How do I get a VAT refund ?

When I bought my HP mini notebook here in Bangkok last December 2010 at Pantip Plaza, I didn't have any idea about claiming a VAT refund here in Bangkok. Lately, I have found out the process and the things that I needed to know through my experience living here in Thailand, as a tourist. I had done several research online, too. As this would help me a lot in the future when we've decided to buy some stuff.

Once you get here in Thailand, most probably you would hear sales agent/s or see this sign below.

Goods purchased in Thailand are VAT-inclusive. However, foreign visitors (with a few exceptions) have the benefit to receive a 7% VAT refund on luxury goods purchased from shops that participate in the 'VAT Refund for Tourists' scheme. When you see a 'VAT Refund for Tourists' sign, you can receive a 7% refund of the VAT levied on goods at the shop. However, certain conditions apply, and you won't be able to claim your refund until you depart Thailand from an international airport.

Most countries allow tourists to claim back the VAT that is paid on goods that are bought in their country as long as those goods are to be enjoyed or used outside of that country. Thailand is no different, in fact as a shopping paradise in Asia they are very much used to refunding the VAT. So this means, "only tourists who have a visa.

I remembered when we bought a Sony digital camera as a present to my eldest kid at Power Buy in Fashion Island, Ram Inthra. They knew already that I was gonna claim my VAT refund and they initiated to process with a smile. That was a good customer service experience for me! Since they honestly admitted that they couldn't provide a VAT refund form (probably because they aren't accredited), they said that they'll just give the 300 baht in cold cash to me on that day. That was really~ WOW! Who could honestly do the same?

Each country though has its own rules and regulations, as to what can, and can't, be claimed back and how it should be done. Based on my research, you will be informed on how to enjoy shopping and claim your VAT refund.


What goods can you NOT claim for VAT refunds?

*Firearms, explosives, or any such similar item
*Prohibited items
*Gemstones


Who can claim VAT refunds?

*A non-Thai or foreigner visitor/tourist who has been in Thailand less than 180 days in a calendar year

*A non-Thai visitor who is not a crew member of an airline.

*A non-Thai visitor who departs Thailand by air from an International airport.


How do you claim a VAT refund?

1. A VAT refund will only apply if the goods purchased are taken out of Thailand within 60 days of purchase and you have to get the VAT refund form on the same day of purchase. Otherwise, it will be invalid or you are not eligible to claim a refund

2. The goods must be purchased from any participating shops that display a "VAT Refund For Tourists" sign. This is very important because you've gotta find out if the shop is accredited or not. I was once a victim of this, they were claiming that they could give you a VAT refund but you have to get the form at the FALSE airport terminal! Some shops are only concerned about selling their items and not giving VAT refunds to foreign customers. If they are accredited or listed as the one legitimate on giving VAT refund, they MUST have the "yellow form" and they would be the one filling it up for you. All you got to do is give essential info and sign it. DO NOT LEAVE THE STORE WITHOUT IT (yellow form for VAT refund).

3. On any one day, the goods purchased from an individual participating shop must not be less than 2,000 Baht including VAT per day, and the total amount claiming for refund must not be less than 5,000 Baht, including VAT


4. When you purchase the goods, ask the sales assistant to complete a VAT refund form, known as the P.P.10, and attach the original tax invoices to that form. Each P.P.10 must show a value of 2,000 Baht or more.

5. You will need to know the method or refund you would prefer, and input that into the P.P.10 form.

6. You will need to show your passport to the sales assistant when you purchase the goods, to allow her to fill in the above-mentioned form.

7. When you are requesting a refund, the goods must be inspected by customs officers before check-in. Show these customs officers the P.P.10 and tax invoices.


TIP: When buying anything, make sure you have your PASSPORT with you :)


How will the refund be paid?

*If the refund does not exceed 10,000 Baht then you can have the refund made by cash (Thai Baht), draft, or credit to your credit card.

*If the refund total does exceed 10,000 Baht then, refunds will be made by either draft or a credit to your credit card.


Don't forget that the tax refund process is the final stage of your journey in Thailand - you will have gone through passport control on your return leg before you arrive at the appropriate counter. You can only make claims on the day you leave the country.

If your claim is for less than 30,000 Baht, you can receive a payment as a cheque or Bank Draft, or the amount can be paid into a credit card account. If your claim is for over 30,000 Baht, you can only receive payment by Bank Draft or payment into a credit card account.


Are there any fees?

*If you request a cash refund a fee of 100 Baht will apply.

*For a draft refund a 100 Baht fee plus, the draft issuing fee at the rate charged by banks and postage fees.

*For credit card refunds, a 100 Baht fee plus a money transfer fee at the rates charged by banks


Refund Conditions: VAT Refunds will not be granted in the following cases:

•You carry a diplomatic passport and reside in Thailand.

•You are an airline crew member departing Thailand on duty.

•Your stay in Thailand exceeds 180 days in a calendar year.

•Goods were not taken out of Thailand within 60 days after the date of purchase.

•You didn't depart Thailand from an international airport.

•Name or passport number not on original tax invoice attached to the VAT Refund Application form

•Value of goods purchased is less than 2,000 baht per day per store.

•VAT Refund Application for Tourist form was not prepared on the date of purchase.

•Total value of goods claimed for refund is less than 5,000 baht.

•Original tax invoices were not attached to the VAT Refund for Tourist form.

•You did not carry the goods out of Thailand on the day of your departure.

•Goods were not purchased from participating shops in the VAT Refund for Tourists scheme.

