Re: Customs for "personal items" - Flying from Thailand to DaNang

Member since 10 May 2019

WavehunterActive member29 February 2020 09:33:59

Planning to move from Thailand to Da Nang next month and will be flying with personal belongings:
• 3 duffel bags of clothing personal effects , etc)
• a (very used) mountain bike in a bike box
• 31 inch LCD computer monitor
• Large photography "light box" (for editing film) also in a box and obviously used,
• and of course my carry on Lap top.

I still have receipts for monitor and light box, and tghe boxes are the original shipping boxes so they have my address in Thailand on them and date of shipment (proving are not newly purchased and are for my personal use)

1) Am I going to have any problems getting through Customs with the monitor and light box?

2) Worst case scenario, if they hit me with Duty tax, what % of value would that be?)

Jlgarbutt ViP

Member since 13 June 2018

JlgarbuttViP29 February 2020 10:12:04

1426

The key to success is preparation.
Arrive early for check in, make sure you have evidence to back up the items are personal belongings and are used and not intended for resale overseas.

Also make sure they are well packed, but also be prepared for the contents to be scanned and also potentially opened for inspection.

Value wise for taxes, if you can prove they belong to you then you should be fine. Otherwise they will determine the value of replacing as used it's and work out taxes based on that figure.

As long as you can do all the above I dont see taxes or duties for what are in effect personal effects being charged

Wavehunter Active member

Member since 10 May 2019

WavehunterActive member29 February 2020 14:40:12

You're just talking about the monitor, and anything of extraordinary value, or appearing to be new, correct?

Jlgarbutt ViP

Member since 13 June 2018

JlgarbuttViP01 March 2020 02:52:31

1426

Correct if the items look to be factory sealed the there is more chance you would be likely to sell.

That said if you can prove you paid for them and also have some of back up for moving address then I think you will be ok.

Obviously make sure nothing is on the prohibited list before you go

In a similar case when I spent some time in Australia about 10 years ago I made sure I had a list of items I was taking -laptops etc and where I got them from and where possible when.

As mentioned earlier be provided on arrival before you fly to allow the contents to be inspected as they may want to check. And also the same at the destination

Customs have a bad rep.. but be honest and comply with any requests and they are happy to help

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Wavehunter Active member

Member since 10 May 2019

WavehunterActive member01 March 2020 03:53:29

When I originally moved to Thailand, I never even considered such issues. Upon arrival within the Kingdom, I collected my checked baggage, and was simply waved through Customs without issue since I only had 2 Duffle bags and a bike box.

I assume that VN customs will probably have, more or less, the same standards, but since I will be bringing two large boxes that clearly indicate they are electronic items of some value, I'm concerned that will draw attention.

Both boxes are the original shipping boxes so they clearly show when they were purchased, have the Customs declaration for entry into Thailand on them, and have the shipping address which shows they were shipped directly to me at my home, and I have the purchase receipts.

So, I guess I have no serious concerns.

I have never encountered any "unethical" Customs agents before, but assuming the worst, what kind of duty could be imposed for a computer monitor (Percentage wise)...I'm just curious what the duty tax rate is for an item like that.