Sending business payments from the US to Thailand
A US company pays a Thai supplier by SWIFT wire in US dollars to the supplier's foreign currency deposit (FCD) account, or in baht through a provider that pays out locally over PromptPay, SMART or BAHTNET. Thai residents may receive foreign currency from abroad into an FCD account without limit, so a dollar invoice is straightforward. This guide covers the details to collect, the Bank of Thailand rules, rails, holidays, documents and fees.
- A Thai resident's foreign currency deposit (FCD) account may receive foreign currency from abroad, such as revenues and service fees, without limit, according to the Bank of Thailand.
- Foreign currency received from abroad worth USD 1 million or more must be repatriated within 360 days and then sold to an authorized bank or deposited in an FCD account.
- BAHTNET, the Bank of Thailand's high-value system, settles in real time on bank working days from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., while Standard Chartered states PromptPay runs 24x7 up to 2 million baht.
- KBank charges 0.25% to deposit an inward remittance to a USD FCD account, with a minimum of USD 10 and a maximum of USD 25.
- Thailand observes a substitution day on 7 December 2026, Constitution Day on 10 December and New Year's Eve on 31 December, so December payments need planning.
Details to collect from your recipient in Thailand
Thai companies that hold dollars keep them in an FCD account alongside a baht account. Ask which account matches the invoice currency, and collect the details in writing. SWIFT is the network banks use for cross-border payment instructions, and each bank on it has an 8 or 11 character SWIFT code. For baht payouts, a Thai business can receive to its 13-digit Tax ID registered as a PromptPay ID.
| Detail | What to ask for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficiary name | The company's registered name, exactly as on the account | Name mismatches lead to queries or returns |
| Beneficiary address | Full street address in Thailand | Required on SWIFT wires |
| Account number and currency | The FCD account for dollars, or the baht account | A dollar wire to a baht account is converted on arrival |
| Bank name, branch and SWIFT code | 8 or 11 characters | Routes the wire to the right bank |
| Tax ID | 13 digits; a business can register it as its PromptPay ID | Identifies the company and can replace the account number for baht payouts |
| Invoice number | As on the commercial invoice | Lets the supplier match the payment |
Sources: Bangkok Bank, BizPromptPay FAQ; field list compiled by the Helm Editorial Team. As published on 29 October 2026.
Bangkok Bank states that only one Tax ID can be registered with one bank account. If a supplier gives you a PromptPay ID, check that the name your provider displays before you confirm matches the company on the invoice.
USD or baht: what the Bank of Thailand's rules say
Thai exchange control rules are set by the Bank of Thailand (BOT), the central bank. They give Thai companies room to keep dollars and set a long window for large receipts. Either currency works for a buyer abroad; the choice is about who carries the exchange rate. The US dollar to baht page covers the currency.
| Rule | What it says | What it means for your payment |
|---|---|---|
| FCD accounts | A resident's FCD account may receive foreign currency from abroad without limit | The supplier can hold your dollars |
| Large receipts | Foreign currency worth USD 1 million or more must be repatriated within 360 days of the export or transaction date | Pay large invoices to the supplier's account in Thailand |
| After repatriation | Sold to an authorized bank or deposited in an FCD account within 360 days of receipt | No forced conversion if the supplier keeps an FCD account |
| Use abroad | Foreign currency received from abroad may pay obligations to non-residents without first coming home | Relevant if the supplier pays its own suppliers abroad |
| Baht for non-residents | Non-residents may hold a Non-Resident Baht Account (NRBA) for general purposes such as trade and services | An alternative to a provider's baht payout |
Source: Bank of Thailand, exchange control regulation (sections 2.1, 5.1 and 5.3). As published on 29 October 2026.
A baht invoice removes conversion from the supplier's side and can support a sharper price; a dollar invoice keeps your books in dollars and suits suppliers that import materials in dollars. The supplier-side detail is in how to pay suppliers in Thailand.
