Thailand will become even more attractive as a shopping destination, as tourists will be able to reclaim the value added tax on goods they buy during their holiday in the Kingdom.

Are you wondering how to claim your VAT refund as a tourist? Below, we've summarized the 3 easy steps to claim a refund when departing from Thailand at Don Mueung or Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

To receive the refund, goods purchased in Thailand must be bought in shops displaying the "VAT Refund for Tourists" sign and must have a value of at least 2,000 Baht (including VAT) per day and shop. The total value of all purchased goods must be at least 5,000 Baht per person per trip.

Tourists must export the purchased items from Thailand within 60 days of the purchase date via one of the international airports in Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang), Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Hat Yai, U-Tapao, Krabi and Samui.

If the VAT refund is processed at a refund point in the city, departure from Thailand must take place within 14 days of that date.

Here are some important points to consider:

At the time of purchase:

When purchasing goods, tourists must present their passport and request the "Application for VAT Refund for Tourists" (PP10) form from the store, along with the original invoice(s). The passport number must be correctly entered on the form.

*In the case of consumable goods, these must be sealed with the note "Do not consume while in Thailand".

At the airport upon departure from Thailand:

The purchased goods, along with the "Application for VAT refund for tourists" form and the original invoice(s), must be presented to a customs officer for inspection before check-in.

Luxury goods valued at 10,000 Baht or more per piece, as well as hand luggage valued at 50,000 Baht or more per piece, must be carried in hand luggage and presented again at the Tourist VAT Refund Office after immigration control.

At the Tourist VAT Refund Office, refunds are paid in cash (in Thai Baht) provided the amount, including insurance, does not exceed 30,000 Baht. Tourists can also apply for a refund by mail to the Thai Revenue Service or by dropping it into the mailbox outside the Tourist VAT Refund Office at the airport and at refund points in the city center.