How to bring all of your household items to Thailand without any tax or charges?
The Thailand retirement visa is available to anyone aged 50 years or older who have the financial means to retire in Thailand. The visa itself is good for as long as a year, and the holder of the retirement visa is allowed to enter or leave the country as often as he likes during the duration of the visa. While you are a resident, you must report to the nearest department of immigration every 90 days to complete the 90 days report. This document lets the authorities know where you are living and ensures that you are safe in that location. If you wish to renew your Thai retirement visa, you may do so one week before the expiration date of your current visa.
To be eligible for the Thai retirement visa, you must have a Thai bank account and a statement which proves that you have had a balance of at least 800,000 THB 2 months before your apply for the Thailand retirement visa. Conversely, you are also eligible if you have a pension of at least 65,000 THB per month. However, if you wish to retire in Thailand, but lack these financial requirements, we at TILA Legal can help to find an agreeable arrangement. In addition, you must first have a Thai non-immigrant visa as well.
Once you obtain your Thai retirement visa, you need not worry: you can bring all of your household items to Thailand from your home country without any tax or charges.
Importing Used/Secondhand Household Effects
Returning Thai residents who have been abroad for one year or longer, for the purposes other than touring are eligible to bring in household effects acquired abroad free of taxes and duties. In addition, nonresidents changing their residence to Thailand may import the household effects subject to the conditions stated below without payment of import taxes duties.
The term “household effects” includes all goods which are normally necessary to equip a self-contained home e.g. furniture, carpets, books, musical instruments, paintings, tableware, stereos, linens, and similar household furnishings, etc. To be eligible for tax and duty free allowance, the importers are required to have owned, possessed, and used the household effects before they return to Thailand to resume residence. It is important that the importers meet the three requirements of ownership, possession, and use. For example, if they owned and possessed the goods without using them, the goods would be subject to regular taxes and duties.
Personal effects accompanied with the owner traveling into or out of Thailand, including any goods used or will be used commercially are not eligible as household effects cannot brought in tax and duty free as the household effects
NOTE: Motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages and tobacco are excluded from this rebate.
Requirements for Duty Free Allowance
Both Thai and non-Thai residents changing residence into Thailand are eligible to bring used/secondhand household effects into Thailand, in reasonable quantities, free of taxes and duties. It is also required that the imported used/ secondhand household effects have been owned, possessed, and used in the country where the importers resided before returning to Thailand to resume residence.
In case where the household effects are electrical appliances e.g. radios, televisions, refrigerators, microwaves, ovens, air conditioners, etc., only ONE unit each of such items is eligible for tax and duty free allowance. However, if it is the family change of residence, TWO units each of the items will be allowed to bring in tax and duty free. Any excess unit shall be subject to regular taxes and duties, and Customs will place the items that have the lowest rate of duty under tax and duty exemption.
It is important that the used/secondhand household effects must be imported not earlier than one month before or not later than six months after the arrival of the importers. Under exceptional circumstances, Customs may extend the time limits for the importers.
Requirements for Changing of Residence
- Nonresidents: Nonresidents may import the used/secondhand household effects acquired abroad tax and duty free if such household effects accompanied them in the change of residence and they are qualified under the requirements listed below:
- Nonresidents resuming residents in Thailand must be granted a non-immigrant quota as shown in a passport or a Nonresident Identification Card; or
- Nonresidents granted to work in Thailand will be regarded as resuming residents in Thailand provided they have a one-year non-immigrant visa issued by the Immigration Department. In case where the non-immigrant visa has not yet been granted, either of the following documents may be accepted:
- Nonresidents entering Thailand as an expert, specialist, or under a contract of government agencies are required to present the letter from relevant agencies certifying that such nonresidents are granted a non-immigrant visa issued by the Immigration Department and shall work in Thailand not less than one year.
- Thai Residents: Thai residents may import the secondhand/used household effects acquired abroad duty-free if such household effects are accompanied them in the change of residence and they are qualified under the criteria listed below:
- Thai residents or government officials work or carry out a working visit abroad for at least one year. In case where the Thai residents/government officials must return to Thailand before one year, evidence showing that the return is caused by the termination of contracts, reshuffle of positions, or early termination of working visits, is required.
- Thai residents working abroad under other reasons than those indicated in (1) are required to undertake a commitment that they shall return to Thailand to resume residence.
- Thai students, government officials study abroad for at least one year.
- An Import Declaration Form (Customs Form No99/1);
- A passport;
- Nonresidents are required to submit the following documents:
- The letter issued by the Immigration Department confirming that an annual temporary stay is granted;
- A one-year (or more) work permit issued by the Department of Labor;
- The letter from a relevant government agency confirming that a non-immigrant visa from the Immigration Department is granted and that working period in Thailand is not less than 1 year, for those entering Thailand as an expert, specialist, or under government contracts;
- Thai Residents are required to submit an evidence of changing residence e.g. a transcript, reshuffle of positions, termination of employment contract, etc.;
- A Bill of Lading or air waybill;
- A Foreign Transaction Form if the CIF value exceeding 500,000 Baht;
- An invoice (if any);
- A Delivery Order;
- A packing list or sale documents (if any);
- A permit in case of restricted goods;
- An application for taxes and duty free allowance; and
- Other documents e.g. a letter of authorization (if any).
- The importer/agent submits an Application for Tax and Duty Free Allowance, Import Declaration Form, and all supporting documents to the Customs office at the port of entry;
- Customs verifies the documents and Application for Tax and Duty Free Allowance and charges taxes and duties on any household effects not eligible for tax and duty free allowance;
- The importer/agent pays taxes and duties (if any) at the Cashier Division, and then contact the Goods Clearance Division; and
- Customs inspects the imported household effects against the Declaration. If there is no discrepancy between the Declaration made and the goods inspected, all goods will be released.
