Importing a car on retirement visa.

[Carlie7]

I have been informed and have had the Thai documentation read to me by a foreigner, who was born in Thailand. That I am able to import one car for personal use tax free, within the first year of my retirement visa.

I am wondering if anyone is aware of this and have actually done it successfully.

[ThaidDown]

You were given incorrect information, there is no such provision.

[Crossy]

Moving to Motoring, but I agree with ThaiDown, no such provision

[i claudius]

Dont even think about it ,a friend of mine did 12 years ago ,never even saw the car again

[steve187]

as i claudius posted, sell it and buy a new one in Thailand, try the search function on here, read a few threads and then make the same decision yourself.

edit spelling

Edited April 5, 2015 by steve187

[gerry123]

yes you may be entitled to a one off household effects tax free import within 6 months of arriving but motor vehicles are certainly not included in fact they are named specifically as not included

[Naam]

yes you may be entitled to a one off household effects tax free import within 6 months of arriving but motor vehicles are certainly not included in fact they are named specifically as not included

you don't have any import entitlements when on retirement.

[casualbiker]

I believe a returning Thai national can as long as the vehicle has been owned for 18 months previous to import. They also need to obtain an import licence prior to shipping.

[p_brownstone]

yes you may be entitled to a one off household effects tax free import within 6 months of arriving but motor vehicles are certainly not included in fact they are named specifically as not included

Exactly - Motor Vehicles are specifically excluded :

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

"NOTE: Motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages and tobacco are excluded from this relief."

Please also note the clear distinction between "Household effects" and "Personal effects"

Patrick

[Naam]

I believe a returning Thai national can as long as the vehicle has been owned for 18 months previous to import. They also need to obtain an import licence prior to shipping.

the OP is a foreigner.

[DoctorG]

Malaysia yes, Thailand no.

[fxe1200]

Moving to Motoring, but I agree with ThaiDown, no such provision

...the tax free import of a vehicle can be done upon a retirement in Malaysia.

[gerry123]

Moving to Motoring, but I agree with ThaiDown, no such provision

...the tax free import of a vehicle can be done upon a retirement in Malaysia.

Malaysia.???

hello this is Thailand calling over

[wjhall]

As I understand it there is a total ban on the import of second hand cars due to all the scams etc that were taking place to avoid paying duty

[Anon999]

Investigated the possibility years ago and discovered the duties and VAT that customs will add at the point of import will not be decided until they have seen the car. How long is a piece of string?

You would need to be an inveterate gambler to risk such a move.

[Suradit69]

I don't think those retiring in Thailand qualify for any duty-free clearance. It wasn't allowed when I moved here, although I wasn't charged much and I used a clearing agent to do all the paperwork.

IMPORTING USED / SECONDHAND HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS

Returning Thai residents who have been abroad for one year or longer, for the purposes other than touring are eligible to bring in household effects acquired abroad free of taxes and duties. In addition, nonresidents changing their residence to Thailand may import the household effects subject to the conditions stated below without payment of import taxes duties.

The term “household effects” includes all goods which are normally necessary to equip a self-contained home e.g. furniture, carpets, books, musical instruments, paintings, tableware, stereos, linens, and similar household furnishings, etc. To be eligible for tax and duty free allowance, the importers are required to have owned, possessed, and used the household effects before they return to Thailand to resume residence. It is important that the importers meet the three requirements of ownership, possession, and use. For example, if they owned and possessed the goods without using them, the goods would be subject to regular taxes and duties. Personal effects accompanied with the owner traveling into or out of Thailand, including any goods used or will be used commercially are not eligible as household effects and cannot brought in tax and duty free as the household effects. NOTE: Motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages and tobacco are excluded from this relief. 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.

REQUIREMENTS FOR CHANGING OF RESIDENCE

• Nonresidents: Nonresidents may import the used/secondhand household effects acquired abroad tax and duty free if such household effects accompanied them in the change of residence and they are qualified under the criteria listed below:
• Nonresidents resuming residents in Thailand must be granted a non-immigrant quota as shown in a passport or a Nonresident Identification Card; or
• Nonresidents granted to work in Thailand are regarded as resuming residents in Thailand provided they have a one-year non-immigrant visa issued by the Immigration Department. In case where the non-immigrant visa has not yet been granted, either of the following documents may be accepted:
  • The letter from the Immigration Department certifying that the nonresidents shall be granted an annual temporary stay in Thailand; or
  • The work permit from the Department of Labor to work in Thailand for at least one year.
• Nonresidents entering Thailand as an expert, specialist, or under a contract of government agencies are required to present the letter from relevant agencies certifying that such nonresidents are granted a non-immigrant visa issued by the Immigration Department and shall work in Thailand not less than one year.

Accompanying spouses of the nonresidents in (2) and (3) are regarded as resuming residence in Thailand provided the spouses have non-immigrant visas issued by the Immigration Department to stay in Thailand for the first 90 days.

