9 minutes ago, samtam said:

I buy things on Shopee or Lazada that come from China because I can't buy them in Thailand.

Me too. If what I want is easy to buy locally I'd do that as a first choice. Having said that, often Lazada finds what I want in Thailand and ships within the country to me. These are things that might be too far away to go get myself.

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Additionally, Panthong proposed a long-term solution involving a "lump-sum tax" that would set a flat rate of 20-30% for all imported goods.

WTF ? 

Someone call Xi !

Thailand needs some sanctions or tariffs.

 

Typical for these governments after Prajut.

1 minute ago, FlorC said:

WTF ? 

Someone call Xi !

Thailand needs some sanctions or tariffs.

 

Typical for these governments after Prajut.

Maybe you aren't aware, but that is - roughly - the current import duty for most things imported like electronics, furniture, etc. Has been for years. But it's often less if you're willing to pay 'with no receipt'!

Fine. Now just remove the foreign income tax. 

13 minutes ago, yozah said:

Fine. Now just remove the foreign income tax. 

 

 

What foreign income tax?

Thank Trump for that.

 

4 hours ago, ukrules said:

Exactly, this is why I only ever order internationally from Amazon US export sales.

 

Because they handle everything and somehow either act directly or indirectly via a partner as the import agent on your behalf. You still pay tax on goods that require it - which is most things except computer hardware I believe but it's included in the quoted price so you just make the order, click checkout, pay and you're done.

If there's some other supplier that ships directly to Thailand even through Amazon then you're on your own when it comes to the tax and if you don't have an import license as a registered import company then you're getting hit with a whole different tariff than when an agent handles it.

 

I'm assuming ebooks from Amazon will not be taxed (not that that would deter me, books being my main pleasure in life and ebooks now the only practical form for me). They are the only thing I 'import' in to Thailand, I pay either in US$ or AUD and here they are on my iMac seconds later. Hard to see how the Thais could tax that, given that no transaction in ฿ takes place & (effectively) no transaction in Thailand.

A post using ALL CAPS and the replies have been removed.  Please turn off your Caps Lock when posting. 

I don't so much care about paying the tax, it is the major hassles with customs and shipping delays. 

Better keep that Ali Baba purchase under 50 Satang!

Quote

Failing to collect any duties gives an edge to foreign goods over Thai businesses, impacting local producers, especially SMEs

 

What local producers?

 

Almost everything on Shopee is made in China or imported and then sold locally.

 

Sounds like just another way to collect revenue that will mysteriously disappear into the black hole of Thailand's public finances.

 

The goal is to Keep Thailand cheap. But Thailand is not cheap. How do you attract tourists with all these prices go up? 

On 11/6/2025 at 7:30 AM, webfact said:

to generate at least 3 billion Thai baht annually for the government

and then what? Buy another submarine?

This means one of 3 things:

 

1. Goodbye to Shopee, Lazada etc BUT more interestingly is HOW are they going to collect the tax?

 

2. If they items are imported by the seller and re-sold then increase in prices and thus inflation 

 

3. Those that are in power need more money to scam for either their Mia-Noi’s and/or Giks or to continue their lavish lifestyle

 

NOTE - the taxation on imported goods is already high and that’s why these online store are thriving. Let’s face it - all the ‘goods’ one buys online is generally cheap Chinese crap anyway. They should be paying US for taking it off their hands. 

Well I can afford this but sucks to be most Thai people just trying to get by. Thanks again government!

The other day I received an item valued at less than ฿1,500 from the US, but the postman issued a ฿70 Tax invoice request before handing over the item, unsure why

On 11/6/2025 at 10:56 AM, flaming dragon said:

 

Look at their influence in the region.  They make all of our stuff. The Thai government has a spending problem and needs a vehicle to pay for it. 

I have no intention of 

 supporting China but it is the western worlds own fault that most of the things that we need or want are made there .Over the last 40 + years because of the high cost of labour and Government policies e.g climate change regulations most companies moved their manufacturing operations to China and now they send the products to us at very cheap prices. Tump is trying to remedy this through tarrifs applied to imports and convincing the companies to return to the U.S. by offering them tax breaks and other incentives.

I remember buying face masks on Lazada for 1 baht each. I never understood how they made money.

 

Now my face looks like a face mask.

They already tax the hell out of everything. More taxes now? Brilliant.

 

Man living here is such a joy.

On 11/6/2025 at 7:40 AM, johng said:

Just what everyone needs....yet more taxation !   👎

Keep things in perspective.

Nothing "more" about it, I avoid "comes from overseas".

As they say "up to you".

More legal theft! Who is surprised?

3 billion bath ! That is 40 Thb per thai citizen in a year,minus all costs for all new administration. 

3 minutes ago, Nickcage49 said:

They already tax the hell out of everything. More taxes now? Brilliant.

 

Man living here is such a joy.

 

I was wondering about that.....I guess one reason is many people don't pay income tax......?? So the government has to tax products instead.

On 11/6/2025 at 7:30 AM, webfact said:

Thailand to Tax All Online Shopping Imports Starting 2026

Great, then retired expats can get off the hook for taxes on foreign income sent to Thailand.

19 hours ago, redwood1 said:

This tax will do almost nothing to help Thailand....It will only make small purchases cost more.

It depends on how you look at it.

I see the same products being sold by someone in Bangkok and  "comes from overseas" and yes, the latter would normally be cheaper, but with a protracted delivery.

I would normally buy from the domestic source at the higher price as In the past I have had many orders time out and have to be reordered.

I see the outcome as a "normalisation" of prices rather than a price increase on the product. Direct sales from overseas may well become a thing of the past on the large online platforms.

China will be on the blower as I write they are the masters who control Thailand 

1500 Baht was the sweet spot for having something sent to Thailand, (CNX). You had the sender declare value at 1500 Baht or lower. Or something they could not price. Anything over 1500 baht, or merchandise customs had an idea of the value of, would get held up and you would have to pay to get it. Many times, highly extortionate amounts.

Assume this is aimed at the US, tit for tat per de minimis termination. Will Chinese goods get the same treatment?!  Stranger things have happened. 

Most countries with a consumption tax have an amount that it doesn’t apply to for online purchases because it costs more to tax it at the border than they collect. 

20 hours ago, Bangkok Alex said:

So, I can sense something coming.

 

All Chinese products will cost 1 baht with higher shipping cost.

 

There is always a loophole people will exploit.

 

If not that, something else

The Thai Customs charges tax on shipping, as well as the goods shipped.

On 11/6/2025 at 12:30 AM, webfact said:

In a significant policy shift, Thailand's Customs Department announced today that starting January 1, 2026, all foreign goods sold online will face an import duty if valued at more than 1 baht. This move will end the current exemption for items priced below 1,500 baht, which will expire at the end of this year.

 

This sounds very good. that should mean we loose most of the noisy pickup trucks in our mooban