Thai Customs for passengers travelling in and out of Thailand.

[neverdie]

Hello folks,

I just picked up on this information via some Thai social media websites and in the Thai Daily news.

It would seems some Thais are getting worked up over recent changes to customs rules and apparently an announcement to crack down on people travelling in and out of Thailand.

See below;

For Thai Language & charts click on the link below.

http://www2.customs.go.th/Traveller/TravellerInfo.jsp

English version below.

ARRIVING IN THAILAND

When a Customs officer stops a passenger/traveler for a closer inspection, it does not necessarily mean that the passenger/traveler is suspected of any wrongdoing. In addition to enforcing Customs laws, Thai Customs enforces many laws for other agencies.

Duty Payment

If you are bringing in with you the items with total combined value more than 10,000 baht, these items are subject to import taxes and duties. A flat rate of duty will be applied on the dutiable items provided that:

The dutiable items are intended for personal use;

They are at a reasonable quantity and not intended for commercial use, business, or trade purposes;

The total value is not exceeding 80,000 Baht; and

Passengers are able to pay taxes and duties in cash on the date of arrival.

The dutiable items of which the quantity exceeds those allowed for personal use and/or the total value exceeds 10,000 baht or intended for commercial use (including those of which value is less than 80,000 baht) are subject to applicable taxes and duties. Please contact the Passenger Inspection Sub-Division for the payment of taxes and duties. In case where the value of the dutiable items exceeds 80,000 baht, such items will be sent to a warehouse for formal import Customs procedures. The goods are held under Customs control until a formal import Customs procedures processed at the Customs Formalities Subdivision has been completed.

A.T.A. Carnets

The A.T.A. Carnet allows the temporary import of exhibition and advertising materials, commercial samples, and scientific equipment from a signatory to the Conventions governing A.T.A. Carnets into Thailand. As long as the conditions for the use of a Carnet are observed, its use permits temporary importation without payment of duty and with the minimum of restrictions.

The A.T.A. Carnet holders arriving in Thailand should contact Customs officers at the Red Channel upon their arrival. Customs formalities and clearance of goods under A.T.A. Carnets are to be processed and completed at the airport.

At the point of departure, the A.T.A. Carnet holders are required to complete a re-exportation form, consisting of Re-Exportation Counterfoil and Re-Exportation Voucher, and submit them together with the re-exported goods to the Customs officials for verification. The Re-Exportation Counterfoil will have to be retained by the A.T.A. Carnet holder while the Re-Exportation Voucher will be retained by Customs at the point of departure.

Carnets may also be obtained for temporary duty/tax free export of goods from Thailand to a foreign country. Please contact the International Chamber of Commerce for application details.

Foreign Currency

Travelers bringing foreign currency more than USD 20,000 or its equivalent into or out of Thailand are required to make a report to Customs. This report is required by the Ministerial Regulation (No. 25) B.E. 2530 issued under the Authority of the Currency Exchange Control Act B.E. 2485 and relevant regulations.

The Regulation and Notification require that travelers bringing foreign currency, both a bank note and a coin, with the total aggregate value exceeding USD 20,000 or its equivalent, must report it to a Customs officer at a port/airport of entry or exit, using the given Foreign Currency Declaration Form. The travelers must complete, sign, and submit the Form to report their foreign currency where such currency are physically carried by a person arriving in or departing from Thailand, or where they form part of the persons baggage and that person and his or her baggage are being carried on board the same conveyance across the border.

A person who reports currency has to answer truthfully any questions that a border services officer asks about the information required for the report.

Sign at Suvarnabhumi:

[webfact]

that's interesting. Just wondering if that is the beginning of a crackdown

[neverdie]

that's interesting. Just wondering if that is the beginning of a crackdown

Hello Webfact,

I have done a little bit of digging and placed a few phone calls (White House) and have managed to establish that it would appear to be just that, a crack down.

Apparently Officials seem to be worried about people who are travelling out of Thailand and returning to the Kingdom with large quantities of goods which they later sell at markets or online.

Sadly, the limits defined of 10,000 baht and 80,000 baht worth of personal affects is set rather low and it wouldn't be hard to fall foul of the regulations on a short business trip out of Thailand, ie: Luggage bag: 10,000 baht, iPhone 30,000 baht, Laptop 45,000 baht, watch 12,000 baht, clothes.......whoops can't wear clothes already over the allowable limit and risking heft fines.

w.t.f. ?

[Sandman77]

Entered Thailand 10 years never ask or check anything

[Soutpeel]

Entered Thailand 10 years never ask or check anything

Seeing as you speak sandmanese, customs speak Thai, and questioning would be in English, one can well understand why they never bothered you

[Rooo]

Possibly to control the suitcases full of cash being loaded on departing crafts.

[neverdie]

Entered Thailand 10 years never ask or check anything

Congratulations Sandwich,

I've never been to Thailand but I've seen a few brochures and a travel show once.

Apparently this is so ethi g which has just started in the last few days, so unless you've arrived to Thailand in the last couple of days Your comment adds absolutely no value to the thread but thanks for proving that you are a newbie to Thailand.

cheers.

