Thai Customs Procedures and Duties
A few years ago buying Model Engineering supplies from overseas used to be simple. You placed your order, the goods arrived, and if there was any Thai Customs Duty payable you paid it at the local Post Office.

Smaller value parcels were delivered with no tax or duty to pay.

Now that has all changd. Every parcel is checked by Thai Customs and tax/duty charged. The parcels are then sent to Customs House in Surin near the border with Cambodia which is a five hour journey by car from where I live in Pakchong. I have to travel to collect the parcel from Customs House in Surin and to pay the tax and duty.

What can you tell me about the new cutom’s procedures, and when these new laws/regulations came into effect?

• The Timeline: The transition happened in two stages. First, in July 2024, the Thai government introduced a temporary measure applying a mandatory 7% Value Added Tax (VAT) on all low-value items. Second, effective January 1, 2026, the Thai Customs Department officially enacted Notification No. 219/2568, which completely eliminated the duty exemption.
• The Current Rule: Since January 2026, all imported goods valued from 1 Baht upward are subject to both the 7% VAT and applicable customs import duties.
• The Rationale: The Thai government removed the loophole to protect local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from being undercut by tax-free, low-cost foreign goods flooded through global online channels. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]

• Regional Jurisdictions: For standard mail and national postal networks (like Thailand Post), regional customs centers have strict regional oversight. Pakchong falls under the broad multi-province umbrella where certain international mail assessments, restricted items, or “Red Line” (high-risk or unclassified) parcels are routed to specific border-region Customs Houses—such as Surin—for physical clearance and verification rather than local processing.
• Under-Declaration Audits: Because “Model Engineering supplies” often look like industrial components, tools, or specialized hardware, customs agents frequently flag them. If they suspect the package contents do not match the declared paperwork, or if they require specialized import permits, the parcel is sent to a primary Customs House for an in-person, physical evaluation. [1, 2, 3]

1. Buy via Major E-Commerce Platforms: If you order through platforms like Amazon, eBay, AliExpress, Lazada, or Shopee, look for options where taxes are collected at checkout. The Thai Customs Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with major platforms to integrate tax and duty collection directly into the online payment screen. These parcels clear customs automatically via an electronic green lane and deliver straight to your door without stopping at a regional customs house.
2. Switch to Private Couriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS): Avoid standard international postal services. Private couriers handle the entire customs brokerage process internally. If tax or duty is owed, they will message or email you a digital payment link. You pay online, and they deliver the package directly to your house in Pakchong, entirely eliminating the need for you to visit a customs office.
3. Appoint a Proxy (Power of Attorney): If a package does get stuck in Surin, you do not necessarily have to go yourself. According to Thai Customs Individual Clearance Procedures, you can complete a Letter of Power of Attorney (POA). You can authorize a local shipping agent, a friend, or a specialized courier service in Surin to present your passport copy, pay the assessed fees on your behalf, and mail the package forward to you. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]