Rails and arrival times: SWIFT, PromptPay, SMART and BAHTNET
A dollar wire settles in the United States on Fedwire, which runs from 9:00 p.m. ET on the previous day to 7:00 p.m. ET on weekdays, with a 6:45 p.m. ET deadline for customer transfers. Bangkok is 11 hours ahead of New York in the US summer and 12 hours ahead in the US winter. Inside Thailand, baht move on three services, and PromptPay is the only one that runs every day.
| Route | What the recipient receives | Timing, as published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWIFT wire in USD to an FCD account | US dollars | Credited on a Thai bank working day | Standard route for dollar invoices |
| Baht payout over PromptPay | Baht | Instant, 24x7, up to 2 million baht per payment | Per Standard Chartered's guide |
| Baht payout over SMART | Baht | Same day or next business day | Bulk credit service |
| Baht payout over BAHTNET | Baht | Real time, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on bank working days | Final and irrevocable; for high values |
Sources: Standard Chartered, Thailand PromptPay user guide; Bank of Thailand, BAHTNET; Federal Reserve Financial Services, Fedwire operating hours. As published on 29 October 2026.
Documents, screening and why payments to Thailand are held
A Thai bank records the source of foreign currency it receives, so the supplier may be asked for the invoice behind a large payment from a new buyer. Put the invoice number in the payment details and make sure the name you pay matches the company on the invoice. For PromptPay, the display name before you confirm is your check.
On the US side, sanctions screening applies to every payment: OFAC states that all US persons, including US-incorporated entities and their foreign branches, must comply with its sanctions, so check the payee and its bank against OFAC's lists (OFAC FAQ 11).
| Problem | What happens | How to prevent it |
|---|---|---|
| Dollars sent to the baht account | Converted at the bank's rate | Ask for the FCD account number |
| PromptPay payout above 2 million baht | Exceeds the instant payment amount | Use a provider that pays larger amounts over BAHTNET |
| Account name does not match | Queried or returned | Use the registered name exactly |
| Sent before the December holidays | Credited days later (7, 10 and 31 December 2026; 1 January 2027) | Pay December invoices by 29 December |
| Wire sent as SHA | Arrives short of the invoice | Use OUR charges |
Sources: Standard Chartered; Bank of Thailand; Human Resources Online, citing the Bank of Thailand holiday list. As published on 29 October 2026.
Costs: SHA, OUR and Helm's fees for payments to Thailand
On a $20,000 wire to an FCD account at KBank, the 0.25% deposit fee would be $50, so the USD 25 maximum applies. The larger costs are intermediary deductions on a SHA wire and the exchange rate on a baht payout. With OUR you pay all bank charges and the full amount arrives. For the supplier's account options, see USD business accounts in Thailand.
Helm, a financial technology company and not a bank, sends international payments from your company's account by SWIFT and by local rails in the recipient's currency where available, confirmed by your account manager. The rate, fee and expected arrival are shown before you confirm. Helm's US dollar account services are provided by Bridge Building, Inc. (NMLS ID 2450917), a licensed money transmitter, with funds held at Lead Bank.
Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment. See how Helm pricing works.
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How do I send a business payment from the US to Thailand?
For a dollar invoice, send a SWIFT wire to the supplier's FCD account with the bank's SWIFT code and the invoice number. For a baht invoice, use a provider that pays baht locally over PromptPay, SMART or BAHTNET.
Can a Thai supplier receive US dollars?
Yes. The Bank of Thailand allows a resident's FCD account to receive foreign currency from abroad without limit. Receipts of USD 1 million or more must be repatriated within 360 days and then sold or kept in an FCD account.
What is PromptPay?
PromptPay is Thailand's instant baht payment service, which lets a recipient receive to an ID instead of an account number. A business uses its 13-digit Tax ID, and Standard Chartered states it runs 24x7 up to 2 million baht per payment.
How long does a payment to Thailand take?
A baht payout over PromptPay is instant and BAHTNET settles in real time during its hours. A SWIFT wire is credited on a Thai bank working day after it clears the US correspondent.
Which Thai holidays affect payments at the end of 2026?
Thailand observes a substitution day on 7 December, Constitution Day on 10 December, New Year's Eve on 31 December and New Year's Day on 1 January 2027. Confirm against the Bank of Thailand's holiday list.
What does Helm charge to send money to Thailand?
Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment.
References
- Bank of Thailand: Exchange control regulation
- Bank of Thailand: BAHTNET systems
- Standard Chartered: Thailand PromptPay user guide
- Bangkok Bank: BizPromptPay FAQ
- KBank: Fees for foreign currency deposit and withdrawal
- Human Resources Online: Full list of Thailand's 2026 public holidays
- Federal Reserve Financial Services: Fedwire Funds Service operating hours
- Office of Foreign Assets Control: FAQ 11, Who must comply with OFAC sanctions?
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.