webfact Posted September 22, 2019 Share Posted September 22, 2019 VAT refunds seen as means to hike tourist spending By THE NATION The Revenue Department will soon open bidding for private businesses to offer tourists in certain areas of Bangkok VAT refunds. Director-general Ekniti Nitithanprapas said a pilot “sandbox” programme involving five companies around the turn of the year was successful in boosting sales of local products. The department is now drawing up guidelines for selecting service operators. Applicants must be capable of digitally linking to the department and have locations in suitable places for offering refunds. They must be founded under Thai law and have registered paid-up capital of at least Bt25 million. They can have no record of issuing unlawful tax invoices. “And we want to see places where refunds can be issued opened in all the provincial airports,” Ekniti said. Two million tourists per year were claiming VAT refunds before the sandbox trial, representing a combined value of Bt2 billion-Bt3 billion. Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30376473 -- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-09-23 Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitman Posted September 22, 2019 Share Posted September 22, 2019 Tourists already can get a tax refund...also they can get additional discount of 5% in Central if they get a free expat card. But who wants to stand in a long queue at Swampy and after that in another long line at the immigration?? In Tokyo the tourists get the refund before they pay, that's how it should work...it's just paperwork so don't annoy customers with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mok199 Posted September 22, 2019 Share Posted September 22, 2019 How many latex pillows do they expect the Chinese to buy..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fex Bluse Posted September 22, 2019 Share Posted September 22, 2019 1 hour ago, fruitman said: Tourists already can get a tax refund...also they can get additional discount of 5% in Central if they get a free expat card. But who wants to stand in a long queue at Swampy and after that in another long line at the immigration?? In Tokyo the tourists get the refund before they pay, that's how it should work...it's just paperwork so don't annoy customers with it. Agree. Not only the long queuing at the airport. They also make you run around from one end of the mall to another and waste time getting the discount receipts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
off road pat Posted September 22, 2019 Share Posted September 22, 2019 15 minutes ago, Fex Bluse said: Agree. Not only the long queuing at the airport. They also make you run around from one end of the mall to another and waste time getting the discount receipts. They also take a fee for giving you the refund !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srikcir Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Why makes this so complicated and bureaucratic? Simply allow upon showing a valid foreign passport at the register at time of purchase a 5% discount (using a function key). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaan sailor Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 This begs the questions: With the present exchange rates—Tourists? What tourists? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penicillin Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 I think the entire point is to make it difficult enough that many won’t bother with the refunds. I stood in a never shrinking line one time as the Chinese let their friends and relatives cut in. Not worth the time and aggravation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyL Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 8 hours ago, fruitman said: Tourists already can get a tax refund...also they can get additional discount of 5% in Central if they get a free expat card. But who wants to stand in a long queue at Swampy and after that in another long line at the immigration?? In Tokyo the tourists get the refund before they pay, that's how it should work...it's just paperwork so don't annoy customers with it. Good point. I had no idea what the shop assistant (who was very sexy ????) was doing at first when I bought a few pairs of trainers in Japan at Christmas, but it was a very good process. Sadly, not the sort of thing that would work here with a lack of efficiency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue bruce Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 They always think they are so clever. The outside world must think the Thai government is playing in a sandbox with these stupid promotions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeyHeyHey Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 14 hours ago, fruitman said: Tourists already can get a tax refund...also they can get additional discount of 5% in Central if they get a free expat card. Even with VAT refund and extra 5% it would be more expensive than in EU/AU/US and with no warranty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAZZELL Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Anyone got a link to this Central Expat Card? RAZZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitman Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 13 minutes ago, HeyHeyHey said: Even with VAT refund and extra 5% it would be more expensive than in EU/AU/US and with no warranty Sure! Everything in Central is about double or triple the price of the EU webshops..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinobot Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 Anyone got a link to this Central Expat Card? RAZZJust go to the customer service counter at any Central with your documents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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