What is this Tax?

[NoshowJones]

I have been getting a few parcels delivered over the past three months from the UK, nothing expensive, just some household goods, two pairs of trainers, and a few packets of Anadin. This morning, a guy from the post office arrived, and said I had to pay about 900 Baht tax. I refused and told him to come back when my wife was here, explain to her, and she could explain to me what this tax is for. Does anyone know what it could be for? I have already paid about double the price of these items to get them sent here.

[Forethat]

Importing goods to a country is not free of charge. You have to pay tax on the value AND the cost for shipping. What you paid is irrelevant. Surely you understand this..?

Edited January 4, 2014 by Forethat

[PeterSmiles]

Import duty. Customs doesn't care if you overpaid to send the goods over.

[inthepink]

They normally ask for any duty before they hand the parcel over. I'd at least ask to see the paperwork and check the figures.

Not sure why you'd pay to have Anadin sent over here. It's easy enough to buy Paracetamol, Aspirin or Ibuprofen in Thailand.

Edited January 4, 2014 by inthepink

[williamta20012]

tax is call theft at the point of a gun, and the threat to throw u in a cage

its also a monopoly on a service or the production of a product

two coffee shops = lower prices and higher quality due to competition

if there is only 1 coffee shop which is run by the govt and u will be in a 6 month que and u will pay through the teeth by inglation and higher taxes

[taotoo]

tax is call theft at the point of a gun, and the threat to throw u in a cage

its also a monopoly on a service or the production of a product

two coffee shops = lower prices and higher quality due to competition

if there is only 1 coffee shop which is run by the govt and u will be in a 6 month que and u will pay through the teeth by inglation and higher taxes

I trust that answers your question OP.

[h90]

you pay when the parcel arrives.

If you got it, without payment and later they come than there are 2 possible things:

The postman forgot to take the money from you. He'll have all the right documents from Thai customs.

Someone want to cheat you....and has no official documents.

I just checked if I have some documents from a post shipment here so I can scan and email them...but sorry can't find any....but maybe someone else has something to show?

[Hardened Spanker]

If they gave you the package already it's game over,sounds like yet another LOS (Land Of Scams) special to me!

[NoshowJones]

They normally ask for any duty before they hand the parcel over. I'd at least ask to see the paperwork and check the figures.

Not sure why you'd pay to have Anadin sent over here. It's easy enough to buy Paracetamol, Aspirin or Ibuprofen in Thailand.

Yes, but Anadin works a lot better than Paracetamol or Aspirin, I will try Ibuprofen next time I have a sore head. Thanks.

[NoshowJones]

Importing goods to a country is not free of charge. You have to pay tax on the value AND the cost for shipping. What you paid is irrelevant. Surely you understand this..?

I did not understand this, this is the first time I have ever bought and had sent from the UK ie Amazon, but it won't be happening again.

[NoshowJones]

tax is call theft at the point of a gun, and the threat to throw u in a cage

its also a monopoly on a service or the production of a product

two coffee shops = lower prices and higher quality due to competition

if there is only 1 coffee shop which is run by the govt and u will be in a 6 month que and u will pay through the teeth by inglation and higher taxes

I trust that answers your question OP.

Yes it does, thanks.

[NoshowJones]

If they gave you the package already it's game over,sounds like yet another LOS (Land Of Scams) special to me!

Yes, they gave me a few packages over the last three months, and you are right, it is a Land of scams special.

[h90]

If they gave you the package already it's game over,sounds like yet another LOS (Land Of Scams) special to me!

Not true, no where, I got informed from the customs in Austria after one year that customs duty was calculated too low one import and I have immediately pay the difference.

I think the same is possible in Thailand.

[Rimmer]

Inflammatory personal attack on another member removed

In using Thai Visa I agree:

1) To respect fellow members.

[p_brownstone]

Occasionally if something is sent via ordinary Mail you will be assessed for Import Duty and VAT - but 95% of the time the item will be delivered to your door Tax Free by your usual Postman.

If the package IS stopped by Customs and they decide Duty is payable you get a Form in the mail telling you what is due. You then have to go to the designated Post Office with I.D., pay the Tax and collect your item yourself.

I have never heard of anyone either paying the Postman on delivery or being charged after the item has been delivered.

Patrick

[p_brownstone]

Edit : Double Post

Edited January 5, 2014 by p_brownstone

[Jayroo]

I bet he doesn't come back..

[NoshowJones]

you pay when the parcel arrives.

If you got it, without payment and later they come than there are 2 possible things:

The postman forgot to take the money from you. He'll have all the right documents from Thai customs.

Someone want to cheat you....and has no official documents.

I just checked if I have some documents from a post shipment here so I can scan and email them...but sorry can't find any....but maybe someone else has something to show?

I was never asked for any payments for any parcels, I just signed for them and that was that.

[rawhod]

Maybe some negotiation might be in order, especially if you are going to have parcels delivered in the future. They know where you live...

Edit. For any misunderstanding...Not suggesting that they will send the boys round, just that your parcel might not arrive or might have been dropped.

