It might take a bit of time and patience, but if you plan on making significant purchases, this could be well worth your while. A note of caution: if you plan on applying for a refund, allow plenty of time between arrival at your departure airport and the time of your flight.

To claim a VAT refund you must:

• Not be a Thai national.
  
• Not be an airline crew member departing Thailand on duty
  
• Depart Thailand from an international airport.
  
• Purchase goods from stores displaying a "VAT REFUND FOR TOURISTS" sign.
  
• Take the goods out of Thailand within 60 days of purchase.
  
  

How to claim a VAT refund:

• Goods must be at worth least 5,000 baht including VAT and must be purchased from each supplier at the amount of at least 2,000 baht per day.
  
• When you buy, present your passport and ask the sales assistant at the store to complete the VAT Refund Application for Tourists form (P.P.10) and attach the original tax invoices to the form. Each application form (P.P.10) must show a value of goods of 2,000 baht or more.
  
• Present the goods and submit the VAT Refund Application for Tourist form (P.P10) and original tax invoices to the Customs Officers immediately before check-in for departure from Thailand.
  
• Luxury goods, such as jewellery, gold ornaments, watches, glasses or pens must be inspected again by the Revenue Officers at the VAT Refund Office at the departure lounge after passport control.
  
• You can either present your claim to the Revenue Officers at the VAT Refund Counter or mail it back to the Revenue Department of Thailand or drop it into the box in front of the VAT Refund Office.
  
  

How will the refund be paid:
You can choose to receive your refund, depending on amount, in one of the following ways:

1. A refund not exceeding 30,000 baht can be made in cash (Thai baht), by bank draft or by credit to your credit card account.
   
2. A refund exceeding 30,000 baht can be made by bank draft or credit to your credit card account.
   
   

The following fees apply to refund requests:

• For a cash refund, a fee of 100 Baht.
  
• For bank draft refund, a fee of 100 Baht plus draft issuing fee at the rate charged by banks plus postage fees.
  
• For credit into credit card account refund, a fee of 100 Baht plus money transfer fee at the rate charged by banks plus postage fees.
  
  

Some reasons why refund applications may not be approved:

• You carry a diplomatic passport and reside in Thailand.
  
• You are an airline crew member departing Thailand on duty.
  
• Goods were not taken out of Thailand within 60 days from the date of purchase.
  
• You did not depart Thailand by air carrier from an international airport.
  
• The name or the passport number on the original tax invoice attached to the VAT Refund Application for Tourist form (P.P. 10) is not yours.
  
• Value of goods purchased is less than 2,000 baht per day per store.
  
• VAT Refund Application for Tourist form (P.P.10) was not prepared on the date of purchase.
  
• Total value of the goods claimed for refund is less than 5,000 baht.
  
• Original tax invoices were not attached to the VAT Refund Application for Tourist form (P.P.10).
  
• You did not carry the goods out of Thailand on the day of your departure.
  
• Goods were not purchased from participating shops in the VAT REFUND FOR TOURISTS scheme.
  
• The quantity of goods shown in the VAT Refund Application for Tourist form (P.P.10) is less than that shown in the original tax invoice.
  Goods were taken out of Thailand without being inspected by Customs Officers or by Revenue Officers.
  
• Luxury goods were taken out of Thailand without being checked by the Revenue Officers.
  
• Some of the tax invoices attached to the VAT Refund Application for Tourist form (P.P.10) were issued from a different store than the one named on the form.
  

Information supplied by The Revenue Department:
www.rd.go.th/vrt/engindex.html

Vat Refund for Tourists Office:<
Tel: +66 (0)2 272 8195-8    Fax: +66 (0)2 617 3559 or branches.