Moving to Phuket and want to bring household contents - am I unusual?

[Tapster]

Hi,

My wife and I are moving to Phuket in 2014, from Johannesburg in South Africa.

I have encountered an unexpected problem......we haven't seen a suitable rental property which comes unfurnished. Everywhere seems to come filled with somebody else's stuff!

Is it unusual for people to move to Phuket with all their household contents?

When I moved from the UK to South Africa I took everything with me and moved it into my rented house. No problem: instant home set up!

I'm not looking for advice on property as such; I'm interested in the experiences of other expats.

Should I be adjusting my expectations or can I expect to find somewhere that will fit the bill?

I need a workshop as I'm always tinkering with some project or other. I have a garage-full of tools and 'stuff' (there was never room for a car!).

To give that up and live in some condo from the pages of Homes and Gardens would not suit me at all.

Comments, please!

[Ping]

You can look through real estate ads here online. Some places come unfurnished/partially furnished, but the majority are furnished (usually with low-end stuff). I would never contemplate shipping my stuff here because it is unlikely that the shipping costs would render it economical. However, others have done so and will no doubt tell you of their experiences. As to customs exemption for importing household goods, read here:

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

[Pomthai]

Yep, import duty can be high plus you then pay vat on top. If for example ship 500,000bahts worth of goods and the duty was 10 percent, say shipping was 30,000k. It'd be 530,000+10%=583,000.

Then they hit you with a 7%vat on the giving you a grand of 623,810. That's an additional 93,810baht.

Be warned.

[stevenl]

Quite often the places you will find locally come unfurnished, the ones you rent via brokers/websites come furnished.

Many unfurnished places for rent here.

I have BTW imported household goods here taxfree, no problems at all.

Edited November 30, 2013 by stevenl

[LivinginKata]

I guess most folks like to maintain a home in their home country, maybe rent it out to make some money, so leave their furnishings at home. Shipping can can be expensive and Thai import taxes can be shocking, plus the usual 'tea' money. And you never know, Phuket might not work out for you, then you have to pack it all up again. For sure most rental homes come full furnished, you might get lucky and find an unfurnished place, like a new build property. Best of luck.

[Tapster]

Thank you, guys. Good points all!!

I left the UK with all my stuff. We're leaving South Africa and selling up completely - it looks likely that the Rand is taking a dive and so are the fortunes (financial and otherwise) of white people in SA.

In short, I have nowhere to leave anything, except in storage which means that I can't have the use of it. I realise that there are possible import duty implications but I hope to minimise these if at all possible -- much research to follow - many thanks for the link, Ping.

@Stevenl Were you just lucky that you weren't charged import tax? If you'd explain in more detail I'd be very grateful. Please pm me if it's not something you want to post on the forum.

@Livingin Kata I've been coming to Thailand since 1987 and I'm sure we'll like living here for long enough to justify the cost of bringing our stuff. If or when we move on I'm sure it will serve me equally well in a cottage in the UK as in Phuket. I can live very well out of a rucksack when on the move but if I set down roots it really helps me to have my stuff around me. As is often said, we are guests in Thailand and not integrated in the way we are back home. At least our home can be a place of familiar comforts and emotional security.

[Tapster]

......and regarding the 'locally' advertised rentals, many of which may be unfurnished, how might I best find out about these, please.........given that I speak no Thai yet?

[stevenl]

@Stevenl Were you just lucky that you weren't charged import tax? If you'd explain in more detail I'd be very grateful. Please pm me if it's not something you want to post on the forum.

I just followed the procedure as outlined in the link given by Ping, which allowed me to import household goods duty free. No tax, no hassle, no problems. I did meet the requirements mentioned of course.

[Tapster]

I'm looking forward to reading Ping's link but http://www.customs.go.th won't open in Chrome or Firefox. Maybe Saturday's a holiday!!

But, @Stevenl.......... any thoughts on these 'local' rentals and how I might find out about them. Many thanks!!

[stevenl]

I'm looking forward to reading Ping's link but http://www.customs.go.th won't open in Chrome or Firefox. Maybe Saturday's a holiday!!

