A guide to Thailand’s proposed departure tax

[webfact]

 

By Thai PBS World

 

The public have until May 17 to register their opinions on whether a proposed departure tax should go ahead.

 

Under the proposal, 1,000 baht would be collected from each Thai and permanent foreign resident of Thailand who departs by air and 500 baht from those who depart by land or sea.

 

The tax would be collected when purchasing tickets for overseas trips. Those who fail to pay would pay double the amount plus a monthly interest of 1.5%. Penalties would also include up to six months in jail or a maximum fine of 3,000 baht.

 

Other countries that impose a tax on outward-bound travel include Australia, China, Japan, and Thailand’s neighbors Malaysia, Cambodia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The departure tax in these countries is mainly incorporated in the price of travel fares.

 

The Thai government has been quick to reassure people that the proposal, which dates from a four-decade-old executive decree, will not necessarily be implemented.

 

The Revenue Department is now gathering opinions on the proposed tax via its website. Members of the public and organizations have been invited to share their viewpoints until May 17.

 

What is a departure tax?

 

A departure tax is effectively a charge levied on foreign travel. The goal is to curb excessive spending by locals when they travel abroad. The proposal’s advocates say this would help protect Thailand’s balance of payments – the money flowing into and out of the country.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/a-guide-to-thailands-proposed-departure-tax/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-05-15

 

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[ourmanflint]

So a total of 1800 baht in arrival and departure taxes to look forward too. Definitely too much weed being smoked in Thailand, this is crazy

[Bim Smith]

They have substantial Covid loans to pay.

[stoner]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The goal is to curb excessive spending by locals when they travel abroad.

pathetic. 

[jacko45k]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Penalties would also include up to six months in jail or a maximum fine of 3,000 baht.

This is more a concern... yet another opportunity to harass and extort. If there is to be a departure tax, implement it and collect it effectively, don't make it the 'victim's' responsibility and a criminal offence. 

[zzaa09]

Should've not mentioned such a controversial scheme to the public sphere.......just have it mandated [automatically] into the individual's air ticket, as they have in the past. No one would be the wiser. 

 

33 bucks. I'm sure that would break the bank.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The tax would be collected when purchasing tickets for overseas trips. Those who fail to pay would pay double the amount plus a monthly interest of 1.5%. Penalties would also include up to six months in jail or a maximum fine of 3,000 baht.

It's just getting ridiculous

 

[jacko45k]

33 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

33 bucks. I'm sure that would break the bank.

Half of it will hurt poorer people living near to the borders..... also it is not 33 small deer. it is 1000 baht, substantial to many Thais. You are removed from their situations. 

For foreigner residents, taxation without representation.

Edited May 14, 2023 by jacko45k

[LukKrueng]

30 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Should've not mentioned such a controversial scheme to the public sphere.......just have it mandated [automatically] into the individual's air ticket, as they have in the past. No one would be the wiser. 

 

33 bucks. I'm sure that would break the bank.

They can't have the airlines collect it through the tickets as it is only for Thai citizens and PRs. Same problem as with the proposed 300 THB entrance fee for tourists.

In the past it was collected by the airlines who have a government issued coupon that the passenger had to give to immigration officer at passport control.

[Mike Teavee]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The tax would be collected when purchasing tickets for overseas trips. Those who fail to pay would pay double the amount plus a monthly interest of 1.5%. Penalties would also include up to six months in jail or a maximum fine of 3,000 baht.

So if I book a flight for me & the GF, she has to pay the tax & I don't... How's that going to work when booking online & if for some reason the tax doesn't get paid who cops the penalty? Me (I'm a Non-Imm so not liable for the tax), her (But she's not making the booking or paying for it) or the online site (for failing to collect it). 

 

The only way it could work is if it was paid at the airport (as happens in Philippines), which just adds to the already far too long it takes people to get through Immigration. 

 

 

Another ill-thought out scheme that will never be implemented but tarnishes Thailand's tourism reputation anyway. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DrDave]

11 minutes ago, Mike Teavee said:

So if I book a flight for me & the GF, she has to pay the tax & I don't... How's that going to work when booking online & if for some reason the tax doesn't get paid who cops the penalty? Me (I'm a Non-Imm so not liable for the tax), her (But she's not making the booking or paying for it) or the online site (for failing to collect it). 

 

The only way it could work is if it was paid at the airport (as happens in Philippines), which just adds to the already far too long it takes people to get through Immigration. 

 

 

Another ill-thought out scheme that will never be implemented but tarnishes Thailand's tourism reputation anyway. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tax can't be collected by an airline or online booking site because it doesn't apply to everyone. It would have to be collected at the airport prior to departure. Many years ago there was a vending machine in the departures area of Don Mueang where you'd pay the tax and be issued a coupon to be collected when passing through Passport Control.

