Thailand’s Customs Department has signed cooperation agreements with five major e-commerce platforms to tighten oversight of online imports and begin collecting import duties on goods valued from 1 baht, ending a long-standing exemption for low-value shipments.
Customs Director-General Phanthong Loykulanunt said the new rules will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, replacing the current duty-free threshold of 1,500 baht. The exemption, he said, has allowed foreign goods to undercut products sold by Thai businesses.
The agreements were signed with Lazada, Shopee Thailand, SHEIN, TikTok Shop Thailand and TEMU.
Authorities estimate that about 250 million parcels worth more than 45 billion baht ($1.3 billion) a year will be imported in 2026. The cooperation is expected to raise import standards, protect consumers and promote fair competition, Phanthong said.
“The new tax collection will cover nearly all goods that previously benefited from the exemption,” he said. “Last year alone, imports valued under 1,500 baht totaled about 30 billion baht, or roughly 150 to 160 million items.”
The policy is expected to generate about 3 billion baht in additional annual revenue, he said, but its main objective is to protect domestic operators from price disadvantages against untaxed imports.
Under the new tariff structure, most low-value imports fall into the fashion category.
Clothing and footwear will face import duties of about 30%, bags about 20%, and other goods will be taxed according to their customs classification, generally ranging from 10% to 20% depending on type and material.
Customs officials said the measures will also help keep substandard goods out of the market. The department will share lists of regulated products with platforms so items requiring licenses — such as approvals from the Food and Drug Administration or Thai Industrial Standards Institute — can be screened out before sale.
Most platforms will include taxes and duties in the displayed price, allowing consumers to make a single payment before delivery. Shipments sent through Thailand Post may still have duties collected upon delivery.
Phanthong said cooperation with platforms will allow checks to be conducted upstream, reducing inspections at customs checkpoints and improving enforcement efficiency. “This is not only about revenue,” he said. “It is about building a transparent, fair and lawful trade system over the long term.”
Thomakorn Supatanarangsri, vice president for government relations at Lazada Thailand, said public-private cooperation is essential for sharing information and setting common standards. Platforms cannot manage all regulatory issues alone, he said, and must work with authorities to ensure fair growth of the digital economy and protect consumers.
He acknowledged that some sellers may be affected during the initial adjustment period but said the changes would be beneficial in the long run by putting all players under the same standards and creating a safer ecosystem. He added that Lazada has been communicating the changes to sellers and preparing for implementation ahead of the January start date.
The post Thailand Customs to tax online imports from 1 baht in 2026 appeared first on Khaosod English.
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