But, @Stevenl.......... any thoughts on these 'local' rentals and how I might find out about them. Many thanks!!

Both the link and the general page are opening for me in Firefox.

To find 'local rentals' you have to be here on the ground and drive around.

[Tapster]

Cool, customs link opened successfully. Thanks.

It seems that I will satisfy the tax-free conditions/regulations. That's one big problem out of the way.

We're going to do a lot of driving around when we arrive in Phuket. We plan a 3-month furnished rental while finding the perfect long-term home for rent.

We'll pay only six weeks' storage for the container as it takes six weeks to ship the stuff anyway.

Bring cats over.

Home in Thailand sorted for now!

Yay!

[hansgruber]

If you really like your furniture I say bring it.

I had nice furniture and sold it off when I left Germany. I regret it to this day.

Furniture is rubbish here and expensive for what it is.

[Langsuan Man]

Cool, customs link opened successfully. Thanks.

It seems that I will satisfy the tax-free conditions/regulations. That's one big problem out of the way.

We're going to do a lot of driving around when we arrive in Phuket. We plan a 3-month furnished rental while finding the perfect long-term home for rent.

We'll pay only six weeks' storage for the container as it takes six weeks to ship the stuff anyway.

Bring cats over.

Home in Thailand sorted for now!

Yay!

You had better re-read the blurb from the Customs page and make sure you really qualify. They use some terms that are confusing so you must pay strict attention to what it exactly means, especially the term Nonresidents

• Nonresidents are required to submit the following documents:
• The letter issued by the Immigration Department confirming that an annual temporary stay is granted;
• A one-year (or more) work permit issued by the Department of Labor;
• The letter from a relevant government agency confirming that a non-immigrant visa from the Immigration Department is granted and that working period in Thailand is not less than 1 year, for those entering Thailand as an expert, specialist, or under government contracts;
  • Thai Residents are required to submit an evidence of changing residence e.g. a transcript, reshuffle of positions, termination of employment contract, etc.;
• A Bill of Lading or air waybill;
• An invoice (if any);
• A Delivery Order;
• A packing list or sale documents (if any);
• A permit in case of restricted goods;
• An application for taxes and duty free allowance; and
• Other documents e.g. a letter of authorization (if any).

As far as how others have fared , it has always been reported here at Thai Visa that some get hit with huge Customs Bills, some don't. It appears to be the luck of the draw on what is required by the Customs Agent that is assigned to your shipment and the rules are, like all things in Thailand, are just a guide and not guaranteed

One of the wrinkles is that once your goods arrive in Thailand they are immediately moved to a secure customs warehouse and while you or your representative are "discussing" your entitlements the storage fees can eat you alive

[Old Croc]

When I moved here 3 1/2 years ago I had two, tea chest sized, boxes of household items shipped over.

(kitchen utensils, towels, small electrical goods, etc.) It only happened because my TGF was in

Australia when I moved. One suitcase would have been enough for me!

Customs duty was free, but it was a huge hassle filling in the paperwork and getting it out of the

airport. I was there for half a day going from office to office.

Shipping costs were quite high and, I worked out, were probably more than the value of the items

shipped.

IMO you're better off divesting yourself of most of your "stuff" before moving.

[EBlair48]

You might get in in easy, but getting out might be a whole different story- especially any kind of antiques, heirloom or valuable items like Persian rugs.

[Tapster]

You might get in in easy, but getting out might be a whole different story- especially any kind of antiques, heirloom or valuable items like Persian rugs.

Hi,

Good point!

I had read that export of such items might create problems. I'm thinking that the best thing would be to keep copies of the import documents which would obviously prove that the items were not sourced in Thailand.

Do you have any personal experience of this issue?

Cheers

[Thai at Heart]

Yep, import duty can be high plus you then pay vat on top. If for example ship 500,000bahts worth of goods and the duty was 10 percent, say shipping was 30,000k. It'd be 530,000+10%=583,000.

Then they hit you with a 7%vat on the giving you a grand of 623,810. That's an additional 93,810baht.

Be warned.

Huh? Personal effects are tax free.