[Karma80]

To clear, the basis for this is a joke. But once more, the airlines will say - we can't tell if someone is a permanent resident and can't comply—exactly the same situation as trying to levy an inbound tax only for the tourist. Either you have a single tax, or you don't.

 

Other countries already levy significant departures tax that are stuffed into everyone's ticket price (eg $70 Australia), 

 

This leaves the only workable solution as an application to everyone or a physical collection of money at the border or airport. 

 

And all because some brianiac thinks how dare Thai people go overseas - you should spend your money in "world class" Pattaya,

 

[metisdead]

A post with a trolling image has been removed.

[thailand49]

3 hours ago, Bim Smith said:

They have substantial Covid loans to pay.

No,  I think it is more self greed their pockets aren't full enough! 

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Half of it will hurt poorer people living near to the borders..... also it is not 33 small deer. it is 1000 baht, substantial to many Thais. You are removed from their situations. 

For foreigner residents, taxation without representation.

Do poor people living near the border take many international flights ?

[proton]

it's already 700 baht so would this mean an extra 300 or 1000k baht?

[jacko45k]

2 minutes ago, proton said:

it's already 700 baht so would this mean an extra 300 or 1000k baht?

Since the 700 departure tax is already established and applied to all flights out of Thailand, I expect the 1000 tax on Thai nationals and foreign 'residents' to be a separate and on-top tax. Anyhow, don't see it happening.....airlines won't like it as they did with the other 300 baht selective entry tax!

[sambum]

"Penalties would also include up to six months in jail or a maximum fine of 3,000 baht."

I know what most people would opt for!

 

The Thai government has been quick to reassure people that the proposal, which dates from a four-decade-old executive decree, will not necessarily be implemented. 

 

Am I reading that correctly? The Thai Government making a proposal and in the same breath saying that it might not happen? Then why suggest it in the first place? It's a bit like saying that e.g. "We might increase taxes on imported wine, but there again, we may not!"

 

[shackleton]

I can't see normal people voting to pay more money ???? 

In these times of financial hardship ????

Okay if you have plenty ????  the cost to you will be minimal 

Let's see what the Survey says ???? ???? 

[crazykopite]

In my 18years of living here I have invested well over 20 million baht to the Thai economy and yet they still want more if they introduce this crazy new tax I will move to the Philippines which will be a bonus as my U.K. pension will no longer be frozen 

[thainet]

5 minutes ago, crazykopite said:

In my 18years of living here I have invested well over 20 million baht to the Thai economy and yet they still want more if they introduce this crazy new tax I will move to the Philippines which will be a bonus as my U.K. pension will no longer be frozen 

So you've spent 20 million, but would move to another country for the sake of a 1,000 baht....strange.

[KannikaP]

4 hours ago, stoner said:

pathetic. 

Agree. So why not just charge locals.

[KannikaP]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The public have until May 17 to register their opinions on whether a proposed departure tax should go ahead.

Why did they not simply put another box on the General Election voting paper.

 

1) Who do you want to govern your country?

2) Should locals pay Bht 1000 to go on holiday?

[David Whitemore]

Totally out of order having to pay to leave Thailand, 

[biggles45]

3 hours ago, Mike Teavee said:

So if I book a flight for me & the GF, she has to pay the tax & I don't... How's that going to work when booking online

The Philippines has two 'Departure' taxes. One is paid by everyone and has been included in the ticket price for many years. 

 

The other is called a 'Travel Tax' paid by all Filipinos and foreigners who have stayed more than a year since their last entry. It is 1,620 pesos

There are collection booths at the airport tho some airlines let you pay when booking online. When I book flights for GF and I it allows me to pay TT for her and decline to pay for me. 

 

[David Whitemore]

If they introduce this tax, I think farangs will look else where to settle

 

[stoner]

32 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Agree. So why not just charge locals.

they could always get their sh together. novel idea i know. 

[brewsterbudgen]

1 minute ago, David Whitemore said:

If they introduce this tax, I think farangs will look else where to settle

 

It never stopped people before!  In any case, farangs who are settled here won't need to pay it, unless they leave.

 

I would think the objections will be mostly from Thais who resent having to pay to leave their country.

[Skeptic7]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

It's just getting ridiculous

 

Getting❗❓When has here not been ridiculous❓

[Ralf001]

55 minutes ago, crazykopite said:

In my 18years of living here I have invested well over 20 million baht to the Thai economy and yet they still want more if they introduce this crazy new tax I will move to the Philippines which will be a bonus as my U.K. pension will no longer be frozen 

Bout 90,000 baht a month.... Hardly a big spender are you.