My wife wants to gift a small piece of land to a close relative (both Thai citizens), so it's just a name transfer, not a sale.

Does anyone know if the name change can be done remotely or by proxy since neither of them now lives locally to the land itself? I hope there is an alternative to trekking to the Land Office in the changwat!

21 minutes ago, isaanistical said:

My wife wants to gift a small piece of land to a close relative (both Thai citizens), so it's just a name transfer, not a sale.

Does anyone know if the name change can be done remotely or by proxy since neither of them now lives locally to the land itself? I hope there is an alternative to trekking to the Land Office in the changwat!

 

I think you will find the land office will see the transfer the same as a sale, and they will want all the usual taxes, transfer fees and duties. Otherwise everyone would be declaring a name change rather than a sale.

Otherwise, a lawyer could do the transfer/sale with Power Of Attorney (POA) documents and authority.

7 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

 

 

Otherwise, a lawyer could do the transfer/sale with Power Of Attorney (POA) documents and authority.

Aware of that problem, but in fact there would not be any money changing hands!

Do you mean a lawyer could handle it with POA from both involved?

19 minutes ago, isaanistical said:

Aware of that problem, but in fact there would not be any money changing hands!

Do you mean a lawyer could handle it with POA from both involved?

Doesn't matter if money is involved or not, still taxes to be paid. Yes lawyer can handle it

1 hour ago, isaanistical said:

Aware of that problem, but in fact there would not be any money changing hands!

Do you mean a lawyer could handle it with POA from both involved?

 

Yes, one lawyer should be able to act for both parties with POA from both parties. Even if no money changes hands, the land office will still want taxes and fees, usually works out to be around 5% of what the land office says the property is worth, not what either party says its worth,

I don't think there is any way to do this without going down in person to the Land Office. 

Taxes will need to be paid but it will be on the current Land Office assessed value that is likely well below current market value. 

It can be checked at the Land Office or https://assessprice.treasury.go.th/

On 7/18/2025 at 1:14 PM, isaanistical said:

My wife wants to gift a small piece of land to a close relative (both Thai citizens), so it's just a name transfer, not a sale.

Does anyone know if the name change can be done remotely or by proxy since neither of them now lives locally to the land itself? I hope there is an alternative to trekking to the Land Office in the changwat!

You will or they will have to pay the land tax, it is NOT insignificant - about 15 years ago we transferred some land and for 1 rai or so where I am (Chiang Mai) it cost about 5K Bahr.

Taxes need to be paid at the land office, based on their official valuation of the land. Which is typically around 25% of the real value. It won't be much.

 

It's Thai to Thai, nothing to do with you, leave them to it. Perhaps sit back with a drink and enjoy the laugh at how amazingly complicated they can make such a simple matter. 🙂 

1 hour ago, Formaleins said:

You will or they will have to pay the land tax, it is NOT insignificant - about 15 years ago we transferred some land and for 1 rai or so where I am (Chiang Mai) it cost about 5K Bahr.

Yeah, I am more concerned about logistics in this case. Much bureaucracy (surprisingly much) can be done online or via local amphoe/offices in Thailand; land things being so entrenched in tradition appear to lag. I am just trying to avert a pollutive 1500km round trip!

Must sell it, they only work with a sales contract - or they prepare one there and then, and must pay all taxes. Can put 1 baht as sale value, but as mentioned they use their own assessed value if more than sale value. 

 

Absolutely no need for either party to go there, power of attorney letter works fine, but the letter must be signed, witnessed and notorized according to land registry office regulation, or they don't accept it. 

You mentioned Gift And Transfer Not intended to be Inheritance upon death.

 

Depending on the descendant and the value of the Land there could be a Gift Tax owed of 5%.  They property would need to total 10,000,000 or 20,000,000 baht.

 

Others covered the Gift and transfer Will need to be recorded at the Land Office.  You Don't want any other Descendants fighting for a piece they are not entitled to later on.

 

Update us on What type and % rate fees were paid for future reference.

On 7/18/2025 at 1:43 PM, Peterw42 said:

 

I think you will find the land office will see the transfer the same as a sale, and they will want all the usual taxes, transfer fees and duties. Otherwise everyone would be declaring a name change rather than a sale.

Otherwise, a lawyer could do the transfer/sale with Power Of Attorney (POA) documents 

Transferred my wife's land to our son earlier this year to avoid wills and probate. Land was valued at the appraised rate on this website.

 

https://landsmaps.dol.go.th/#

 

Only 1% tax was charged, I was expecting a total of 2.5%. Didn't question it as I was happy with the 1%. All three of us needed to show up. I was required to sign a document due to being married to the land owner. Wasn't asked to show any identification which I thought was strange. 

 

 

Respective power of attorney; get more information at the Land Department Office. They have pre-printed forms for you to complete who changes what to whom. 
Normal transfer fees apply though; I had one of my sons removed from a title deed which was solemnly owned by initially two sons - full fees 😞

Can be done remotely with power of attorney, depending on the type of title deed, normally called TD21.

 

Available for free on Thai Law Online website.