[bunuel]

Wite has been getting emails on this very issue from friends who want to move back to LOS. When we moved here 7 years ago, wife could ship household goods without any customs problems. These new regulations appear to eliminafe exemptions even for used personal goods, and would open uo a can of worms for any legitimate businessman relocating here with his family - or anyone working with an international organization, such as myself.

If LOS is going to impose tax on household goods as described, corporations or organizations will have two choices: 1) Compensate their employees for the additional expense; b)Move their offices to another country which does not have such onerous customs regulations.

Does anyone in TV know more about this? We just heard about it today, and I am trying to get details.

Cheers!

[neverdie]

Possibly to control the suitcases full of cash being loaded on departing crafts.

Yes, well, that covers the outgoings, but doesn't really explain the incoming stuff.

I was going to salute you for your insight......but on second thoughts

[Rooo]

Possibly to control the suitcases full of cash being loaded on departing crafts.

Yes, well, that covers the outgoings, but doesn't really explain the incoming stuff.

I was going to salute you for your insight......but on second thoughts

Well perhaps to give them a bit more ammunition to stop some folks on high end shopping trips overseas. Hmmmmmmmm does that sound better?

[neverdie]

Wite has been getting emails on this very issue from friends who want to move back to LOS. When we moved here 7 years ago, wife could ship household goods without any customs problems. These new regulations appear to eliminafe exemptions even for used personal goods, and would open uo a can of worms for any legitimate businessman relocating here with his family - or anyone working with an international organization, such as myself.

If LOS is going to impose tax on household goods as described, corporations or organizations will have two choices: 1) Compensate their employees for the additional expense; b)Move their offices to another country which does not have such onerous customs regulations.

Does anyone in TV know more about this? We just heard about it today, and I am trying to get details.

Cheers!

Thanks for posting on topic.

This is huge and has huge implications for people on this thread. I have attempted to make clarification calls on this to a customs contact I have, however I haven't had any success yet.

It could be a problem for me, as ATM I'm out of Thailand and it would seem as if they want me to return home naked as my wrist watch is 900,000 baht alone and that's before I smile at customs with my solid gold tooth or teethes (how do English write more than one tooth w. t . f.

Anyway, my point being, it may be easier to parachute in with my bags than to pass by customs who want me to pay tax on my Kelvin Klein g-strings & Julius Marlow snake skin shoes. What's the deal?

[neverdie]

Possibly to control the suitcases full of cash being loaded on departing crafts.

Yes, well, that covers the outgoings, but doesn't really explain the incoming stuff.

I was going to salute you for your insight......but on second thoughts

Well perhaps to give them a bit more ammunition to stop some folks on high end shopping trips overseas. Hmmmmmmmm does that sound better?

Yes, I can see what it's about, but I can just see a lot of pai. for those coming and going with their own stuff.

One could only hope this will be policed to the targeted group.

Not to mention Thais living outside Thailand ATM......they use to be able to retur. with their personal effects, no tax, now what?

[krisb]

10k baht of personal goods is completely stupid and ludicrous. Every single passenger would have that, and probably on them let alone the suitcase and whats inside it.

My phone is worth more than that.

[neverdie]

10k baht of personal goods is completely stupid and ludicrous. Every single passenger would have that, and probably on them let alone the suitcase and whats inside it.

My phone is worth more than that.

Exactly what Thais are saying on social media.

There's gonna be a lot more balcony jumpers at Suvarnabhumi .

[Suradit69]

Wite has been getting emails on this very issue from friends who want to move back to LOS. When we moved here 7 years ago, wife could ship household goods without any customs problems. These new regulations appear to eliminafe exemptions even for used personal goods, and would open uo a can of worms for any legitimate businessman relocating here with his family - or anyone working with an international organization, such as myself.

If LOS is going to impose tax on household goods as described, corporations or organizations will have two choices: 1) Compensate their employees for the additional expense; b)Move their offices to another country which does not have such onerous customs regulations.

Does anyone in TV know more about this? We just heard about it today, and I am trying to get details.

Cheers!

Thanks for posting on topic.

This is huge and has huge implications for people on this thread. I have attempted to make clarification calls on this to a customs contact I have, however I haven't had any success yet.

It could be a problem for me, as ATM I'm out of Thailand and it would seem as if they want me to return home naked as my wrist watch is 900,000 baht alone and that's before I smile at customs with my solid gold tooth or teethes (how do English write more than one tooth w. t . f.

Anyway, my point being, it may be easier to parachute in with my bags than to pass by customs who want me to pay tax on my Kelvin Klein g-strings & Julius Marlow snake skin shoes. What's the deal?

"tax on my Kelvin Klein g-strings"

Well if they were labeled "Kelvin Klein" they were probably made in a Bangladeshi sweatshop, so you'd be accused of abetting human traffickers and trademark infringement, but I doubt there's be much tax on your Baht 10 undies. ... although if there's an attached inflatable enhancement device that could turn into a taxable event.

[theoldgit]

Bang goes madams handbag on our next trip to Paris.

[neverdie]

10 baht......mate try adding a few more zeros.

Kelvins cost me 1000 baht more.

u r looking. in the copy shops again

[Soutpeel]

10 baht......mate try adding a few more zeros.

