Shipping to the Phillipines personal and household items.

Tee2 New member

3POSTS

last week

I am planning to retire to The Philippines at the end of this year.

For my personal belongings and household items should I either...

A.Ship soon → pay whatever Philippine duty/VAT actually applies, but avoid several months' Japanese storage.

B. Store in Japan → storage + insurance + perhaps extra handling, then ship after SRRV issuance and claim the exemption on up to $7,000.

There is another path that is worth investigating before I decide. CMTA Section 800(i) independently allows Customs to exempt personal/household effects belonging to a person “coming to settle in the Philippines”, provided Customs is satisfied that the person is genuinely settling and the goods come from their former home. The legislation itself does not state the SRRV's $7,000 ceiling for that category.

So potentially have two different routes, rather than one:

SRRV/PRA privilege: explicit $7,000 maximum + within 90 days of SRRV issuance.

Philippine Retirement Authority

CMTA 800(i): general exemption for people coming to settle, with no dollar ceiling stated in the statute, but requiring Customs/DOF satisfaction that the conditions are met.

That's the part I want to investigate before I pay to store anything for four months. If 800(i) is practically available to you before the SRRV is granted, paying ¥X per month to store everything merely to obtain the later $7,000 SRRV concession might make no economic sense.

Can anyone offer advice, personal experience, knowledge in this matter?

Thank you in advance

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bigpearl ViP

4367POSTS

last week

Welcome to the forum Tee2.

Your questions? How long is a piece of string. Are you single or partnered/married to a Filipino national? Do you have a home/property to receive a container load of goods? So many questions I'm sorry. We purchased near 10 years ago after searching for years to find the right property, 2 years of planning and packing /selling up to retire here and not for the feint hearted.

I don't know the 800(i) general exemption but yes the SRRV has a simple US 7K exemption for expats on that visa status and I would recommend an earlier trip before retirement to secure that visa to gain the exemptions.

Evaluate the the shipping costs and headaches against other visa options. Quality furniture is available here but you pay for it. I'm simply on a visitor visa for over 7 years and Sure we leave the country every 2/3 years and have a holiday, Visitor visa costs me under P 28K per year.

Don't rush a move here especially if you've never been, take your time and research as PH. can be an acquired taste.

Good luck mate.

Cheers, Steve.

The Philippines expat guide

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Enzyte Bob ViP

4357POSTS

last week

bigpearl asked Tee2 . . . How long is a piece of string.

*********************************

Is that on a tampon?

2 members reacted to this post

Kbustin16 New member

2POSTS

last week

@Tee2

My move to the phillippines cost me a total of

$10,000.00 including the $7000 tax credit

from the USA my SSRV cost $1,500 plus

another $1500 for tests and attorney fees

I only shipped 4 square meters of personal items

That was 3 years ago

I’m leaving to go back to the USA and the shipping Greg was the same so far my stuff is on the boat headed to the USA

I hoping there is no on port taxes as a the stuff came from the USA originally

Tee2 New member

3POSTS

last week

@bigpearl

THank you for your reply.

I am a Brit, a widower and retiring from Japan where I live.

I have been to Philippines, Davao 5 times which is the area I intend to settle.

I have friends there who will put me up until I decide otherwise.

So not a complete newb but also any experiences offered is welcomed.

Thankyou.

J. Foster Member

2POSTS

last week

@Tee2

My two cents…

In our case, if it is too big for a LBC box it don’t go. After being here 6 mths you might decide Thailand is your forever home. From all my research, it’s best to keep some connection to to home. It may not be household goods. It could be just a promise..

1 member reacted to this post