Determining taxes and fees on imports into Thailand
Import duties
Once the HS code has been determined, the importer can identify the applicable import duty rate. Import duty is calculated as a percentage of the customs value of the goods.
For Vietnamese goods imported into Thailand, enterprises currently have nine tariff options, each corresponding to a specific duty rate and eligibility conditions. The importer chooses the most suitable and beneficial rate based on the goods concerned. Specifically:
- MFN tariff: This is the tariff rate that Thailand applies to goods from WTO member countries. This rate is determined by Thailand but must comply with WTO commitments and is applied to goods from WTO member countries without any conditions regarding origin. Vietnam is a WTO member, therefore Vietnamese goods automatically benefit from this tariff rate without needing to meet any conditions.
- Preferential tariffs under FTAs to which Vietnam and Thailand are both parties:
By the end of 2024, the two countries shared eight FTAs:
(1) FTA ASEAN – Australia, New Zealand (AANZFTA),
(2) FTA ASEAN – China (ACFTA),
(3) FTA ASEAN - India (AIFTA),
(4) FTA ASEAN – Japan (AJCEP),
(5) FTA ASEAN – Korea (AKFTA),
(6) ASEAN trade in goods agreement (ATIGA);
(7) FTA ASEAN – Hongkong, China (AHKFTA);
(8) Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Under each agreement, Thailand grants special preferential rates to goods from member countries, provided that the goods satisfy the relevant rules of origin and origin certification requirements
Enterprises can look up the tariff rates applicable to specific products imported into Thailand on the Thai Customs website:
http://itd.customs.go.th/igtf/en/main_frame.jsp
Other taxes
- Value-added tax (VAT): Imported goods into Thailand are subject to VAT at 7%, which applies generally to all imports.
- Excise tax: Thailand imposes excise tax on non-essential goods, goods harmful to health, and luxury items such as petroleum products, yachts, cars, perfume, alcohol, and tobacco.
- Further information on excisable goods and excise tax calculation is available at:
https://webdev.excise.go.th/aec-law/en/excise-en-thailand.php
- Anti-dumping, countervailing, and safeguard duties: Some imported goods may be subject to these measures if they fall within the relevant scope.
Source: Center for WTO and International Trade - VCCI
