So your budget for buying a property in Thailand is set, but have you factored in the Thai property sales tax and transfer fees?
Taxes and fees occur when buying or selling property under Thai or foreign freehold, as well as when acquiring or renewing leasehold property. Transfer costs of a title deed (chanote) typically amount to roughly 6.8% of the estimated property value. According to the letter of the law, the seller is required to pay the taxes and stamp duty, and the transfer fee is shared 50-50 by both the buyer and the seller. However, it is much more common for all the fees to be split 50-50 between the buyer and the seller. Of course, this can all be discussed during negotiations.
"Altogether, property transfer fees and taxes in Thailand typically amount to around 5–7% of the property’s value."
Total → 1.1%, applied at registration, renewal, or when transferring the remaining term.
The leasehold registration fee for property is calculated at 1%, while a stamp duty of .1% is also applied. This results in a 1.1% fee applied to the total amount of the lease over the duration of its full term. This is collected by the Land Office at the time of registration.
It is important to note that the business tax and the withholding tax is calculated based on the registered selling price or the appraised value of the property—whichever is higher. The Land Department and Treasury Department adjust these figures every four years. This is done so as to ensure the buyer and seller can’t game the system by stating a far lower sales price than what was actually agreed upon. The transfer fee and stamp duty are calculated on the appraised value of the property.
The treasury department has a calculator for estimating property value on their Assess Price website. Please note the website is in Thai, but our advisors at Pulse Real Estate are able to provide the Treasury Department’s official valuation to clients, so long as owners provide the information required. While this value isn’t the final figure recognized by the Land Department, their officials do use the valuation as a base from which they calculate their final valuation on the day of closing. Please feel free to contact us for more specific information on official valuations.
Question: What if a leasehold is transferred to another person?
Answer: The same 1.1% applies here, but now only for the value of the remaining term on the lease agreement. To calculate the remaining value, you take the full amount of the lease, divide it by the total amount of years and multiply it by the remaining years on the lease term. Just as with the registration of a lease, the transfer fees are to be paid during the time of transfer at the Land Office. Fees are typically paid by the buyer or shared equally by the buyer and seller.
“For example, if you buy a 30-year lease for 10 million THB and decide to transfer it halfway through at year 15, the remaining lease value is considered 5 million THB. Transfer fees of 1.1% would then be calculated on that amount.”
Question: Is there a "Renewal Fee" for Leasehold Property in Thailand?
Answer: The fee here is typically based on the original cost of the lease, or an evaluation from the Land Office.
Generally, rental income earned by non-resident (foreign) owners is subject to 15% withholding tax whereas rental income earned by Thai tax resident is subject to 5% withholding tax. Although the applicable tax rates are current, they may be subject to change by the relevant Thai authorities.
Whether you're an investor, a future resident, or simply exploring your options, now is the time to think long-term. Browse our curated collection of properties in Phuket—or reach out for a personal consultation. Better yet, schedule a one-on-one video call with Alex Seago, Managing Director of Pulse Real Estate. The team will help you find a home that makes sense for today—and for tomorrow.)
At Pulse we are on hand to help with all of your property requirements. Why not visit us at the office? We can make an initial introduction and find out your requirements over a coffee.
Alternatively you can call us on +66 63 078 6599 or fill out the form on our contact page and we will get in touch.
At Pulse we are on hand to help with all of your property requirements. Why not visit us at the office? We can make an initial introduction and find out your requirements over a coffee.
Alternatively you can call us on +66 63 078 6599 or fill out the form on our contact page and we will get in touch.