If you apply for VAT refund at BKK Suwannabhumi airport you have to get a stamp on paperwork from some customs office outside airport security before going to the office on the departure concourse or no refund. This used to not be the case.

 

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Another brillant rule to try to hassle as much, with the hope to dodge the refund...really, really.... !

It is like this for at least a year, back then i applied for VAT refund. But also back then there were signs mentioning this.

 

i was in DM recently and noticed an office like this due to the massive queue of chinese tourists outside. if you're going for a refund i'd allow plenty of time.

13 hours ago, ChiangMaiLightning2143 said:

If you apply for VAT refund at BKK Suwannabhumi airport you have to get a stamp on paperwork from some customs office outside airport security before going to the office on the departure concourse or no refund. This used to not be the case.

This is not a new rule.

 

The reason is that they may want to inspect the goods for which you want a VAT refund, therefore you must go there before you check in your luggage (which is before security).

This had always been the rule; it was just not implemented. It was also clearly stayed on the paperwork we received from shops in Phuket 5 years ago .

I was in the VAT line last year as I recall...they wanted to check my receipts and my purchase before any refund paper work was handed over to me....pretty easy peasy if you do not count all the Chinese I had to swim through and over....lol...???

This has been the rule since a long time ago, my wife does VAT refund very year for the past 5 years. So I'm pretty sure its standard procedure. No stamp no money.

Yes as many have mentioned already........Nothing new about this, has been the case for a long time.

Must you have a Tourist Visa (or Visa exempt) to be eligible? What about people who live in Thailand?

you cannot get if you reside in Thailand.

Adding to the above - always been the case.  Present goods landside for inspection and processing, so that you can check the goods in if needed.  Present completed paperwork airside for refund

Ye. a new guy on the job in Government, needs to show he is screwing the people and getting more funds in. The next one in will also come up with a new rule.

I just arrived back from Thailand. I walked past the refund office in BKK Airport. And it was a very very long line of people, bet they never knew the new rule.

The last time I claimed a refund was around 10 years ago at Swampy for some jewelry and that's how they did it....they needed to see/inspect the item at one office before continuing on with the refund at another office.

It's a better system as it now allows you to pack the items into your checked luggage. 

Years ago at LHR and SYD you needed to take your VAT claimed items into the plane as the only refund office was after check-in desks. 

Always has been the rule. Nothing new, just new to you.

 

High value goods will be almost certainly be checked, low value goods will probably not be checked. All the paperwork has to be stamped to collect a refund airside 

 

Need to be able to produce is Standard practice in most/all countries AFIK.

Some stores in shopping malls advertise no vat for tourist who show their passports, but having said that, I personally can't be bothered. Its not like the extortionate 20% VAT in the UK, which may have to be increased to pay for the Brexit.