| VAT (Value Added
Tax)
Refund For
Tourists
Thailand
introduced their own version of VAT a few years ago. The rate has been
reduced in 1999 from 10% to the now ruling 7%.
Following
point you need to keep in mind when applying for VAT refund
-You must be a non-Thai passport holder and not airline
cabin-crew.
-You must not have been resident in Thailand for more than
180 days in the current calendar year.
-You must be departing by air from an International Airport.
Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, or Hat Yai.
-The total amount of purchases must be more than 5000 Baht,
and goods purchased at each participating store shall not be less than
2000 Baht on any day.
-Goods must leave Thailand within 60 days of purchase.
-When you buy your goods, you must produce your passport and
get the dealer to complete form P.P.10.
(Each form should have at least 2000 Baht value shown)
-Your purchased goods must be in your hand baggage for
inspection, along with the store receipt and the P.P.10 form
-The purchased goods are absolutely prohibited to
consume in Thailand." This is an exact quotation, so don't
expect to drink your bottle of Johnny Walker Blue Label and get a VAT
refund!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Before you check-in at the
airport, you must declare the goods along with the P.P.10 form, to
Customs, the offices are clearly marked. They will stamp the form, without the stamp, no
refund!
The stamped P.P.10 form, the store receipt, and the goods
must be taken to the VAT refund desk from the Thai Revenue Department
(large Blue Booths), after passport
control. They are fast and efficient, and quite friendly!
Refunds up to 10,000 Baht are in cash, over 10,000 Baht by
way of a bank draft. 100 Baht fee applies in both cases plus a charge
for the bank draft. If you used a credit or charge card, your refund is
applied directly to your account, but this can take up to 2 months to
appear, depending on your statement date.
From the official literature - "Jewelry, gold
ornaments, glasses, watches and pens must be also be inspected by
revenue officers to get a second validation in the departure
lounge" In practice, this does not seem to happen, although it
is best to be prepared.
It is not nearly as bad as it
sounds, and even if you forget to have the P.P.10 stamped in the
check-in terminal, they now even let you go back through immigration and
have a second go at getting it right. This can take another 30 minutes
or more though, as you have to get stamped back into Thailand, and go
back though immigration passport control a second time!
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