Thailand property transfer fees and taxes: who pays what

The standard costs

Transfer fee: 2% of the official appraised value. The government has at times cut this sharply for lower-priced homes, so check whether a temporary reduction applies on your transfer date.

Specific business tax: 3.3% of the higher of the sale price or appraised value, charged when the seller has owned the property for less than 5 years (individual sellers are exempt if they have lived there, in the house registration, for at least 1 year).

Stamp duty: 0.5% of the higher of the sale price or appraised value, charged only when specific business tax is not.

Withholding tax: paid by the seller. For a company seller it is 1% of the higher of the price or appraised value; for an individual it is calculated on the appraised value with a deduction for years of ownership.

Mortgage registration (if you borrow): 1% of the loan amount, capped at ฿200,000.

Who usually pays

Everything is negotiable and should be written into the sale contract. A common split is that buyer and seller share the transfer fee 50/50, and the seller pays the specific business tax or stamp duty and the withholding tax. Bank NPA sales follow the bank's own terms, which sometimes include help with the transfer fee.

A quick example

Land appraised at ฿2,000,000 and sold for ฿2,500,000 by an individual who has owned it for 3 years and never lived there: transfer fee 2% of ฿2.0M = ฿40,000; specific business tax 3.3% of ฿2.5M = ฿82,500; withholding tax depends on the seller's holding period. Every Avalisa Estate listing page has a transfer-cost calculator for a first estimate.

Questions

How much is the property transfer fee in Thailand?

The standard transfer fee is 2% of the official appraised value, though the government has at times reduced it for lower-priced homes. Specific business tax (3.3%) or stamp duty (0.5%), withholding tax and, if you borrow, 1% mortgage registration may also apply.

Who pays the transfer fee in Thailand, buyer or seller?

It is negotiable. A common arrangement is a 50/50 split of the transfer fee, with the seller paying specific business tax or stamp duty and withholding tax.