A recent forum thread titled Buying stuff via Mail Order, which was started by a reader asking about Thailand import duty on bike parts from online retailers like Evans Cycles and Chain Reaction Cycles, produced some good responses that may be helpful to others. One of the more detailed responses included photos and gave a good description of the Thai postal form you will receive if your package is held at the post office, requiring payment of import duty and value added tax fees.
Here are the details of a package I ordered from Chain Reaction Cycles (CRC) in the U.K.
I chose it to be delivered standard (which was free from Chain Reaction Cycles) and it took approximately 22 days to arrive (3 weeks). I did not choose DHL or any other Express delivery option.
The contents were listed simply as ‘New Cycling Goods’ (by CRC) and they were valued at 45.49 GBP. The weight of the package was 1.095 Kg.
Photo 1 – The standard postal form that you will receive in your mailbox when a package has arrived and you need to visit the post office in order to collect it. This standard form is stating that a fee (consisting of Import Duty + Value Added Tax) is due upon pickup and the post office will also require the item to be signed for (by the recipient with some form of photo ID).
Photo 2 – On the standard postal form there will be a stamp stating (in Thai and English) that your parcel is Subject to Customs Law and that each item in your parcel valued over 1,500 Thai Baht will be charged for Import Duty and Value Added Tax.
Photo 3 – On the outside of my parcel a customs official determined that the value of 45.49 GBP (about 2,250 THB) for the ‘bike part’ should be taxed at a 10% rate. This percentage will be written on the outside of the parcel and noted on the standard postal form. The customs official has the authority to open the parcel in order to determine if the items listed and/or the value written is correct or fraudulent.
Photo 4 – The 200 Thai baht Import Duty fee is written on the standard postal form. It is shown as 10% of the 2,000 Thai baht value of my ‘bike part’.
Photo 5 – An additional 154 Thai Baht was collected for Value Added Tax (VAT). This amount is 7% of the 45.49 GBP (in Thai Baht of course).
So, my standard delivery parcel valued at 45.49 GBP, weighing 1.095 Kg from Chain Reaction Cycles in the U.K. cost me a total of 374 Thai Baht to collect.
There was a 20 baht ‘handling fee’ that the post office charged on top of the 354 baht I paid for Import Duty and Value Added Tax.
200 Import Duty + 154 Value Added Tax + 20 Post Office handling fee = 374 Thai baht
Have you ordered bicycle parts online and had them delivered to Thailand? Care to comment or share your experience? Comment below.
I was charged 30% on bike parts (the custom form only said “parts),
What do it do to get it down to the correct rate, 10%
I ordered 2 bike helmets from bike24 I paid tax-free price-19% In Thailand same 10% and 7% one helmet became 9800baht in Thailand is the price for the same helmet 14500baht
I ordered 2 bike helmets from bike24 I paid tax-free price-19% In Thailand same 10% and 7% one helmet became 9800baht in Thailand is the price for the same helmet 14500baht
Another reason I moved to Cambodia, I have never paid more than $1.25 for anything I have imported. I have rebuild a bicycle and had Mavic XT wheels shipped from Germany, all types of pars shipped from the USA, and of course China, and Hong Kong. Import cost $1.25. Over 4 years I have spent around $2000 on my bicycle and my total out of pocket for import duties is no more than $20. Ex Thai expat now loving the hospitality of Cambodia.
Hi,
I’m thinking of ordering a new bicycle from Evans cycles in the UK shipped to here in Thailand.
Am I correct in saying that 19% UK VAT will deducted and 10% + 7% will be added for me to pay here in Thailand same as bicycle parts?
Mark – Thai customs uses different percentages (7-40% of value) for complete bicycles of different types (Road, MTB, kids bikes, cruisers, etc.,). If you’re considering shipping a new bicycle in to Thailand it would be best to bring it with you on a flight or have it shipped to you in a household goods type of shipment.
Ulysses – Thank you for your advice.
Hi Ulysses im just looking now on bringing a bike in to Thailand .Do you get charged VAT in the airport in Thailand ? If so i was going to buy a second hand near new bike and hopefully wont get Charged on ?
Never had an issue when bicycles arriving by air with owner.
No charge on used (second-hand) bikes arriving by air.