Edited January 5, 2014 by rawhod

[NoshowJones]

Occasionally if something is sent via ordinary Mail you will be assessed for Import Duty and VAT - but 95% of the time the item will be delivered to your door Tax Free by your usual Postman.

If the package IS stopped by Customs and they decide Duty is payable you get a Form in the mail telling you what is due. You then have to go to the designated Post Office with I.D., pay the Tax and collect your item yourself.

I have never heard of anyone either paying the Postman on delivery or being charged after the item has been delivered.

Patrick

I can assure you that all those items were delivered by either a postman on a motorbike, or someone in a van on about 3 occasions, and each time I was phoned and asked for directions to my house. Nobody ever asked for any payment.

[mogandave]

tax is call theft at the point of a gun, and the threat to throw u in a cage

its also a monopoly on a service or the production of a product

two coffee shops = lower prices and higher quality due to competition

if there is only 1 coffee shop which is run by the govt and u will be in a 6 month que and u will pay through the teeth by inglation and higher taxes

Buy locally and you don't have to pay it.

[NoshowJones]

Maybe some negotiation might be in order, especially if you are going to have parcels delivered in the future. They know where you live...

After this there wont be any more parcels except from Thailand.

[NoshowJones]

tax is call theft at the point of a gun, and the threat to throw u in a cage

its also a monopoly on a service or the production of a product

two coffee shops = lower prices and higher quality due to competition

if there is only 1 coffee shop which is run by the govt and u will be in a 6 month que and u will pay through the teeth by inglation and higher taxes

Buy locally and you don't have to pay it.

If anything I wanted was available locally, that's what I would have done.

[NoshowJones]

If they gave you the package already it's game over,sounds like yet another LOS (Land Of Scams) special to me!

Yes, they gave me a few packages over the last three months, and you are right, it is a Land of scams special.

I just remembered. May I also say that when the man from the post office came on his motorbike about the 900 Baht, he asked me to sign something in the same place as I signed for things before, I said NO, I need to know what I am signing for. He said in broken English, " My fault, not yours" , whatever he meant by that.

[samran]

tax is call theft at the point of a gun, and the threat to throw u in a cage

its also a monopoly on a service or the production of a product

two coffee shops = lower prices and higher quality due to competition

if there is only 1 coffee shop which is run by the govt and u will be in a 6 month que and u will pay through the teeth by inglation and higher taxes

Buy locally and you don't have to pay it.

Except that it's effectively already included in the price if you live in Thailand and are behind a tariff wall.

[samran]

tax is call theft at the point of a gun, and the threat to throw u in a cage

its also a monopoly on a service or the production of a product

two coffee shops = lower prices and higher quality due to competition

if there is only 1 coffee shop which is run by the govt and u will be in a 6 month que and u will pay through the teeth by inglation and higher taxes

Except you have a choice about not living in a country without such high tariff walls if that is a deal breaker for you.

[mogandave]

tax is call theft at the point of a gun, and the threat to throw u in a cage

its also a monopoly on a service or the production of a product

two coffee shops = lower prices and higher quality due to competition

if there is only 1 coffee shop which is run by the govt and u will be in a 6 month que and u will pay through the teeth by inglation and higher taxes

Buy locally and you don't have to pay it.

Except that it's effectively already included in the price if you live in Thailand and are behind a tariff wall.

There is no import duty on products that are manufactured locally, but I'm sure you already know that.

[p_brownstone]

Occasionally if something is sent via ordinary Mail you will be assessed for Import Duty and VAT - but 95% of the time the item will be delivered to your door Tax Free by your usual Postman.

If the package IS stopped by Customs and they decide Duty is payable you get a Form in the mail telling you what is due. You then have to go to the designated Post Office with I.D., pay the Tax and collect your item yourself.

I have never heard of anyone either paying the Postman on delivery or being charged after the item has been delivered.

Patrick

I can assure you that all those items were delivered by either a postman on a motorbike, or someone in a van on about 3 occasions, and each time I was phoned and asked for directions to my house. Nobody ever asked for any payment.

Which is exactly what I Posted, if you take the time to read properly.

By far MOST times that will happen with items sent by ordinary Post - USPS from the 'States, Royal Mail (or whatever silly name they use now) from the U.K. etc. etc..

Delivered straight to your door by your usual Postman.

Maybe 5% of the time the shipment will be stopped at Customs and you have the Customs Department demanding Import Duty and VAT etc. and the procedure then is as I have explained.

Patrick

Edited January 5, 2014 by p_brownstone

[h90]

you pay when the parcel arrives.

If you got it, without payment and later they come than there are 2 possible things:

The postman forgot to take the money from you. He'll have all the right documents from Thai customs.

Someone want to cheat you....and has no official documents.

I just checked if I have some documents from a post shipment here so I can scan and email them...but sorry can't find any....but maybe someone else has something to show?

I was never asked for any payments for any parcels, I just signed for them and that was that.

From these with higher value on half I had to pay....Often someone had to got the the customs place (close to the airport??) to check it with the customs officer and pick it up, which needs half a day :-(

[chuckd]

Any shipment arriving from another country that exceeds $30 in value is assessed an import tax to be collected by the postal authorities.

My last shipment was valued at $20 and flew right through.