Import Duty of Personal goods

[Jennyau]

We are Australians looking to move to Phuket shortly. We are applying for a retirement visa and want to bring our furniture etc with us. We were told by the embassy here in Abu Dhabi, currently living in the UAE, that we could take our household belongings with us and not be charged on the items that are used, although she did recommend we don't take any electronic things with us at all. We are aware of some things being taxed, like new items, pushbikes, golf clubs etc. Does anybody know 1. How much is charged on these items....is it worth bringing "old" items with us....more for sentimental and also the added cost to replace..??? 2. Had removalist firm today saying that everything would be taxed unless on a Non Immigrant Visa "B". ....Everything I've read on the net doesn't mention this at all. Feeling totally lost and worried now that we will just have to dispose of all our loved things or payout an absolute fortune to bring it there.

Hope someone has some recent insight to this and can help...

thanks heaps

[CharlieH]

As I understand it, if you are not a Thai national returning, and you are not moving here due to relocation for work purposes, then you will pay relevant import duty on your items.

My advice would be to dispose of as much as you can and replace it here.

You will have to decide for yourself just how "sentimental" certain items may be. Talk with a reputable Freight company to get general guidance and handle the "paperwork". As for the Thai Customs, that can be very much a lottery as to what and how much you will actually end up paying.

Similar thread here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/566305-importing-personal-belongings-and-household-goods/

if you do a search on "importing personal items" you will find many threads on the subject.

[Jennyau]

Thanks heaps Charlie.....just devested if this is the case. I'm trying to find out what costs are likely to be but hard deciphering it all.

[CharlieH]

There is also a website called "duty calculator" that provide guidance on what may be likely.

http://www.dutycalculator.com

[donsonny]

Can bring electric items, but 1 of each. Like 1 TV etc. Have a friend here, he paid bath 20.000 on a retirement visa.

There are rules regarding importing personal items. But the custom officers go their own rules. Never mid what the internet say.

Get hold of a good moving company like we did. We didn't pay anything.

[pgrahmm]

After they took my car they really didn't care what else I brought in.....As I had some art and good furniture I'd wished I'd brought I would say it's a crapshoot.....It depends on who wants what after they inspect the manifest & supportive pictures - presumatively after they've located their highest bidder.....

[Jennyau]

Thank you all.....i contacted a member from an old thread on who they used and didn't get charged....getting a quote tomorrow from them and see how we go. if we have to pay that's ok, well sort of...lol, but i'd like to at least have a ball park figure that we MIGHT get hit with and then weigh up our options. Thanks for all your help.

[JAFO]

Expanding a bit from CharlieH's post # 2, if your spouse is a Thai National they can bring back items void of duty tax EXCEPT anything automotive. The spouse also has had to reside outside Thailand for at least 3 years (used to be 2). This is a one time only deal. A B1 Visa is a bit complicated as it depends on a few factors but will not dive into those being you are coming on a personal move.

Other than that , tough question to answer as you will find answers from "I got taxed a ton" to "they didn't even open my container". IMHO I would lean on being taxed on it all and this way no disappointment or stress when here. If nothing happens or only part of it then the rest is all upside. How much one would be taxed on each item will be a bit of an unknown,

I am packing up my belongings again to move back currently. Container comes in 3 weeks. My wife( a Thai national) is handling all of the paperwork.

Again as a few have stated, have to decide the value of what you want to bring and how long you plan on living in Thailand. My recommendation is, if you are going to do the cargo container load it up. Make the cost be worth it. If not, bring what you can in a suitcase and buy here.

Best of luck on your travels

[Jennyau]

Thanks JAFO....no thai spouse...just 2 old aussies...lol I think we'll just fill our 20ft container and hope for the best...we have some more removalists coming for quotes and hopefully we can get some more insight as to rough idea of worse case scenario.

thanks again

[meatboy]

as charlie stated and my experiance its what the agent can screw you for,and how much they have to put in the brown envelope.

but if as you say "I WILL BE DEVESTED" then you had better weigh things up,as there will be much more to add on before you settle.

thailand is not cheap,especially medical costs so make sure you have good cover.then there is your immigration status,before you come you have to apply for a non-o visa to enter thailand then after awhile you can apply for an extension of stay based on retirerment[1900bht] for which you need to show 800,000bht.that has been in a thai bank in your name only,2months prior to applying.

good luck.

[donsonny]

I think that is wrong that so many try to discourage people to sell their stuff and buy new here. Not so much in this thread, but in many others that deals with this topic. Yes, customs officers may be some pigs in many areas. But compared to what new costs out here. I'm not talking about the street shops that sell Thai quality furniture, but about but the stores that sell western quality furniture. These places are often more expensive example. Europe due to the freight out here and 30% luxury import tax. I tried to look at a Bang & Olufson TV. It cost twice the money as in my home country. I would at any time send my stuff. Because you always have things that are very personal, there can be memories and many times also inherited. And again the cost for buying the same out here, can be a very expensive experience.

[Jennyau]

We have our Retirement visa's underway....just getting paperwork sorted. Been to the Thai embassy here and all can be done in one day. So that side is good. Medical....well that's another question and a lot of research to go through for what will be best for us I guess. I guess it was panic mode yesterday as we thought all was good to bring all our things without duty, only to be rudely awakened....lol We did receive information from a removalist to the worse case duty that could have to be paid and we can live with that.....just hopefully it doesn't happen......so 20ft container here we come...As to cost of living.....anywhere on earth is cheaper than the UAE....everything here is extremely expensive so Thailand will be great. We have our house in Phuket waiting for us and can't wait to get there to settle in.

thanks all

[meatboy]

I think that is wrong that so many try to discourage people to sell their stuff and buy new here. Not so much in this thread, but in many others that deals with this topic. Yes, customs officers may be some pigs in many areas. But compared to what new costs out here. I'm not talking about the street shops that sell Thai quality furniture, but about but the stores that sell western quality furniture. These places are often more expensive example. Europe due to the freight out here and 30% luxury import tax. I tried to look at a Bang & Olufson TV. It cost twice the money as in my home country. I would at any time send my stuff. Because you always have things that are very personal, there can be memories and many times also inherited. And again the cost for buying the same out here, can be a very expensive experience.

the op.needs to visit here and check out prices for himself.after 20yrs.away but visiting on a regular basis we knew what to have shipped over.

if you spend time in the kitchen,then a good set of stainless steel pots and pans and cutlary.oven proof dishes and plates,a good wok,bedding,cotton sheets,duvets,

and one thing we had on our list [DONT LAUGH] wallpaper and paste.furniture we found some good independant suppliers and all of it although over 6yrs.old its still perfect.

[JAFO]

In total agreement with DonSonny and Meatboy, To acquire quality things in Thailand is waaaay more expensive. I went over the math many many times. You can buy quality hardwood furniture for well over half of what it costs in Thailand sadly. I personally love Teak and Rosewood products but GOOD GRIEF!!!, Better dig deep. As was said SST cooking pans and pots, great silverware, top quality cotton bed linens, bed spreads, clothing, shoes, boots and tools are worth their weight in gold as far as I am concerned.

[Sealbash]

I have relocated back to Thailand 3 times in the past 10 years with a container of household goods each time. The import was done by a reputable relocation company and was under my Thai wife's name. No import duty was charged on any items. The relocation company informed me if the shipment was imported under my name, duty would apply.

Just my experience.