Importing A Desk From Singapore -- Customs?

[JayBird]

Hello,

 

I couldn't find a desk I liked in Thailand, nor is having one custom made really an option for what I'm looking for.  I did find one I liked in Singapore.  And had a couple of questions:

 

1) Any problems if shipped with TNT express (will this cause duty to be even more?)

2) Is it true that duty is charged on the shipping fee AND the insurance fee?  (i.e: 500$ desk, 500$ shipping, duty is charged on 1000$?)

3) Should I expect an actual 20% (or is it 30%?) duty to be charged, or could this amount be up to the discretion of the customs officer?

4) Should I expect the customs officer to base the fee on the bill included with the item, or will they re-appraise the desk's value based on their own discretion?

 

For what it's worth, it's a combo metal/plastic desk with embedded chair and multiple jointed moving parts and rotating arms.  It comes as a (mostly) flatpack that requires assembly.

 

 

Thank you.!

[shady86]

The duty will be charged based in CIF value of the product. You might want to import from country of origin as I doubt Singapore make furnitures. It doesn't matter which company you use. I would suggest to import under personal effect if you know someone moving to Singapore.

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[JayBird]

I'm looking here: http://igtf.customs.go.th/igtf/en/main_frame.jsp

 

It seems to suggest 80% duty.  Which is a lot.

 

Is this correct?  Is there less (no) duty if I was to purchase directly from China?

 

 

[shady86]

You may specify an Hs code to declare during import but if the item is inspected, they might ask you to change the code and pay a fine of 500thb for wrong Hs code.

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[JayBird]

I'm not sure what the HS code would be for this exact type of desk.

But does 80% duty sound correct?

 

Is it the same if it comes directly from China?

 

Thank you.

[observer90210]

Don't ASEAN member countries have a preferential tax chart?

 

Singapore and Thailand are members of ASEAN.

 

I would directly ask the customs officials and on the worst case, some tea money would definately solve the issue when the parcel arrives, just like many other things in LOS!