• quantity of goods shown in the VAT Refund Application for Tourist form is less than that shown in the original tax invoice.

•Goods were taken out of Thailand without being inspected by Customs or Revenue officers.

•Luxury goods were taken out of Thailand without being checked by the Revenue officers.

•Tax invoices attached to the VAT Refund Application for Tourists were issued from a different store than mentioned on the form.

• If you claimed that you are a tourist, but then you listed a home/hotel address in Thailand on the VAT refund form. Take note: Put your home address where you are from (permanent residence in your home country not abroad)

Happy shopping!!!



sources:
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/VATRefundsforTouristsinThailand.shtml
http://www.yourpattaya.com/shopping.htm
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/ShoppinginBangkok.shtml
http://www.discoverythailand.com/VAT_Refund_for_Tourists.asp
http://www.rd.go.th/vrt/howwill.html

http://www.bangkok.com/shopping-vat-refund.htm#ixzz1GgMrYEaz

Charged To Experience

Yesterday, I went to Pantip Plaza to have my new HP notebook's battery replaced because it wasn't charging at all. If my notebook is not covered by the warranty, then it will be too expensive to buy a new one. They said it would cost me around 5,000 baht just for that thing. It was like half the price of my notebook when I bought it.

Going to Pantip Plaza from Ramkamhaeng 150 will take you two hours because of the traffic jam. It was ridiculous indeed as I stayed for only 10 short minutes to talk with them regarding my two concerns. However, the travel time was 4 long hours, back and forth. My two main reasons were: 1.) to complain about the VAT refund for tourists, which I wasn't able to claim because of their *BS* tricks. and 2.) to ask for a battery replacement.

First, when I went to the 3rd floor of the CSC Electronics store. I brought my passport and the official receipt with me so they could validate my identity and the notebook that I bought from their store last December 22, 2010. I asserted that my notebook was under warranty and they told me to go to the 4th floor (the store's service center).

While I was on the 4th floor, I also complained that I haven't got my VAT refund for a tourist last time that I went to the Philippines because they (the store) didn't give me a yellow form when I asked and they said that I should get it at the airport. Duh~! I told them that I went to the airport and explained to them the same but they were saying that the store was not listed as "accredited" to distribute the yellow form.

The staff/technician who speaks English asked me if I know the person who told me that, of course, I didn't know her personally but I remember her face. He said, he would try his best to help. He left for 3 minutes and then when he came back he told me that I wouldn't be able to get my refund because the receipt was addressed in Thailand where I am staying and it was almost 3 months when I bought it, so there's no other possible way that I could get it refunded. I thanked him for his effort in explaining it to me. But then, again... it's a charge to experience.

Moreover, he accompanied me to the 3rd floor of HP's Authorized Service Center and he turned me over to the staff in charge. In fairness, they were so accommodating and friendly. They found out that my battery was not charging. Since it is still under warranty (less than three months old), they will provide the replacement at their expense. My HP notebook is under one year warranty and it is really a good help. But, I wish for the best.

They said that they will get my notebook because they need to replace the battery. But, I told them how can I use my notebook if they'll get it from me. They smiled and said, "Oh okay~ so you're using your notebook every day! No problem, we will just take off the battery so you could still be able to use your notebook while waiting for the replacement".

Finally, they told me that I will call them or they will call me after 3 working days, to know if they have the new battery for me. I gave them my mobile number, passport details, email address, and home address. They asked me to sign the incident report before I left. They gave me a copy of it, which I will show when I claim the replacement.

Important Tips During A Family Interview @ The US Embassy Applying for Newborn Passport

This image is not mine, photo credit from www.rd.com/Google images

My hubby said that personal appearance is very, very important for applying for a US passport/Citizenship. We weren't aware of the questions that they might ask. I was a little nervous because it was my first time being interviewed at the US Embassy in my whole life. But I pretended to be calm so that everything will be okay (somehow).

When we were called, my hubby handed the forms along with our passports. The one in charge told us to go to the "privacy room" where nobody could see or hear what we were discussing.

The Family interview has two parts:

1. Questions about the validity of the documents, the officer in charge scanned our documents if they were completely and correctly filled out. It also mentioned about the process of getting the Certificate of Live Birth Abroad, Social Security Number, and Passport.

2. Questions about personal like:

*When, where, and how did you meet? (This question is included probably because of child trafficking and mail-order bride, the US government would like to make sure that I am not selling my baby for illegal adoption or probably things beyond my imagination.)

*Tell me something about your relationship. (I already gathered some pictures of us together as a couple, like the first time we met and our love letters from email and registered mail when my hub was still writing me. Good thing, I am a very sentimental person. I gathered all his letters and pictures as proof that we have a relationship.)

The following questions were too personal.

*Are you married? If not, then why not? Are you planning to get married? Do you have previous marriages? 

*How long have you been together? How many years have you been together, before you got pregnant? When and in which country did you get pregnant? 

*How many children do you have?

*Do you have plans on going home to the US, just in case? Are you going to bring your newborn? When and where? Are you going to take your wife, too?

*Do you wish to apply for your wife's visa, in the future. if ever? What is her educational attainment?

*Do you work? What is your job in Thailand?

I hope these questions help you with your family interview. These are some of the questions that they might ask you when you apply for a newborn US passport. They would even check the pictures of the newborn and the parents. If the baby does not look like his/her mom and/or dad, they might ask for DNA through a saliva sample.

For more information about US Visas and Passports please visit - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html/