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Can you get a VAT refund on purchases when leaving Thailand with a DTV tourist visa?

Nov 1, 2024
a year ago
Can you get the tourist vat refund on purchases when leaving Thailand for a week if you have the DTV?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around whether tourists with a DTV (Digital Tourist Visa) can claim a VAT refund on their purchases when leaving Thailand after a short trip. Commenters express skepticism, suggesting that such a scenario could be manipulated for financial gain by frequent travelers, and highlight potential scrutiny from authorities regarding the validity of the VAT refund claims.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Paulie ********
It's a tourist visa so why not .....?
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Greg ********
@Paulie *******
Like anywhere tax free goods have to be outside the country a certain period.
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Greg ********
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Derek ***********
Thailand is not the place that you want to be playing games in order to beat the system šŸ˜‰
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Derek ***********
I imagine that they will check your visa
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Charles **********
Interesting but I’m gonna guess probably not. This could easily be abused by thousands.

Buying lots of expensive things and then doing a border bounce
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Greg ********
@Charles *********
What items are cheaper in Thailand to take advantage of this? Watches cheaper in Singapore or Switzerland. Thai fly there for the high end. Electronics not cheap in Thailand. VAT is only 7%. Not much room for arbitrage?
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Charles **********
@Greg *******
Apple products?
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Greg ********
@Charles *********
Are they cheaper here than elsewhere? I have no idea but it seems a lot of effort for little return given costs of travel etc. For many other products you see Thais flying to Singapore. I remember the Thai girls at a company I worked at would buy bags etc on business trips as much cheaper ie going to Belgium they woukd do a day trip to Paris for LV etc. We used to laugh about it.
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Greg ********
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Greg ********
Interesting. The DTV is a tourist visa so why not?
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Greg ********
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