Just had a 40x120cm banner made for my new shop, someone told me there's a law that says text must be written in Thai also, does somebody knows how big the Thai text must be ?

They don't have to have Thai, but they do incur a higher sign tax if there is no Thai.

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Well, take a look at the Thai lettering on this banner:

Or this one:

or this one:

Well, take a look at the Thai lettering on this banner:

Nothing to compare here, such companies can afford doing things just the way they want. But it seems police do fine shop owners who have no Thais on their banners etc. perhaps just for tea money, but possibly it's an existing law they use.

Pay the tax for the English only signage and keep the receipt.

They don't have to have Thai, but they do incur a higher sign tax if there is no Thai.

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The following are the rates of the sign tax per 500 Square centimeters

· 3 Baht for signs with Thai alphabet only

· 20 Baht for signs with mixture of Thai alphabet and foreign alphabet / pictures / other signage

· 40 Baht for signs without Thai alphabet or

with Thai alphabet, but located under the foreign alphabet

they are crazy

(I think sings that are movable don't have tax to be paid for ?)

If you are using the banner as your main shop sign, you should have Thai lettering at the top to get a cheaper tax rate, but it can be tiny.

If it is just an advertising banner and you have already paid the tax on your main sign, no one will bother you - at least in Chiang Mai.

If you are using the banner as your main shop sign, you should have Thai lettering at the top to get a cheaper tax rate, but it can be tiny.

If it is just an advertising banner and you have already paid the tax on your main sign, no one will bother you - at least in Chiang Mai.

I actually had our signage made to go separately on 2 uprights to maintain the lower rates Chiang Mai, being the way it is, works on the overall size of each sign so we have 4 smaller ones instead

If you are using the banner as your main shop sign, you should have Thai lettering at the top to get a cheaper tax rate, but it can be tiny.

If it is just an advertising banner and you have already paid the tax on your main sign, no one will bother you - at least in Chiang Mai.

The revenue department in Chaing Mai stated that if the writing in Thai is too small they will charge the English only rate.

All fixed signs need to have tax paid and the enforcement of the rule is fairly loose in some provinces and harsh in others, movable signs do seem to be exempt.

I have also heard of owners who have been presented with the tax bill at the end of the year for the sign then telling the revenue department they wont pay and they just ask for the sign to be removed with any fines occurring.

If it is just an advertising banner and you have already paid the tax on your main sign, no one will bother you - at least in Chiang Mai.

Last time I was in CM it was election season and these signs drove me mad, the way they were put up across footpaths and many with wooden spars sticking out at eye height:

One, outside DK books was even more restrictive than the one pictured above, with a vehicle parked alongside it I would have had to stray out into busy traffic to get around. I lost it at that point and the sign got 'rearranged'

If you are using the banner as your main shop sign, you should have Thai lettering at the top to get a cheaper tax rate, but it can be tiny.

If it is just an advertising banner and you have already paid the tax on your main sign, no one will bother you - at least in Chiang Mai.

The revenue department in Chaing Mai stated that if the writing in Thai is too small they will charge the English only rate.

I believe you, but "too small" must be microscopic because lots of people use really small Thai print without a problem.

It might be better to ask them how small is OK - just to be sure.

I believe you, but "too small" must be microscopic because lots of people use really small Thai print without a problem.

It might be better to ask them how small is OK - just to be sure.

Actually, the name of the shop is also the name of the website (or opposite) and thus always written in English !

incl. dobben you dobben you

Post/quote removed for needless profanity.

If you think that is a bother just try Canada where we have double standards for the French Canadians who only make up 20% of the population. All signs in all of Canada must be written in both French and English. BUT! In the one province, Quebec, where French is the official language, the signs can be in French only. The French Canadians can also have dual pricing for the same goods. All packaged goods must have dual pricing even though the goods are not sold in Quebec.

Small Thai text is just fine, and actually useful as well because it helps if local Thai messenger type guys who don't ready English can still find your shop.

The police in Pattaya have a nice little earner from new restaurant owners - farlang/ thai who frequently get caught on this one. Luckily we were told.

The police in Pattaya have a nice little earner from new restaurant owners - farlang/ thai who frequently get caught on this one. Luckily we were told.

What did they catch them with? did they not pay the tax that was due?

If you think that is a bother just try Canada where we have double standards for the French Canadians who only make up 20% of the population. All signs in all of Canada must be written in both French and English.

Not quite true, Ian. It's government signs that must be in both languages, not private ones. Except, of course, in Quebec. There, the sign must be in French, and if English is used, that must be smaller than the French. (Quebec, Bill 101)