Shipping Personal Effects - Uk To Thailand (Chiang Mai) - Or Poss Aus...!

[eek]

(If this isnt the best place to post this in the forum, apologies, and please could you move for me. Thank you)

I have a B Visa. I want to ship some personal things from storage in the UK to Thailand (Chiang Mai).

Looking for advice on how to go about this (best companies/kind of costs involved/taxes, etc), please.

Obviously concerned about hefty taxing too.

Any advice on this?

Some friends suggested "DB schenker"..as they know people who have used them. I will actually be in the UK when sorting this out though, so if any ideas, please let me know!

Two alternatives im looking at also are:

Ship to Australia (if easier).

-or-

Find CHEAP storage space in the UK (at the moment my stuff is in a garage lock up in central London..so its expensive to keep there).

I dont have a work permit, so to my knowledge that makes me liable for tax...?

Many thanks in advance for any leads and advice in this.

[millwall_fan]

Try googling Tudor Freight. They ship stuff out from Leeds/Bradford airport to save costs, but they pick up all over the UK. Their costs were very reasonable. (I've used them twice). As to taxes at Chiang Mai airport, that largely depends on your negotiating skills and how far away from the office the boss is when your gear arrives.!

[elektrified]

Air freight? That will be expensive. Or did you mean sea freight?

[HullyGully]

You did not mention Air freight or Sea freight of amount / volume

Air Freight approx 7 to 10 days

Sea Freight approx 4 to 6 weeks

It really depends on volume anf if you can wait 6 weeks...and who's paying

What you will need is an itemised inoice, showing quantity, description, unit price, extend price and Grand Total

I would also tender to keep the prices lower, but sensible

"DB Schenker are a very large international FF,

You can ship a 20ft container FULL

a LCL = Less than a container load

You should also mention 'USED PERSONAL EFFECTS' aagin you never mentioned if you would re-export??

[eek]

Back,.hoping for more advice please. I'm in the UK briefly and have whittled down my item s in storage to just one trunk, which I'm going to post to Thailand. In it will be used clothing, some sentimental items such as childhood toys, photos, letters, and some small electrical items (beauty items..ie hair tongs etc). All items used. Is there anything that is potentially VERY taxable there? Thank you !

[maprao]

I got White and Company (UK) who were holding my goods in storage to ship it out. They put it all in a 300 cubic foot wooden shipping crate. It was shipped door to door from Berkshire to the address in the "boonies" for 1800 pounds all in. Needless to say that was sea freight. That was repacking transport to the port in the UK. Sea freight UK to Bangkok Thailand. Clearing customs and truck delivery to my home. The company that dealt with everything in Thailand was Asian Tigers.

To avoid Tax do not ship electrical goods. TVs Computers etc

[Foxhound]

You need to have a work permit to avoid paying excise duties. Depending on what are your shipped items, the custom make an assessment of the excise duties based on your declared list of items. You may have to pay excise duties ranges from 20% to 30% plus 7% VAT. Only with a valid WP that you wil be exempted from excise duties but you still need to pay the VAT. I will be collecting my shipment end of next week, I can let you know more by then.

[eek]

Thank you both

[eek]

Had a thought... and wonder what opinion may be on this. I have a good PC I would like to bring over. If I remove all the components and put in my check in luggage would it be OK? Then...possibly just send over the outer casing with nothing inside..? Possible?

[Rasseru]

Here's a thought for you, eek. If all you have is a trunk's worth of stuff, why not look into the cost of bringing it with you on your flight back, as excess baggage, find out if it would be cheaper than posting it?

[sappersrest]

Try Seven Seas Shipping, door to door UK to Chiang Mai 6 tea chests £380, they even have a thai speaking agent in the UK.

[fcgprg]

You need to have a work permit to avoid paying excise duties. Depending on what are your shipped items, the custom make an assessment of the excise duties based on your declared list of items. You may have to pay excise duties ranges from 20% to 30% plus 7% VAT. Only with a valid WP that you wil be exempted from excise duties but you still need to pay the VAT. I will be collecting my shipment end of next week, I can let you know more by then.

No duties to pay if you are here on a O/A visa ,on one only shipment in to Thailand ,they put a red stamp under your O/A visa to say that you have used your free tax shipment . Any further imports are taxed.

