Thailand's Interim Measures for VAT Collection and Import Duty Exemptions on Goods Valued Up to 1,500 Baht

The Ministry of Finance is addressing the disparity in VAT collection between overseas and domestic sellers through targeted interim measures. The key issue involves implementing VAT collection for goods valued at no more than 1,500 baht sold through foreign-operated platforms, with monthly remittance to the Revenue Department. Recognizing that amending the Revenue Code takes time, the Ministry of Finance has introduced temporary VAT collection measures through the Customs Department to support domestic businesses impacted by e-commerce growth.

On 26 December 2024, the Ministry of Finance issued Notification No. 2, replacing the expired Notification No. 1 and extending import duty exemptions for goods valued at no more than 1,500 baht until 31 December 2025. The Customs Department subsequently issued Notification No. 233/2567 to provide clear guidelines and procedures for claiming these exemptions.

Key details of the announcement include:

• Customs Duty Exemption: Importers (sellers) can claim exemption of import duty for consignments with a CIF value up to 1,500 baht by indicating “LVG” as the special code on the commercial invoice.
• VAT Payment Options: Recipients (buyers) can pay VAT through two methods:
  1. QR code payment
  2. Bank payment by presenting the payment order
• VAT Assessment Dispute: Recipients (buyers) can contest tax assessments via the designated website or by mail to the Customs Department.

The government’s interim measures aim to equalize tax treatment between domestic and foreign e-commerce businesses for goods valued at no more than 1,500 baht. While the Revenue Department works on a permanent solution for direct VAT collection from online platforms, these new regulations provide clarity and streamline the process for businesses and the public until 31 December 2025.

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