VAT refunds seen as means to hike tourist spending

By THE NATION

 

 

The Revenue Department will soon open bidding for private businesses to offer tourists in certain areas of Bangkok VAT refunds.

 

Director-general Ekniti Nitithanprapas said a pilot “sandbox” programme involving five companies around the turn of the year was successful in boosting sales of local products.

 

The department is now drawing up guidelines for selecting service operators.

 

Applicants must be capable of digitally linking to the department and have locations in suitable places for offering refunds.

 

They must be founded under Thai law and have registered paid-up capital of at least Bt25 million. They can have no record of issuing unlawful tax invoices.

“And we want to see places where refunds can be issued opened in all the provincial airports,” Ekniti said.

 

Two million tourists per year were claiming VAT refunds before the sandbox trial, representing a combined value of Bt2 billion-Bt3 billion.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30376473

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-09-23

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Tourists already can get a tax refund...also they can get additional discount of 5% in Central if they get a free expat card.

 

But who wants to stand in a long queue at Swampy and after that in another long line at the immigration??

 

In Tokyo the tourists get the refund before they pay, that's how it should work...it's just paperwork so don't annoy customers with it.

How many latex pillows do they expect the Chinese to buy.....

1 hour ago, fruitman said:

Tourists already can get a tax refund...also they can get additional discount of 5% in Central if they get a free expat card.

 

But who wants to stand in a long queue at Swampy and after that in another long line at the immigration??

 

In Tokyo the tourists get the refund before they pay, that's how it should work...it's just paperwork so don't annoy customers with it.

Agree.

 

Not only the long queuing at the airport.

 

They also make you run around from one end of the mall to another and waste time getting the discount receipts.

15 minutes ago, Fex Bluse said:

Agree.

 

Not only the long queuing at the airport.

 

They also make you run around from one end of the mall to another and waste time getting the discount receipts.

They also take a fee for giving you the refund !!!

Why makes this so complicated and bureaucratic?

Simply allow upon showing a valid foreign passport at the register at time of purchase a 5% discount (using a function key).

This begs the questions: With the present exchange rates—Tourists? What tourists?

Edited September 23, 20196 yr by Isaan sailor

I think the entire point is to make it difficult enough that many won’t bother with the refunds.  I stood in a never shrinking line one time as the Chinese let their friends and relatives cut in.  Not worth the time and aggravation. 

8 hours ago, fruitman said:

Tourists already can get a tax refund...also they can get additional discount of 5% in Central if they get a free expat card.

 

But who wants to stand in a long queue at Swampy and after that in another long line at the immigration??

 

In Tokyo the tourists get the refund before they pay, that's how it should work...it's just paperwork so don't annoy customers with it.

Good point. I had no idea what the shop assistant (who was very sexy ????) was doing at first when I bought a few pairs of trainers in Japan at Christmas, but it was a very good process.

 

Sadly, not the sort of thing that would work here with a lack of efficiency. 

They always think they are so clever.   The outside world must think the Thai government is playing in a sandbox with these stupid promotions

14 hours ago, fruitman said:

Tourists already can get a tax refund...also they can get additional discount of 5% in Central if they get a free expat card.

Even with VAT refund and extra 5% it would be more expensive than in EU/AU/US

 

and with no warranty

Anyone got a link to this Central Expat Card?

 

RAZZ

13 minutes ago, HeyHeyHey said:

Even with VAT refund and extra 5% it would be more expensive than in EU/AU/US

 

and with no warranty

Sure! Everything in Central is about double or triple the price of the EU webshops.....

Anyone got a link to this Central Expat Card?
 
RAZZ

Just go to the customer service counter at any Central with your documents.