Help with Customs

[Singsing]

Hey guys. Girlfriend and I are embarking on a year long trip to find a new home in SEAsia, meaning we'll, in all likelihood, be traveling around for a while. I smoke a pipe and know full well that pipe tobacco can be illusive in the region, meaning I would like to carry my own supply with me (that's about 3 lbs). Last time I visited, I went through 4 countries with around 100 cigars, not knowing any better, and never had a problem. Ignorance is bliss, I suppose.

This time around I am aware of personal allowances, but it's unclear what will happen if I declare my tobacco. I assume I will have to pay extra? Does anyone have any idea how much in duties that amount of tobacco would be? Would it be possible to declare but fudge my weights or the value of the tobacco? Is not declaring even remotely worth the risk?

If it matters, we are in our early 30's, American, and pretty straight laced looking.

I know everyone probably tires of answering tobacco related questions and I apologize, but I really could use some words of wisdom.

Thanks, everyone.

Edited November 25, 2015 by Singsing

[Sophon]

I can't answer for other countries, so the following information is only about Thailand.

Importing tobacco products (and alcohol) beyond the personal allowance into Thailand requires an import license, so you cannot pay duties at the airport. If you were to go through the red channel and declare your tobacco, the excess would be confiscated. If going through the green channel and caught you would receive a serious fine (I believe in the region of 10 times the value of the tobacco). And, of course, the tobacco would be confiscated.

Sophon

Edited November 25, 2015 by Sophon

[Crossy]

Sophon has it, limit is 500 grams of baccy (1.1 lbs) and no way of paying duty on any overlimit.

However since there are two of you split 1kg (500g each, make sure it's clearly 'yours' and 'hers') and you can safely go through green.

[Singsing]

Hey there. I would like to thank you guys for responding. I appreciate the feedback. With that being said, I've seen you say this same thing multiple times throughout these threads and I would like to correct you. It's bad information. After some research, a conversation with a customs officer, and an email confirming our conversation, I can without a doubt say that it is absolutely possible to pay duties on overages at Swampy.

From my email:

Dear Sir,

According to your enquiry, if you bring over the regulation of Customs, you have to pay import duty from excess quantity (250 grams) and duties are approximate below:

- Import duty is 60 % (from cost, insurance, and freight)

- Excise Tax will depend on kind of your item, for tobacco, the excise tax is maximum 87% or 1.00 baht/a gram, so in this case we would like to suggest you to directly contact The Excise Department.

- The extra 2 % of the Excise Tax for Health Tax (imposed by Thai Health Promotion Foundation);

- The extra 1.5 % of the Excise Tax for supporting TPBS (imposed by Thai Public Broadcasting Service);

- The extra 2 % of the Excise Tax for supporting SAT (imposed by Sports Authorities of Thailand);

- VAT 7% (from all above)

[Sophon]

Hey there. I would like to thank you guys for responding. I appreciate the feedback. With that being said, I've seen you say this same thing multiple times throughout these threads and I would like to correct you. It's bad information. After some research, a conversation with a customs officer, and an email confirming our conversation, I can without a doubt say that it is absolutely possible to pay duties on overages at Swampy.

From my email:

Dear Sir,

According to your enquiry, if you bring over the regulation of Customs, you have to pay import duty from excess quantity (250 grams) and duties are approximate below:

- Import duty is 60 % (from cost, insurance, and freight)

- Excise Tax will depend on kind of your item, for tobacco, the excise tax is maximum 87% or 1.00 baht/a gram, so in this case we would like to suggest you to directly contact The Excise Department.

- The extra 2 % of the Excise Tax for Health Tax (imposed by Thai Health Promotion Foundation);

- The extra 1.5 % of the Excise Tax for supporting TPBS (imposed by Thai Public Broadcasting Service);

- The extra 2 % of the Excise Tax for supporting SAT (imposed by Sports Authorities of Thailand);

- VAT 7% (from all above)

It's not bad information. The information you received above is for someone who has an import license (which you won't be able to get), that is why they refer you to the Excise Department. Up to you what you want to believe.

Sophon

[trotbot]

This is one of those unique scenarios that occur in Thailand. Sophon is correct that legally, anything excise product in excess of your personal allowance requires an import license (and as private individual, this is not going to be granted). However, I have been through the red channel with excess alcohol and paid customs duty and import VAT with my passport number shown on an itemised receipt, but not excise duty as there is no way to legally collect it without a license. Customs then warn you about Excise Officers patrolling outside. Because of this risk, I no longer try my luck.

It should also be noted that the excise rates quoted in that letter are excise inclusive rates, so the 87% is actually an effective rate of 670%, on top of the CIF plus customs duty (so 670% of 1.6 times what you paid for the tobacco, and then the other taxes on top of all of that). In total, it is upwards of 1000%

Singapore has no duty free limit for tobacco and if you are seen with duty unpaid packaging in Singapore the police will search your hotel room and you will end up in court.

Your best course of action (apart from giving up of course) is to find out where to buy pipe tobacco. In Thailand, Villa Supermarkets certainly used to stock pipe tobacco, I couldn't swear that they still do. Probably worth a separate thread.

[WaywardWind]

In Pattaya, both Friendship and Best markets carry pipe tobacco. No idea about other locations, nor other supermarkets.