Online shopping imports face full taxListen to this articleThailand yesterday began collecting taxes on all imported goods bought online, a move the government says will create "a level playing field" between local and imported cheap products. Deputy government spokeswoman Lalida Persvivatana said the measure ends a long-standing tax exemption on goods valued at under 1,500 baht purchased directly from overseas vendors via e-commerce platforms. "This measure helps create a level playing field, improves transparency, and ensures imported goods comply with Thai laws and standards," Ms Lalida said. Currently, over 97% of imported online goods already have tax automatically calculated and included in their displayed prices on major platforms, meaning buyers can continue to pay once and receive delivery at home without handling tax payments at customs themselves. The Customs Department has coordinated with major e-commerce platforms, including Lazada, Shopee, TikTok, Shien, and Temu, to strengthen the screening of imported goods.

Source: Bangkok Post January 02, 2026 09:14 UTC