[elektrified]

You need to have a work permit to avoid paying excise duties. Depending on what are your shipped items, the custom make an assessment of the excise duties based on your declared list of items. You may have to pay excise duties ranges from 20% to 30% plus 7% VAT. Only with a valid WP that you wil be exempted from excise duties but you still need to pay the VAT. I will be collecting my shipment end of next week, I can let you know more by then.

No duties to pay if you are here on a O/A visa ,on one only shipment in to Thailand ,they put a red stamp under your O/A visa to say that you have used your free tax shipment . Any further imports are taxed.

P.M. sent.

[maprao]

There are several instances where duty is not due. Refer to the Thai Customs website.

[stament]

There are several instances where duty is not due. Refer to the Thai Customs website.

I saw this on the website "

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. "

Does the one item, mean one electrical item only i.e. if you had a tv and a dvd you are only exempt from taxes for one of the electrical items. Or does it mean if you had 2 tv's you would have to pay tax on the second tv?

Thanks

[Loptr]

Too bad the above does not apply to vehicles.

[Dante99]

There are several instances where duty is not due. Refer to the Thai Customs website.

I saw this on the website "

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. "

Does the one item, mean one electrical item only i.e. if you had a tv and a dvd you are only exempt from taxes for one of the electrical items. Or does it mean if you had 2 tv's you would have to pay tax on the second tv?

Thanks

There are some requirements about the definition of "residents".

[kurnell]

You did not mention Air freight or Sea freight of amount / volume

Air Freight approx 7 to 10 days

Sea Freight approx 4 to 6 weeks

It really depends on volume anf if you can wait 6 weeks...and who's paying

What you will need is an itemised inoice, showing quantity, description, unit price, extend price and Grand Total

I would also tender to keep the prices lower, but sensible

"DB Schenker are a very large international FF,

You can ship a 20ft container FULL

a LCL = Less than a container load

You should also mention 'USED PERSONAL EFFECTS' aagin you never mentioned if you would re-export??

I love these sorts of comments. 4-6 weeks??? The 4 weeks is by speed boat and the six by Titanic? An itemised invoice will do what? In fact Schenker have a removals division in Thailand and many other countries, not just freight forwarding.

[elektrified]

There are several instances where duty is not due. Refer to the Thai Customs website.

I saw this on the website "

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. "

Does the one item, mean one electrical item only i.e. if you had a tv and a dvd you are only exempt from taxes for one of the electrical items. Or does it mean if you had 2 tv's you would have to pay tax on the second tv?

Thanks

There are some requirements about the definition of "residents".

Indeed, he/she failed to quote the most important text from the code that explains the requirements for a duty-free shipment!

[bluweyze]

There are several instances where duty is not due. Refer to the Thai Customs website.

I saw this on the website "

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. "

Does the one item, mean one electrical item only i.e. if you had a tv and a dvd you are only exempt from taxes for one of the electrical items. Or does it mean if you had 2 tv's you would have to pay tax on the second tv?

Thanks

It means on 2 TV's you pay for the 2nd, 2 computers etc. When I shipped my goods in I only paid for a 2nd DVD

[stament]

Thanks Bluweyze

I'm guessing my thai wife returning to Thailand would classify as one of the "residents" and therefore the shipment be tax-free? This is Thailand though so I have to ask!

[simple1]

Thanks Bluweyze

I'm guessing my thai wife returning to Thailand would classify as one of the "residents" and therefore the shipment be tax-free? This is Thailand though so I have to ask!

Thai national returning to Thailand is exempt from Customs tax, but go to the Thai customs website for the detail/criteria etc. My wife shipped a 20 foot container from Australia and no duty was applied. The website is:

http://www.customs.go.th/wps/wcm/connect/custen/individuals/importing+used+or+secondhand+household+effects/importingusedsecondhandhouseholdeffects+

EDIT: A local professional import agent is essential, we used the following company who were excellent.

Asian Tigers Transpo International Ltd.

[HullyGully]

Kurnell,

The 4 - 6 weeks delivery times takes into account all go well (without hitches) such as vessel sailing, customs isssues

Once you shipment container is RFS, you also may have to to wait for the next vessel departure

In general a large amount of vessels heading into Asia / Bangkok go via Singapore and the container maybe trans- shipped

My shipment came that way, also we had the usual delays with customs clearance etc

Hopefully this enlightens you