KinKinReowReow Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 With the moronic taxes on wine here, I often bring back a bottle or two more than allowed when I travel. However, I am heading to France soon and I want to bring back 6-8 bottles back of hard-to-find wines. Needless to say, I would prefer not to get caught and run the risk of getting my bottles confiscated. Has anyone any experience of surrendering at Customs and get them to work out a tax by bottle to be paid on the spot? More specifically, how do they calculate the tax on the individual bottles? Whatever tax there is to be paid, can I pay with credit card there? And any other good advice on this subject? Thank you in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieK Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 I would hazard a guess that you would have to pay 100% duty on any declared items. Just hope you don't get stopped at customs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post chickenslegs Posted February 16, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 16, 2020 (edited) I'm pretty sure that I've read that you need a licence to import any quantity of alcohol above the 1lt limit. If correct, this would mean that you won't be permitted to pay tax/duty to bring the wine in. It will be confiscated - maybe even a fine added. Edited to add a link ... http://www.customs.go.th/list_strc_simple_neted.php?ini_content=individual_160503_03_160905_01&lang=en&left_menu=menu_individual_submenu_01_160421_01 Edited February 16, 2020 by chickenslegs 4 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salerno Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 (edited) 30 minutes ago, KinKinReowReow said: Has anyone any experience of surrendering at Customs and get them to work out a tax by bottle to be paid on the spot? No personal experience but as I understand it, you can't take more than 1 litre regardless. Quote The excess quantities of cigarettes, tobacco or alcoholic beverages must be dropped in the box provided by Customs, otherwise prosecution will be carried out. http://www.customs.go.th/list_strc_simple_neted.php?ini_content=individual_160503_03_160905_01&lang=en&left_menu=menu_individual_submenu_01_160421_01 Edited February 16, 2020 by Salerno Added quote and link 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinKinReowReow Posted February 16, 2020 Author Share Posted February 16, 2020 Thank you for the replies so far. @chickenslegs, very useful link. Thank you. As I read it, I am going into the Case 1, which states: Case 1 Passengers' accompanying belongings which are not for commercial purpose and do not exceed 200,000 baht in valueProcedure Customs officers at the "Goods to Declare" channel assess flat rate duty and taxes Passengers make payment of duty and taxes by cash or debit/credit card Passengers are provided with payment receipts and retrieve their belongings The key word here is flat rate duty, as this will most likely be a lot less than the "real" duty that you would pay in retail, as this duty is measured in large by the perceived retail value. If anyone has direct experience with this, please chime in, as I would be interested in knowing what the flat rate duty would be and how they calculate that there on the spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salerno Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 11 minutes ago, chickenslegs said: Edited to add a link 555 Snap! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukrules Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 5 minutes ago, KinKinReowReow said: The key word here is flat rate duty, as this will most likely be a lot less than the "real" duty that you would pay in retail, as this duty is measured in large by the perceived retail value. I believe it's actually much higher than the correct tariff rate. I'm sure I've read about someone wanting to do this before on this forum and there were problems. Something about it not just being an import duty, there's excise tax as well. Read this : https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/785664-bringing-wine-in-at-bkk-for-personal-use/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nrasmussen Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 I researched this previously and I reached the conclusion that without an import license it is not possible to bring in more than 1 l. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salerno Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 15 minutes ago, KinKinReowReow said: would be interested in knowing what the flat rate duty would be and how they calculate that there on the spot. As mentioned, I don't think there is one - 1 litre max. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salerno Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 An interesting read https://loyaltylobby.com/2018/05/27/update-be-careful-with-duty-free-limit-when-bringing-alcohol-to-thailand-75000-thb-fine/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenslegs Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 10 minutes ago, KinKinReowReow said: Thank you for the replies so far. @chickenslegs, very useful link. Thank you. As I read it, I am going into the Case 1, which states: Case 1 Passengers' accompanying belongings which are not for commercial purpose and do not exceed 200,000 baht in valueProcedure Customs officers at the "Goods to Declare" channel assess flat rate duty and taxes Passengers make payment of duty and taxes by cash or debit/credit card Passengers are provided with payment receipts and retrieve their belongings The key word here is flat rate duty, as this will most likely be a lot less than the "real" duty that you would pay in retail, as this duty is measured in large by the perceived retail value. If anyone has direct experience with this, please chime in, as I would be interested in knowing what the flat rate duty would be and how they calculate that there on the spot. I think you are wrong. But I'm not an expert. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinKinReowReow Posted February 16, 2020 Author Share Posted February 16, 2020 Thank you for all your advice. Seems like there's no way around it and it will continue to be a bootlegger's life for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenslegs Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 7 minutes ago, KinKinReowReow said: Thank you for all your advice. Seems like there's no way around it and it will continue to be a bootlegger's life for me. Bring it in by sailboat, at night ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinKinReowReow Posted February 16, 2020 Author Share Posted February 16, 2020 Aye, at next new moon it will be. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talahtnut Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 (edited) 42 minutes ago, KinKinReowReow said: Thank you for all your advice. Seems like there's no way around it and it will continue to be a bootlegger's life for me. If you go through the green channel, and get stopped, you might lose the lot. I always go through the red channel, and declare, quite often they are fairly lenient if you're not too greedy. All baggage goes through a scanner so they know whats inside. Edited February 16, 2020 by talahtnut addition 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelseafan Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, KinKinReowReow said: Thank you for the replies so far. @chickenslegs, very useful link. Thank you. As I read it, I am going into the Case 1, which states: Case 1 Passengers' accompanying belongings which are not for commercial purpose and do not exceed 200,000 baht in valueProcedure Customs officers at the "Goods to Declare" channel assess flat rate duty and taxes Passengers make payment of duty and taxes by cash or debit/credit card Passengers are provided with payment receipts and retrieve their belongings The key word here is flat rate duty, as this will most likely be a lot less than the "real" duty that you would pay in retail, as this duty is measured in large by the perceived retail value. No, the duty on retail should be the same based on country of origin, what you are seeing is the retailer adding their own margin. They've got to make some money too. I seem to recall that NZ and Aus wine are a lot cheaper than wine from USA as the former have agreements for reduced duties. Edited February 16, 2020 by Chelseafan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerseytoBKK Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 1 hour ago, talahtnut said: If you go through the green channel, and get stopped, you might lose the lot. I always go through the red channel, and declare, quite often they are fairly lenient if you're not too greedy. All baggage goes through a scanner so they know whats inside. Thanks for this info! What is "not too greedy"? 4 bottles, 6 bottles? Wine or hard liquor? How much do you pay for amounts over the permitted 1 liter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BestB Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 (edited) Do not know about wine but once got done with a suitcase full of vitamins , supplements and protein . They asked how much it was all worth , I told them $500. They charged me from memory 3000 baht . In reality it was all worth about $1500 Keep in mind , this is when I was busted, usually they do not bother checking , this was one and only time in 20 years Edited February 16, 2020 by BestB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChaiyaTH Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 1 hour ago, JerseytoBKK said: Thanks for this info! What is "not too greedy"? 4 bottles, 6 bottles? Wine or hard liquor? How much do you pay for amounts over the permitted 1 liter? Not too greedy would be 2 bottles as that is 1 more than you technically can bring already. I always do that and even carry it in a duty free bag visible, never any issue. Guess I would try 2 in a check in luggage + 1 from duty free by hand if flying from France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treetops Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 On 2/16/2020 at 2:23 PM, talahtnut said: All baggage goes through a scanner . . . . Are these confirmed as being in operation yet? It was reported they would be by early 2020, but I haven't seen any confirmation or recent discussion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LomSak27 Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 I watched a couple 'surrender' and declare two bottles over the limit of hard alcohol. The bottles were taken away and given a 100 euro fine per bottle. ???? I'm sure this was just an fluke, but given what I saw, I would never do it. In fact I'm game planning what will happen when the scanners are installed, and they hook me in for more than 'three months personal consumption' and try to extort money from me. That is for non alcoholic beverages. And if they can, I am sure they will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon43 Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 If you got a long, flexible plastic tube, you could fill it up with wine and push it maybe 9 metres up your backside. Based on the cross-sectional area of your large and small intestines, I calculate that you could probably smuggle quite a few litres of wine that way. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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