dhend25

I will be traveling to Bangkok Thailand in mid-November. I have never traveled internationally before so this is all very new to me. I have searched for information regarding what I am allowed to enter the country with. I understand that there is a 20,000 baht exemption for personal effects. Certainly my 4 year old macbook air is probably worth that much. My Galaxy note smartphone is also in that value range. Do they mean used personal possessions like those I just mentioned, or are they talking about "New in-box" items? Like gifts or such? I find this very confusing. I don't want to wind up in a Thai prison my first trip..Lol.
Any advice or clarity to my question would be much appreciated.

DH

Yoshi212

You have to declare items you intend to bring into the country and consume or leave in the country. Gifts, alcohol and such are included in this category but you get the 20k Thai Baht allotment. Beyond the 20k Baht you have to pay a duty on goods.

The same will happen when you return to your own country.

dhend25

Thank you for your reply to my question. Do items like my used macbook and smartphone count against this 20,000 baht allotment?

nux

Not unless you plan to leave them in the country.

Yoshi212

As Nux has said, unless you plan on leaving those items in Thailand you do not even declare them. Only declare items you're intending on bringing in & leaving in the country or will consume while in country.
For example. I am about to travel from US to Qatar, South Africa & the UK before returning to the US. I will probably purchase souvenirs in Qatar, South Africa & London but will declare them only when I return to the US. I will declare (some of) the wine I purchase in South Africa in the UK & the remainder upon return to the US as we will probably consume a bottle or two with friends in London and bringing 6 bottles with me into the country would probably raise some questions. I have done this many times before and only once been asked to pay a duty (tax) on the wine at either place.

dhend25

Thank you both so much for clarification of my question. It now makes some sense. Before it did not make sense to me. Your explanation makes this much clearer. Thank you again for your kind and very helpful response to my question. Have a good and safe trip!

Yoshi212

And you enjoy your trip also. If you have questions for your return flight and customs just ask.

dhend25

Thank you again!! I will sleep much better tonight because of your helpful answers.

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

if you are arriving in the UK from outside the EU you are permitted to bring in 4 litres of wine, and up to two litres of spirits and or fortified or sparkling wine.

you must declare if you are over this limit... it doesn't matter if you intend to take them out again or not. 6 bottles means you need to declare them all. you may be asked to pay duty in the excess.

CJKatl

I've entered Thailand a couple dozen times over the past few years with a bag that contains a now four year old MacBook Air, a much more valuable work PC, an iPhone, a Blu Android phone, an expensive set of earphones, a MiFi device and, sometimes, a projector. I've never been questioned, nor have I wound up in a Thai prison.

bwiadca

What would happen if you have some gifts worth about 15K BHT don't declare them?

Dr. HFH

Depends on whether or not you get caught. I assure you, -- you don't want to be detained by the authorities at BKK.

dsquared37

What are the chances of being caught with articles (plural) worth <$500?

Dr. HFH

I've probably entered Thailand more than a hundred times, and my bags have only been x-rayed on entry once.

dsquared37

Same here, in fact the one time customs asked me to place a bag into the machine they only wanted one of the two.