• Thai Residents: Thai residents may import the secondhand/used household effects acquired abroad duty-free if such household effects are accompanied them in the change of residence and they are qualified under the criteria listed below:
• Thai residents or government officials work or carry out a working visit abroad for at least one year. In case where the Thai residents/government officials must return to Thailand before one year, evidence showing that the return is caused by the termination of contracts, reshuffle of positions, or early termination of working visits, is required.
• Thai residents working abroad under other reasons than those indicated in (1) are required to undertake a commitment that they shall return to Thailand to resume residence.
• Thai students, government officials study abroad for at least one year.

DocumentS

• An Import Declaration (Customs Form No. 99/1);
• A passport;
• 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).

Clearance Procedures

When the importers arrive in Thailand, they have to contact the Customs office at the port of entry to clear the household effects from the Customs custody. They will need to prepare all documents as required by Customs to claim tax and duty free importation of the household effects and follow the processes listed below:

• The importer/agent submits an Application for Tax and Duty Free Allowance, Import Declaration, and all supporting documents to the Customs office at the port of entry;
• Customs verifies the documents and the Application for Tax and Duty Free Allowance and charges taxes and duties on any household effects not eligible for tax and duty free allowance;
• The importer/agent pays taxes and duties (if any) at the Cashier Division, and then contact the Customs to release goods; and
• Customs inspects the imported household effects against the Declaration. If there is no discrepancy between the Declaration made and the goods inspected, all goods will be released.

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

[Eaglekott]

Your friend read that for you on April 1st?

And I believe the rule that a Thai national could import a car tax free was taken away some years ago. To many students returned with a brand new Lamborghini.

[fish fingers]

I believe a returning Thai national can as long as the vehicle has been owned for 18 months previous to import. They also need to obtain an import licence prior to shipping.

out of interest how long must the thai national be living abroad to meet the criteria?

[KimSamui]

Sorry but my experience with my Thai spouse was financial suicide at every turn.

Customs Agent will rip you off. Customs will Rape you, the pollution control certificate will be unattainable and you will never get a book for the car so the car will not be readily salable, while the plates will cost you THB70,000 or so.

That is if you have all documents correct, if you do not you will lose more possibly the car.

The whole process could take years too.

[thailand49]

What you hear and what you see is not exactly what you get at the docks. What? has been asked like a million times and a million times the answer has been NO!

Another future retiree who can't seem to live without his toy! They do have cars here you know.

[Carlie7]

Thanks for all your input guys.

[recycler]

How much of your retirement fund do you want to blow on this exercise?

Unless you are loaded and attached to the car like it was our willy, I would say: don't even think about it.

[thrilled]

Just buy your car in Thailand.No headaches

[Balance]

When I moved here, I had personal effects shipped sea freight and they arrived very soon after I did. I had a freight broker in CM handle the paperwork and shipping.

At the time, I also found some documentation buried in customs English web site with a legal citation that personal effects on retirement visa would be exempt from duty. When customs was made aware of the documentation, they responded that if the crate had landed after I had the retirement visa, I would have paid no duty. However, I had to wait three months before I got the retirement visa (money in bank wait), so when the crate cleared customs I was still on the Business Visa.

I have no idea if that documentation still exists, or if it would have applied to a vehicle, but it would be much cheaper to ship a car in if it is the case.

If you have the documentation, have an attorney look at it and verify that it still exists.

Good luck.

[Balance]

Just buy your car in Thailand.No headaches

Good advice. Used cars are pretty cheap right now.

[doesitmattter]

Just buy your car in Thailand.No headaches

Good advice. Used cars are pretty cheap right now.

Used cars in Thailand pretty cheap?

You must live in another Thailand!

Yes, they are a bit cheaper than before, but cheap? No!

[phantomfiddler]

A friend went to the customs dept in Laem Chabang, showed them the brochure and price of some electronic recording equipment that he wished to import and wanted to know how much the import tax would be. They refused to tell him and said "Bring it here and then we will decide" ! (DELETED) Forget it, see if you can find what you want in country and go from there. (DELETED)

Edited April 5, 2015 by seedy
Insulting to Thai People

[poweratradio]

Moving to Motoring, but I agree with ThaiDown, no such provision

I believe there is a provision for a Thai national returning from abroad to bring their personal affects back to Thailand tax exempt but not sure if that would include and Automobile. Worth some digging into if you have a Thai national in your corner.

[Sviss Geez]

Your friend read that for you on April 1st?

And I believe the rule that a Thai national could import a car tax free was taken away some years ago. To many students returned with a brand new Lamborghini.

The exemption still exists.

Your assertion is just plain nonsense as brand new vehicles would not be eligible for exemption. As long as a student can prove that he was the registered owner of the vehicle for at least 18 months before importing it whether the car was a Lamborghini or a Lada would not make any difference at all.

[Carlie7]

As usual there is lots of conflicting advice. I have spent a good deal of money on this car and would not be able to replace it with another car here. If that was so, I would sell it and buy another here as it would be pointless.

Many people here waste their money in many ways, eg sending money to some family they hardly know in Isaan, rather than their own back home. I would not advocate this, but believe in free choice.. I will keep you posted on this probably foolish errand. Thanks for the advice.