April 19, 2024
5 months ago
Not visa related but just a heads up for those out there who are addicted to Lazada and other ecom sites. If you are like me and go there for those small things that we can find in local stores, some changes are afoot that will likely impact cost of buying on line. Govt is planning to remove the B2500 deminimus below which there is no duty or VAT on imports. The duty and VAT element may not turn out to be high for items with low value, but the cost of handling the customs charges will be passed on the customer (you) and this is a fixed price which could be as high as B1000 depending on carrier. So important to check when you buy whether it is being sourced outside Thailand and the expected total charges to avoid any nasty surprises. It may or may not happen, but this govt is quite keen to top up its tax coffers and this is an easy target, which will also help small thai business’s so a populist move.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The Thai government is considering the removal of the B2500 deminimus threshold for imports, which currently exempts items below this value from duties and VAT. This change could lead to additional costs associated with customs handling fees, potentially affecting the prices of goods purchased online, particularly from platforms like Lazada and Shopee. Discussions among users suggest concerns about reliability and experiences with these e-commerce sites, along with a mix of opinions on the impacts of such tax changes on local businesses and consumers.
