Thailand VAT — 6-Regime Comparison 2026 (Standard 7% · Zero-Rated · Exempt · e-Service PP.30.9 · Import · Reverse Charge PP.36)
Complete VAT guide for businesses in Thailand — Standard 7% (domestic), Zero-Rated 0% (export + international service, cash refund), Exempt (agri/education/hospital/financial), e-Service PP.30.9 (foreign SaaS/streaming), Import VAT (7% × CIF+Duty), and Reverse Charge PP.36 (self-assessment) — with e-Tax Invoice mandate from 1 Jan 2026, De Minimis repeal impact, Gold Card Exporter Fast-Track, and Apostille 14 Feb 2026. Based on NYC Legal casework: 214 VAT registrations + 178 refunds + 46 PP.36 disputes (2021-2025) · 95% success rate.
Standard 7% (Domestic · 100% Input), Zero-Rated 0% (Export + International Service · Cash Refund), Exempt (Agri/Education/Hospital/Financial · No Input), e-Service PP.30.9 (Foreign SaaS 7% Simplified), Import VAT 7% × (CIF+Duty), Reverse Charge PP.36 (Self-Assess Foreign Service)
PP.30 (Standard/Zero-Rated/Import): 15th (paper) / 23rd (e-Filing) · PP.36 (Reverse Charge): 7th · PP.30.9 (e-Service): 23rd · Refund timeline 30-120 days · Gold Card Fast-Track 15-25 days · e-Tax Invoice mandatory 1 Jan 2026 (> THB 500M/year)
Revenue Code Sec.77-90 · Sec.80 (7% · 0%) · Sec.81 (Exempt) · Sec.82/13 (Import) · Sec.83/6+83/8 (Reverse Charge + e-Service) · e-Service Act B.E.2564 · Director-General VAT Notification 220/2547 · De Minimis repealed 5 Jul 2024
| Regime | Scope | Rate | Input Credit | Filing | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 7% | Domestic sale of goods/services | 7% | ✅ 100% | PP.30 · 15th / 23rd | 🏆 General business · revenue > THB 1.8M · high Input VAT |
| Zero-Rated 0% | Exports + international service | 0% | ✅ 100% + cash refund | PP.30 + export docs | 🏆 Exporters · international consulting · BOI/Free Zone |
| Exempt (§81) | Agri raw · school · hospital · bank | Not charged | ❌ None | None | SMEs < THB 1.8M · regulated sectors · low Input |
| e-Service (PP.30.9) | Foreign digital → Thai B2C | 7% simplified | ❌ None | PP.30.9 · 23rd | Foreign SaaS · streaming · ads · marketplace |
| Import VAT (§82/13) | Physical imports | 7% × (CIF + duty) | ✅ 100% | At checkpoint + PP.30 | Importers · traders · manufacturers |
| Reverse Charge (PP.36) | Paying foreign services used in Thailand | 7% self-assessed | ✅ 100% (+30d timing) | PP.36 · 7th | 🚨 Mandatory for every Thai buyer of foreign services |
FAQ — Thailand VAT 2026
What are the 6 VAT regimes in Thailand 2026?
(1) Standard 7% — general domestic goods/services · Revenue > THB 1.8M mandatory registration · 100% Input Credit · (2) Zero-Rated 0% — Export goods + International service · full Input Credit + cash refund · (3) Exempt (Sec.81) — agri raw, education, hospital, financial, residential rental, SME < 1.8M · no Input Credit · (4) e-Service PP.30.9 — foreign digital B2C > 1.8M/year (Google/Meta/Netflix/AWS) · simplified · (5) Import VAT (Sec.82/13) — 7% × (CIF + Duty + Excise) collected at Customs · Input 100% · (6) Reverse Charge PP.36 — Thai buyer self-assesses 7% on foreign B2B service used in Thailand · 30-day timing mismatch. NYC Legal casework 214 registrations + 178 refunds (2021-2025).
Should an SME below THB 1.8M revenue voluntarily register for VAT?
Consider 4 factors: (1) Input VAT / Revenue > 5% → worthwhile (startups, SaaS resellers, import traders) · (2) Customers are VAT-registered corporates → register so they can claim Input Credit = win deals · (3) Planning to exceed 1.8M within 12 months → register early to smooth transition · (4) Export/international service → register to unlock zero-rated refunds. Don't register if: B2C consumer business (must raise prices 7%) · service with no input · cash-heavy (audit risk). NYC Legal free assessment + registration THB 8,500.
Zero-Rated 0% vs Exempt — what is the difference and why does it matter?
🎯 Zero-Rated ≠ Exempt — the most important distinction in Thai VAT: (1) Zero-Rated: 0% rate but still inside VAT system → 100% Input Credit + cash refund available · (2) Exempt: outside VAT system → Input VAT becomes cost, cannot be recovered. Example: Furniture export THB 10M with Input 700k → Zero-Rated refund 700k back · Exempt = 700k lost as cost. Zero-Rated criteria: (a) Export goods with Customs entry + BL + SWIFT ≥ 90% foreign currency (b) International service 'entirely consumed' outside Thailand. Common rejection: marketing service targeting Thai audience even for foreign client → reclassified 7% Full. Substance-Over-Form documentation is critical.
What is PP.36 (Reverse Charge) and why is it audited so often?
🚨 PP.36 = Thai business paying foreign service used in Thailand must self-assess 7% VAT and file by the 7th of the next month on behalf of the foreign supplier. Example: paying SAP License Germany USD 100k → PP.36 7% = USD 7k self-filed. Why audited: (1) 78% of VAT disputes NYC Legal handles = PP.36 · (2) Companies forget to file because no physical invoice · (3) Revenue Department cross-checks bank statements + PND.54 (WHT) filings. Non-filing penalty: 100% VAT + 1.5%/month surcharge + bank freeze. Even though Input Credit is recoverable the following month, penalty still applies. Best practice: bundle PP.36 + PND.54 + substance documentation in one workflow.
