Importation of household goods duty free with retirement visa

[JolyonB]

Can anyone confirm that a UK national with a new Retirement Visa can import his household goods duty free within a fixed period of moving?. The web sites I have read are not clear on this point

[ubonjoe]

This webpage will inform you that you will need to pay duty on your household goods. http://www.customs.go.th/wps/wcm/connect/custen/individuals/importing+used+or+secondhand+household+effects/importingusedsecondhandhouseholdeffects+

[oncearugge]

Thai Customs detail in the link

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

An O/A visa holder does not appear to be eligible for duty free importation of household goods.

[jacky54]

send in a Thais name if you can, they will not be charged.

[Suradit69]

send in a Thais name if you can, they will not be charged.

The people in Customs are not stupid. A Thai who pitches up to claim household goods sent from someone in the UK (the sender would have to ship the goods in his farang name & ID and attach a description of contents) is not going to be allowed to remove the items duty-free.

The O/P should clearly mark the items as "used personal effects and household goods" sent to himself. In most cases it would be best to hire a Thai clearing and shipping agent who will be familiar with the process and can deliver the goods to the O/P's residence. The O/P would supply his passport to have the items cleared. Assuming the items sent are clearly used personal and household goods the customs duty won't be very much. I did it when I first arrived on an O-A visa. The clearing agent delivered everything to my home very quickly and at very little cost.

The O/P would not be doing himself any favors but starting his stay in Thailand by doing something illegal. Just engage an agent, pay the nominal duty charges and enjoy your life in Thailand ... and stay clear of people advising you to bend the rules or suggesting you try to game the system. There's no need to do something illegal and you might end up paying more, facing delays or having your possessions seized.

[happynthailand]

When we moved to Thailand from the US we shipped a 60foot shipping container,packed with everything we could think of

that we might need in Thailand,shipped it in the wifes name,with packing list,conainter was never opened ,still had the seal

that was put on the container in the states,and was shipped right to our door step,had to put a 50000TB deposit down which was returned

once the container was returned to the shipper

we paid no duty on the whole container

my wife is Thai

[ratcatcher]

When we moved to Thailand from the US we shipped a 60foot shipping container,packed with everything we could think of

that we might need in Thailand,shipped it in the wifes name,with packing list,conainter was never opened ,still had the seal

that was put on the container in the states,and was shipped right to our door step,had to put a 50000TB deposit down which was returned

once the container was returned to the shipper

we paid no duty on the whole container

my wife is Thai

More likely a 40ft container. 60 footers don't exist.

[oncearugge]

When we moved to Thailand from the US we shipped a 60foot shipping container,packed with everything we could think of

that we might need in Thailand,shipped it in the wifes name,with packing list,conainter was never opened ,still had the seal

that was put on the container in the states,and was shipped right to our door step,had to put a 50000TB deposit down which was returned

once the container was returned to the shipper

we paid no duty on the whole container

my wife is Thai

As a Thai resuming residence in Thailand your wife was entitled to import used household goods without incurring Customs charges.

The OP's situation is somewhat different to your wife's.

[KhunG]

We shipped a container also. My TW had to have been out of the country a full 12 months prior to shipping to be eligible for the duty free import. Other than that, I think only individuals who are taking up a work assignment get duty free household goods import.

[jacky54]

send in a Thais name if you can, they will not be charged.

The people in Customs are not stupid. A Thai who pitches up to claim household goods sent from someone in the UK (the sender would have to ship the goods in his farang name & ID and attach a description of contents) is not going to be allowed to remove the items duty-free.

I sent two lots in mrs name we were not charged anything. First time she had to go to customs with ID you do NOT have to send in your own name.

[Naam]

When we moved to Thailand from the US we shipped a 60foot shipping container,packed with everything we could think of

that we might need in Thailand,shipped it in the wifes name,with packing list,conainter was never opened ,still had the seal

that was put on the container in the states,and was shipped right to our door step,had to put a 50000TB deposit down which was returned

once the container was returned to the shipper

we paid no duty on the whole container

my wife is Thai

More likely a 40ft container. 60 footers don't exist.

they do exist.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=60+foot+container&lr=&hl=en&as_qdr=all&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CCEQsARqFQoTCIDkiIbd68gCFSJQpgodH0AJIA&biw=917&bih=579

[ratcatcher]

When we moved to Thailand from the US we shipped a 60foot shipping container,packed with everything we could think of

that we might need in Thailand,shipped it in the wifes name,with packing list,conainter was never opened ,still had the seal

that was put on the container in the states,and was shipped right to our door step,had to put a 50000TB deposit down which was returned

once the container was returned to the shipper

we paid no duty on the whole container

my wife is Thai

More likely a 40ft container. 60 footers don't exist.

they do exist.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=60+foot+container&lr=&hl=en&as_qdr=all&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CCEQsARqFQoTCIDkiIbd68gCFSJQpgodH0AJIA&biw=917&bih=579

Thank you very much for that informative link Naam.

