via UPS was hit with 40% duty on it. I thought there was an error but verified it on the Thailand customs website and 40% is correct. I am not one to make up numbers. Trust me, I wasn't happy about it either. Also reports from other members getting hit by these numbers are scattered throughout the forum. Those who got by without being hit are the lucky ones.

Tywais' experience here is one of the reasons I generally avoid the private couriers like the plague.

Back in the past (not with laptops but with other dutiable items like clothing and household goods), I had too many experiences where different duty rates were applied to the same kind of items.

Such that every time I'd be making a purchase to send here, I'd have little reliable idea of just how much duty to expect until the FedEx or DHL delivery guy arrived at my doorstep with the bill. And good luck trying to dispute with the carrier or Thai Customs over the valuation or duty rate applied.

I don't want to handle my purchases that way.

At least with USPS originated Global Priority or Global Express shipments delivered by ThaiPost, I think the most I've ever paid for anything is 7% VAT.

And most of time, using my U.S. re-shipper who sends airmail by BPI, I pay no tax or duty at all for smaller packages delivered to my door via ThaiPost, just sometimes a 7 baht "small package" delivery fee.

[Tywais]

AFAIK, the import duties are 0% (which contradicts Tywais' post, again not sure here and cannot be arsed to look it up) and the VAT is 7%.

It is listed under the Harmonized Duties which appears to be current, as you can see it shows 2012. I was charged 40% on an item only 2-3 weeks ago and was sure there was an error until I looked up the details on multiple sites. Also, there is a topic running specifically on import duties and shows similar experiences from members, will try to find it. A hit and miss proposition and I got hit. An order I placed several months ago of 70,000 Baht and shipped via USPS, not a single baht was charged. This is the first time in years I've had this happen as I avoid the courier services like the plague - just didn't have a choice in this instance.

Usually using my university address for shipping the odds are more in my favor to not getting hit. I know our facility refuses to use Fedex due to issues like this such as getting hit by duties on equipment sent out for repair.

[Digitalbanana]

Here's a copy of my last Fedex bill.

Why did you blur out the year on that?

Cannot remember, I think because I have shipped similar since and it made no difference which year for me - I have never had duty from FedEx. The yr of the jpg was 2010 - the exchange rates should match if you want to verify.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Here's two recent threads on similar subjects... the first on electronics items, the second on general customs/duty reports...

[raro]

If you ship something out for repair, you can ship as temporary export. Upon reimport only the value of the repair is subject to duties. Some strings attached but can be done.

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[Tywais]

If you ship something out for repair, you can ship as temporary export. Upon reimport only the value of the repair is subject to duties. Some strings attached but can be done.

That's how it's supposed to work but our luck hasn't been that good. These are very specialized, very expensive pieces of equipment going to the country of origin or maintenance depot for repair. Someone along the line manages to tag duties on them again on return (at least via Fedex. DHL doesn't seem to have that problem).

[Digitalbanana]

Someone along the line manages to tag duties on them again on return (at least via Fedex.

Perhaps someone is working against you! I have shipped PC's for repair back to vendor in US and despite the horrendous documentation and shipping cost required to get something like that into the US there were no duties levied at me. One can even check on the FedEx web site at any time to see duties for any destination planned. The attached below explains for a laptop into Thailand. There's nothing to hide, and I paid as the web site suggested I would be charged.

[negreanu]

Update to this.

Macbook Pro Retina from HK to Thailand via fedex international priority (1 day shipping) goods declared as notebook computer with value of (100,000THB). Arrived on saturday morning.

Total paid to fedex for VAT, Duty and clearance charge on delivery: THB3940.00.

If you were charged 40% on a notebook computer you were basically robbed. 40% on laptop computers was removed several years ago.