Value used for importing used household items

[moogradod]

When we (Thai wife, my mother and me (both German) will enter Thailand for retirement (probably TE Visa or non-O) we will bring a number of household items with us - not only kitchen supplies, but clothes, books, guitars, electronics (stereo, guitar effects, PCs, home theatre equipment and a lot of CDs and DVDs (around 2000), carpets and you name it.

Being a housewife, my wife has never worked and it therefore seems that she will not be eligible for import duty exempt - so putting everything in her name (or at least the most) would probably not help.

1.What would be the value of items used for any import duty calculations that are used for a long time and completely depreciated ? (Example: electronics) – I believe that the calculation should not be based on the price that one would have to pay for a brandnew item – let alone the value of items which are not available anymore on the market. I have a PC on which I need to run DOS 3.1 (!!) in order to configure an equalizer - and now this is one old piece of equipment as you can imagine - but same question applies to a 3-year old expensive Ice-Cream Maker etc.

2.What happens to items bought in Thailand and will now be reimported (we do not have any papers or bills) – namely handbags and clothing

I know that the value of the item, shipping costs and insurance are added to calculate the import duty - but what is the value for a used item - cannot be the acquisition cost - or not ?

[berybert]

When you choose the comapny that will move you they will give you a price.

That will be the price you pay.

Moving is easy, sadly lots of people worry about things like import duty etc. and make something easy a stressful event.

[Lamkyong]

When you choose the comapny that will move you they will give you a price.

That will be the price you pay.

Moving is easy, sadly lots of people worry about things like import duty etc. and make something easy a stressful event.

sorry information incorrect/inacurate

[berybert]

When you choose the comapny that will move you they will give you a price.

That will be the price you pay.

Moving is easy, sadly lots of people worry about things like import duty etc. and make something easy a stressful event.

sorry information incorrect/inacurate

No it isnt. If you use an international removal comany they will give you a price based on what you have. You will pay the bill and then get your goods.

If you are moving from England to Bangkok you will deal with the English side of the removal company virtually from start to finish. The only time you deal with the Thai side is when you are arranging the delivery date and time.

[happynthailand]

if your wife has been out of country for more than a year

SHIP EVERY THING IN HER NAME,

when we (wife and me) moved to Thailand we shipped a 62ft shipping container with just about our whole house in it,

she paid NO DUTY,on any thing,as she had been out of Thailand for more than one year,

she will have to show her passport with her visa's in it

it doesn't matter if she worked or not,to shipping container was never opened still had the seal that I put on it in the USA

just mark everything as used,and make a good list of just about everything you ship

make three(3) copy's of your packing list,one goes with the container,one for the shipping copy ,and you keep the last one

you will have to put a deposit on the container if you have it delivered to your home,you will get the deposit back when they get the container but,if

I remember right it was 50000K for the deposit OH THEY DELIVERED THE CONTAINER FREE,there was no charge

Sorry forgot,you don't have to put the value of the items shipped

[moogradod]

Thanks happyhthailand, this sounds very good - but maybe you were just fortunate. When visiting the Thai customs website, then a prequisite for the wife to be exempt seems to be that she had a working contract. I will anyway ship all in my wifes name but want to be prepared for the worst scenario and therefore just wonder what would be the value for used items if in the worst case something would have to be payed. If nothing needs to be indicated so be it, but what if someone suddenly asks for payment. Then on what basis ?

My have does not have a visa in her passport - she has been granted permanent residance in Switzerland. When she leaves the country forever, then she has to give back the corresponding papers, but we may make a certified copy. The Thai passport itself was issued in Switzerland at the Thai Embassy. We now stay more than 10 years here.

Actually I do not want to worry about import duty and things like this and not "make something easy a stressful event" as berryberds puts it - and it would for sure be no stress if I could pay any bill to whoever without thinking twice. Unfortunately for me as a not so very wealthy person, the stress sets in once the bill might get high.

[berybert]

Thanks happyhthailand, this sounds very good - but maybe you were just fortunate. When visiting the Thai customs website, then a prequisite for the wife to be exempt seems to be that she had a working contract. I will anyway ship all in my wifes name but want to be prepared for the worst scenario and therefore just wonder what would be the value for used items if in the worst case something would have to be payed. If nothing needs to be indicated so be it, but what if someone suddenly asks for payment. Then on what basis ?

My have does not have a visa in her passport - she has been granted permanent residance in Switzerland. When she leaves the country forever, then she has to give back the corresponding papers, but we may make a certified copy. The Thai passport itself was issued in Switzerland at the Thai Embassy. We now stay more than 10 years here.

Actually I do not want to worry about import duty and things like this and not "make something easy a stressful event" as berryberds puts it - and it would for sure be no stress if I could pay any bill to whoever without thinking twice. Unfortunately for me as a not so very wealthy person, the stress sets in once the bill might get high.

Any decent reemoval company will give you a free quote, They will come to your house to see what you have and then tell you what it will cost.

There then will be no surprises.

The company shipping your goods add all customs duty into the bill.

As I say, let them do the worrying for you.

[saorsa]

I can let you know after 2nd July as we are shipping our belongings from Singapore to Thailand then. The removals company who did our estimate said since my wife has been out of Thailand > 1 year, likely nothing to pay, but if we do have to pay, then it will be much cheaper if we don't need a receipt

[moogradod]

Thank you all ! I am very much interested how it went for you, saorsa and I hope you can manage well.