I seriously was not aware that there were 60 foot containers in use and I was, at one time, in the intermodal business with CNRail. I knew that 53' cans were used as well as the most common 40 foot and 20 foot units.

My apologies also to happynthailand for doubting his accuracy.

One lives and learns.

[Naam]

When we moved to Thailand from the US we shipped a 60foot shipping container,packed with everything we could think of

that we might need in Thailand,shipped it in the wifes name,with packing list,conainter was never opened ,still had the seal

that was put on the container in the states,and was shipped right to our door step,had to put a 50000TB deposit down which was returned

once the container was returned to the shipper

we paid no duty on the whole container

my wife is Thai

More likely a 40ft container. 60 footers don't exist.

they do exist.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=60+foot+container&lr=&hl=en&as_qdr=all&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CCEQsARqFQoTCIDkiIbd68gCFSJQpgodH0AJIA&biw=917&bih=579

Thank you very much for that informative link Naam.

I seriously was not aware that there were 60 foot containers in use and I was, at one time, in the intermodal business with CNRail. I knew that 53' cans were used as well as the most common 40 foot and 20 foot units.

My apologies also to happynthailand for doubting his accuracy.

One lives and learns.

i had my doubts too. some years ago i mentioned in this forum that we shipped a 60 foot high cube container from Florida to Thailand and was immediately corrected by an expert who was in the shipping business that "60' mai mee!". he was right (at that time) because i meant that my 40' HC container was loaded with 60m³.

only recently i found out that 53 and 60' container exist when i tried to lecture a friend "60' no have!" and was proved wrong.

[IMA_FARANG]

As I recall some years back (1or2 coups ago in Thai political time) I recall that one of the so-called perks of retiring to Thailand legally was free shipping of household goods on retirement to Thailand.

If that ever was really done by the government at that time, it no longer applies.....like many things formerly promised the new retiree in Thailand.

[Naam]

As I recall some years back (1or2 coups ago in Thai political time) I recall that one of the so-called perks of retiring to Thailand legally was free shipping of household goods on retirement to Thailand.

If that ever was really done by the government at that time, it no longer applies.....like many things formerly promised the new retiree in Thailand.

i paid a peanuts amount of import duty (approximately $ 1,100) although the shipment was insured for $500k. container was delivered unopened with the lock intact. it all depends on the selection of a professional shipping and clearing company.

[jes]

You can`t. Only ones who can are returning Thai Citizens been outside Thailand for a year or more, people with Work permit and diplomats. And again only if all papers are ok and if the things they import follow the current rules. Eg. only one thing of each electrical object. We used an Bangkok based moving Company and they handled everything very professionally. Very import to have a good Company here to handle everything for you.

[PeeJay1959]

. Eg. only one thing of each electrical object.

Hmmm so if you take your HiFi. you only get one speaker lol

[LivinLOS]

14 years ago I shipped a block of household goods.. My wife had been outside Thailand for 5 years and qualified for duty free import.. Sent entirely in her name.

Once it got here, and into customs hands, suddenly it was 'too much' you can only have one of any item.. so 2000 DVDs ?? 1999 of them needed taxing.. 3 computers.. 2 of them needed taxing.. etc etc etc

The first pitch was for 50k or so.. I was refusing to pay.. Next time I came to the place my stuff was strewn around an unsecured area with all kinds of joe public walking past it all.. a projection home theater with 10 grand projector.. Multi 1000 usd amps.. The final straw was when they said maybe they needed to crack my marble speakers (7500 USD of speakers) open to 'see if anything inside'.. In the end I managed to collar the boss on lunchbreak, make a direct deal that he got and wouldnt need to kick down to underlings, and IIRC paid about 15 grand. Welcome to Thailand.

Moral of the story is.. whatever the rules are, they can change them once they have your stuff.

[bristolgeoff]

From what my friend did she brought many things inThailand .electrical was duty other things ok. But generally brought many in the country to avoid this problem