Kelvins cost me 1000 baht more.

u r looking. in the copy shops again

He has been buying Kevin Klein's

[neverdie]

Bang goes madams handbag on our next trip to Paris.

299 goochie handbags, no tax

[neverdie]

10 baht......mate try adding a few more zeros.

Kelvins cost me 1000 baht more.

u r looking. in the copy shops again

He has been buying Kevin Klein's

ohhh Kevin Kleins..... they come with skid marks already imprinted on them !

[tifino]

sounds more like a sanctioned scam, where the confiscators (if you can't afford the coffee money), take your goods and sell it themselves.

The rules may come from above, but all the low level red-cap uniforms will be rubbing their hands...

[laislica]

So should we carry receipts for the iPad and Galaxy 5 bought in Thailand?

[tifino]

...and then when you land back home, old mother country tries to confiscate the item(s), saying it must be a copy if bought in LOS etc

[zig]

sounds more like a sanctioned scam, where the confiscators (if you can't afford the coffee money), take your goods and sell it themselves.

The rules may come from above, but all the low level red-cap uniforms will be rubbing their hands...

Well, these rules have always been there, but have never been enforced. It would be great, if they would start enforcing them now It would do wonders for tourism ...

[Swiss1960]

if that would really be enforced... tablet, phone, watch would all need to be left home... even 80K can be easily reached and then they would confiscated your stuff...

but since they still allow you to take in 20'000 USD, you could at least buy everything you need in Thailand... maybe that is the whole trick behind enforcing the law now?

[Swiss1960]

It would seems some Thais are getting worked up over recent changes to customs rules and apparently an announcement to crack down on people travelling in and out of Thailand.

Neverdie: Since you said that you heard about this mainly on Thai networks, could it be that this is only related to tax-free import for Thai's returning home? I mean we have the same laws in Europe, if I return home, I have a certain tax-free amount of items bought abroad, and if I bought in excess, I have to go through the red channel also?

Just asking, as I can not imagine that they will start to tax foreigners who take the same items back home after their holiday...

[johnnyj]

Wite has been getting emails on this very issue from friends who want to move back to LOS. When we moved here 7 years ago, wife could ship household goods without any customs problems. These new regulations appear to eliminafe exemptions even for used personal goods, and would open uo a can of worms for any legitimate businessman relocating here with his family - or anyone working with an international organization, such as myself.

If LOS is going to impose tax on household goods as described, corporations or organizations will have two choices: 1) Compensate their employees for the additional expense; b)Move their offices to another country which does not have such onerous customs regulations.

Does anyone in TV know more about this? We just heard about it today, and I am trying to get details.

Cheers!

Thanks for posting on topic.

This is huge and has huge implications for people on this thread. I have attempted to make clarification calls on this to a customs contact I have, however I haven't had any success yet.

It could be a problem for me, as ATM I'm out of Thailand and it would seem as if they want me to return home naked as my wrist watch is 900,000 baht alone and that's before I smile at customs with my solid gold tooth or teethes (how do English write more than one tooth w. t . f.

Anyway, my point being, it may be easier to parachute in with my bags than to pass by customs who want me to pay tax on my Kelvin Klein g-strings & Julius Marlow snake skin shoes. What's the deal?

As long as you travel often, you could do, what i assume is the technically legal thing and get a Carnet for your watch

however what are the chances of your average customs guy knowing the difference between a genuine item and a beach road knockoff.

I'm hoping however this will make sorting out Carnet easier for the bike. especially if I'm flying into suvarnabhumi with the GS

[Rooo]

Possibly to control the suitcases full of cash being loaded on departing crafts.

Yes, well, that covers the outgoings, but doesn't really explain the incoming stuff.

I was going to salute you for your insight......but on second thoughts

Well perhaps to give them a bit more ammunition to stop some folks on high end shopping trips overseas. Hmmmmmmmm does that sound better?

Yes, I can see what it's about, but I can just see a lot of pai. for those coming and going with their own stuff.

One could only hope this will be policed to the targeted group.

Not to mention Thais living outside Thailand ATM......they use to be able to retur. with their personal effects, no tax, now what?

I think Thai returnees fall under the category of Importation of personal effects .Which is clearly stated in the customs web page. I really do not think they fall under the scrutiny of airport or regular customs constraints .They have to provide all the paperwork.

[neverdie]

It would seems some Thais are getting worked up over recent changes to customs rules and apparently an announcement to crack down on people travelling in and out of Thailand.

Neverdie: Since you said that you heard about this mainly on Thai networks, could it be that this is only related to tax-free import for Thai's returning home? I mean we have the same laws in Europe, if I return home, I have a certain tax-free amount of items bought abroad, and if I bought in excess, I have to go through the red channel also?

Just asking, as I can not imagine that they will start to tax foreigners who take the same items back home after their holiday...

I'm trying to find out more but I'm outside Thailand ATM, which makes things a little bit harder.

I think a few days or weeks might tell the story, same thing abou LOS and crack downs

[Crazy chef 1]

that's interesting. Just wondering if that is the beginning of a crackdown

no crackdown.

it's a new hub.