Tax Free in Phuket – how to get a VAT refund as a tourist
The Tax Free or VAT Refund system is the return of value-added tax (VAT) for purchases made in Thailand. You can get this nice “cashback” when departing from Phuket. How does it work? Let’s break it down.
Who can claim a tax-free refund?
A key condition: VAT refunds are available only for tourists. This means you must have entered Thailand on a tourist visa or received a stamp at passport control. If you are a Thai resident, you are not eligible for a tax refund.
Additionally, the VAT refund request must be submitted within 60 days from the date of purchase.
How much can you get back?
You can receive a refund of 4% to 6.1% of the purchase price for goods bought in Thailand. The total purchase amount must be at least 2,000 THB. However, not all stores in Phuket offer VAT refunds — look for signs that say “Tax Free” or “VAT Refund,” or ask the seller directly. All the best shops and markets for shopping in Phuket, where you can buy various goods – we’ve gathered them here: https://phuket-insider.com/en/souvenirs-and-shopping/
When making a purchase, the store must provide you with a receipt and a completed P.P.10 form — without these, you won’t be able to process your tax refund. You will also need to present your passport at the time of purchase.
There is a special table that helps calculate the VAT refund percentage based on the purchase amount.
How to process a tax refund at Phuket Airport
Tax-free refunds can only be processed at Phuket International Airport.
You will need to have your receipts, the P.P.10 form, and the purchased goods (preferably in their original packaging).
Before passing through passport control, go to the “VAT Refund for Tourists” office in the general departure hall. Here, officials will check your documents (and possibly the items) and stamp your receipts. In some cases, you may need to fill out a special form and choose your refund method—either in cash (Thai Baht) or via transfer to an international bank card. After this step, proceed through passport control and find the “VAT Refund for Tourists” counter to collect your refund. That’s it!
Important! You can receive no more than $700 in cash. Otherwise, the refund will be issued as a bank check or transfer to a card — the refund usually arrives within a month. Of course, it can only be transferred to a bank card of an international payment system.
What goods are eligible for VAT refund?
You can only get a tax-free refund for so-called “manufactured goods”: clothing, accessories, footwear, jewelry, household appliances, electronics, and similar items. It doesn’t matter whether you bought them online or in a physical store.
However, alcohol, tobacco, antiques, medicines, and various services are not eligible for VAT refunds.
Common mistakes and how to solve them
Sometimes you may discover errors in the documentation, lose a receipt, or something else might go wrong. What should you do in such cases, and can you still get your money back?
- Errors found in the P.P.10 form. Unfortunately, if the form contains mistakes, you won’t be able to receive a refund. That’s why it’s important to carefully check the information entered into the document.
- The item was used. There is one strict rule: to receive a VAT refund via tax-free, the goods must be unused, with tags attached, in original packaging, and with receipts. However, if you couldn’t resist and unboxed your new iPhone, you can still try to apply for a refund, although the outcome is uncertain and will depend on the customs officer’s discretion.
- You checked the purchase into your luggage. In this case, you’ll have to ask the airline staff to retrieve your baggage, but the chances are slim. That’s why it’s crucial to follow the proper refund procedure we’ve outlined earlier.
Important details
Luxury goods worth over 40,000 THB (such as mobile devices, electronics, jewelry, branded bags, watches, sunglasses, belts, and more) must remain with you after passing customs and checking in your luggage.
Hand luggage that is not luxury but exceeds 100,000 THB in value must also stay with you after all security checks.
The VAT refund office may have long queues, so allow extra time before your flight to complete the process.
All the best shopping malls where you can make tax-free purchases in Phuket are gathered here. Also, check out the Places to Visit section on our website, which features the best beaches, attractions, excursions, temples, viewpoints, amusement parks, and much more.