How does PP.30.9 e-Service affect Thai businesses buying foreign services?
Depends on registration status: (1) Thai VAT-registered business buying from foreign SaaS registered under PP.30.9 (Google/Meta/AWS/Microsoft) → two options: (a) Present Thai TIN + VAT registration → foreign provider does not charge 7%, buyer self-assesses via PP.36 · (b) Do not present TIN → foreign provider charges 7% but Input Credit is unavailable (simplified regime issues no full tax invoice) · (2) Non-VAT consumers/SMEs → pay 7% in full. Recommended for corporates: always present TIN + self-assess via PP.36 = save 7% and reclaim Input Credit. Google Ads Manager, Meta Business Manager, AWS Console all have TIN fields.
When is e-Tax Invoice mandatory and how to prepare?
📅 Mandate timeline: (1) 1 Jan 2026 — Revenue > THB 500M/year mandatory · (2) 1 Jan 2028 — Revenue > 30M/year · (3) 1 Jan 2030 — every VAT-registered company. Systems supported: (a) e-Tax Invoice by Email (RD free · ≤ 6M/year) · (b) e-Tax Invoice & e-Receipt System via certified service providers (SAP · Oracle · Peak · FlowAccount) · (c) API direct integration (enterprise). Preparation: (1) Digital Signature Certificate from TDID/ThaiDigitalCert THB 3,500-8,000/year · (2) Integrate POS/ERP · (3) Train finance staff · (4) Migration takes 3-6 months. NYC Legal setup bundle THB 45,000-180,000 (SME → corp).
De Minimis was repealed on 5 Jul 2024 — impact on cross-border e-commerce?
🚨 Before 5 Jul 2024: Imports < THB 1,500 per parcel were VAT + duty exempt (De Minimis). After 5 Jul 2024: 7% VAT applies to every value (personal effects and samples still exempt). Impact: (1) Shopee/Lazada Cross-Border, Temu, SHEIN, Amazon Global — every order 7% + duty · (2) Buyers pay before receiving goods (COD at customs or marketplace prepaid) · (3) Marketplace Facilitators (platforms) are responsible for collecting VAT + filing PP.30.9 · (4) SME cross-border importers must adjust pricing model + choose logistics partners supporting prepaid VAT · (5) FTA (ASEAN · China · Japan) still reduces duty 0-5% but 7% VAT applies in every case.
How long does VAT refund take for exporters? Fast-Track options?
Standard timeline: (1) SME exporter: 60-120 days · (2) Regular corporate: 30-45 days · (3) Gold Card Exporter (RD Priority List): 15-25 days. Gold Card criteria: (a) Export ≥ THB 200M/year for 3 consecutive years · (b) Zero audit findings for 3 years · (c) Use e-Tax Invoice · (d) Compliance rating A+. Additional Fast-Track: (1) BOI Exporter — special refund track · (2) e-Refund Portal (online + bank account) 40% faster than paper · (3) IEAT Free Zone Exporter — VAT deferral (no refund needed) · (4) Zero-Rated international service — requires strong substance documentation, typically 2-3x slower than physical export. NYC Legal refund success 88% avg 8 months from 178 cases.
How does Apostille (14 Feb 2026) help VAT transactions?
🎯 4 primary use cases: (1) VAT Registration Certificate (Phor.Por.20) legalized for foreign use — previously 4-6 weeks via MOFA + Embassy · from 14 Feb 2026: single Apostille 5-10 days · (2) Export documents (Certificate of Origin · Commercial Invoice) — buyers in Hague states accept immediately · (3) Zero-Rated service documentation — foreign client certificates Apostilled stronger than notary alone · (4) VAT refund applications for foreign taxpayers (Tourist VRT · foreign business) — faster document authentication. Savings: 60-80% cost + 3-5 weeks. NYC Legal Fast-Track Bundle: VAT Reg + Apostille + Export Docs THB 65,000.
How does NYC Legal deliver end-to-end VAT services and what does it cost?
6 service tiers: (1) VAT Registration (Phor.Por.01) + POS setup THB 8,500-25,000 · (2) Monthly VAT filing (PP.30 + PP.36) THB 12,000-45,000/month (SME → corp) · (3) Zero-Rated export refund + Gold Card application THB 85,000 + 3% success fee · (4) e-Tax Invoice system setup + Digital Signature THB 45,000-180,000 · (5) PP.30.9 foreign e-Service registration + Tax Representative THB 180,000 setup + 25,000/month · (6) VAT audit defense + PP.36 dispute THB 320,000-1,200,000. Casework: 214 VAT registrations + 178 refunds + 46 PP.36 disputes (2021-2025) · success rate 95% · refund success 88%. Multidisciplinary team: CPAs + tax attorneys + former Revenue Department officers. Call +66-93-296-3639 · Line @nyclegal · free 30-min consultation.
Let NYC Legal handle your Thailand VAT end-to-end
VAT Registration (Phor.Por.01), Monthly Filing (PP.30 + PP.36), Zero-Rated Export Refund + Gold Card Application, e-Tax Invoice System Setup, PP.30.9 Foreign e-Service Registration + Tax Representative, and VAT Audit Defense + PP.36 Dispute. 95% success rate · 88% refund success · from 214 registrations + 178 refunds + 46 PP.36 disputes (2021-2025) · fees THB 8,500-1,200,000 · free 30-min consultation.






