Finance panel okays 7% VAT on products ordered online from foreign countries
The Finance Ministry aims to tax online products from foreign countries to provide fair competition to Thai manufacturers.
Finance permanent secretary Prasong Poontaneat said the tax reform committee approved the decision to collect 7 per cent value-added tax on goods ordered online from other counties and also cancel the tax-free status on imported products priced below Bt1,500 to be fair to Thai manufacturers, who produce similar goods and who are charged 7 per cent VAT. The policy is now awaiting the green light from the cabinet.
In reply to a question, principal adviser on Customs Control Development Chaiyuth Kumkun said that in the case where personal belongings in a foreign county were sent back to the host via mail, the owner of the belongings would not be taxed. Customs will consider such evidence as the item’s condition, a photo of the owner with the belongings, or any evidence to affirm that the items were bought in Thailand.
“If the value of the belonging isn’t worth enough to sell as an expensive second hand item, the officer might not tax the owner,” Chaiyuth said.
