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When buying property in Thailand, in addition to paying the price of the property, one can also expect to pay other fees, duties, and taxes in order for the transfer of ownership to be complete. For people who are unaware of these extra costs, it can mean the difference between deciding whether or not to purchase a property. Before purchasing property, it is wise to consult a property lawyer and do the required due diligence to ensure that that title deed is correct, the owner’s name is present on the title deed, and the property’s size as described is correct.
In Thailand, taxes and fees related to property should be calculated before the decision to purchase, because the buyer should know what the entire transaction is going to cost, and who is responsible for each payment. There is no law on who has to pay for which fees, but there are basic norms in Thailand on who would normally pay for each fee related to the sale. However, the parties may make their own agreement on who pays what fees. The taxes, fees, and duties related to the sale of property in Thailand are as follows:
Transfer Fee
The transfer fee of a property is a government fee on the sale and transfer of ownership of real property which is collected by the local land office (where the property is located) upon the transfer of ownership of such property. The transfer fee of a property is 2 % of the appraised value of the property and is usually split between the buyer and the seller or paid by the buyer.
Specific Business Tax (SBT)
The Specific business tax in Thailand is 3.3% of either the sale price of the property or the appraised price of the property (whichever is higher). Note that this tax consists of 3% Specific Business Tax + a Local Tax of 10% assessed on the amount of the specific business tax (total tax 3.3%) The business tax is usually paid by the seller. The specific business tax does not need to be paid if the seller is a person and not a company under the following conditions:
- The property is being transferred (gifted) to a church, temple or mosque;
- The property is transferred (gifted) to a government agency;
- The property is transferred to a legitimate child (not an adopted child);
- The property is transferred to a legal heir or heir in a will in an estate;
- The seller has had the property for more than 5 years or it was the seller’s principal place of residence and the sellers name is in the house papers for at least 1 year before the sale.
Stamp Duty
Stamp duty is a government fee of 0.5 % of the registered sale price of the property. The stamp duty is usually paid by the seller of the property. Note that stamp duty is exempt if a Specific Business Tax is charged.
Withholding Tax
This tax varies whether the seller is a private person or a company. If the seller is a private person withholding tax is calculated at a progressive rate based on the appraised value of the property. If the seller is a company, the withholding tax is fixed at 1% of the registered sale price or appraised value of the property (whichever is higher).
Conclusion
In conclusion, when purchasing a property in Thailand, it is wise to consult a property lawyer prior to purchasing a property. This is because there are certain extra costs (fees and taxes) that the buyer must be prepared to incur in order for the transfer of ownership of the property to be complete. One should also calculate the total cost of the transaction as well as do the necessary due diligence before making any agreements with regards to purchasing a property in Thailand.
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