Thailand Shopping Coupons and Tax Refund Guide 2026: 7% VAT Refund and Bangkok Mall Tourist Cards

Thailand Offers both: VAT refund and mall tourist card

Shopping in Thailand not only allows you to enjoy local specialties but also comes with two major benefits: VAT refund and mall tourist card. Unlike in South Korea or Malaysia, these two benefits are calculated separately and do not affect each other. The VAT refund is provided by the Thai government, while the mall tourist card is a discount plan offered by various malls.

Basic VAT refund rules: Get back 7% VAT

Thailand's VAT is 7%, but through the VAT refund system, travellers can get this amount back. First, you need to spend at least 2,000 Thai Baht in a single day at a participating store to be eligible for a VAT refund. Secondly, the purchased goods must be taken out of Thailand within 60 days of purchase.

• VAT refunds can only be processed at ten designated airports in Thailand; city VAT refunds are not part of the official VRT system.
• Although some mall websites mention that city VAT refunds are possible, with a maximum of 12,000 Thai Baht in cash and a 15-day departure period, this information is only found on mall websites and is not mentioned on the Thai Revenue Department page.

How much can be refunded and how to claim it

The refund amount varies, and so do the methods of receiving the money. For refunds of 30,000 Thai Baht or less, you can choose to receive cash, credit to a card, or an e-wallet. If it exceeds 30,000 Thai Baht, you can only receive it as a credit to a card or via a bank draft.

• VAT refunds exceeding 30,000 Thai Baht cannot be received as cash; they can only be credited to a card or received via a bank draft.
• High-value items over 40,000 Thai Baht require additional inspection, and items totaling over 100,000 Thai Baht must be carried with you for customs inspection.

Who is eligible? How to obtain the P.P.10 form

To qualify for a tax refund, travellers must be non-Thai nationals and non-Thai residents, and their stay in Thailand cannot exceed 180 days. Airline crew members are ineligible. Always remember to request a P.P.10 form from the merchant at the time of purchase, as this form can only be obtained during the purchase and completing it upon departure is invalid.

• The P.P.10 form can only be obtained during the purchase; it cannot be acquired upon departure.
• Airline crew members and Thai residents are ineligible.

Central Department Store: The 1 Tourist Card

At Central Department Store in Bangkok, you can obtain a The 1 Tourist Card by presenting your passport. With this card, you can enjoy a 5% discount on regular-priced items and receive up to 1,800 Thai Baht in vouchers.

• The discount only applies to regular-priced items, not to sale items.
• Actual participating merchants and terms are subject to official page announcements.

ONESIAM: Siam Paragon, Siam Center, ICONSIAM

The Global Tourist Card offered by the ONESIAM group is also available upon presentation of a passport. With this card, you can enjoy discounts of up to 80% at partner brands, while the department store section offers a 5% discount.

• One card grants access to several ONESIAM malls; visit once and collect one card.
• The up to 80% discount applies to selected partner brands, not across all stores.

The Mall Group: EmQuartier, Emporium, EmSphere

The Mall Group's visitor card can be used at EmQuartier, Emporium, and EmSphere malls. With this card, you can enjoy discounts of up to 50%, and spending over 2,000 Thai Baht will get you a 200 Thai Baht voucher.

• The previous summer promotion with 10,000 Thai Baht vouchers has ended; do not follow outdated guides.
• Spending 2,000 Thai Baht for a 200 Thai Baht voucher is separate from the visitor card discount.

MBK and Siam Premium Outlets: two additional options

At MBK Center, each store offers different coupons, with discounts ranging from 5% to 50%. At Siam Premium Outlets, you can get tourist discounts by showing your passport, with discounts varying by brand.

• MBK distributes different coupons at each store, so plan time to ask at each one before you shop.
• The POWER PASS at King Power is tiered based on cumulative spending and is not exclusive to tourists.

Places where you won't find tourist benefits: don't bother visiting these

At Terminal 21, Big C, Boots Thailand, and Watsons Thailand, there's no information about tourist cards on their official websites. The Sukjai Rewards page of the Tourism Authority of Thailand shows no current offers.

• These places still offer tax refunds, but without additional tourist discounts.
• The Tourism Authority of Thailand's Sukjai rewards page showed no current offers when we checked.

Get online before you shop

Internet access is essential when shopping in Thailand. You need it to claim tourist cards, check participating merchants, and verify tax refund thresholds.