Section 255 — Forging government stamps
English translation
Whoever forges a government stamp or a stamp owned by a foreign government shall be liable to imprisonment of one to seven years and a fine of twenty thousand to one hundred and forty thousand baht.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
This section extends the Chapter's protection from seals to government stamps, meaning revenue and duty stamps issued by the State, and equally to stamps of a foreign government. The elements are (1) forging (2) a Thai or foreign government stamp. The offence is complete on making the forged stamp, without any use; using a forged government stamp is separately addressed in Section 256. Its penalty of one to seven years mirrors the seal-forgery offence in Section 252, reflecting the comparable fiscal and public interest in the integrity of official stamps.
Why this matters in practice
Exposure is one to seven years, and as a State offence it cannot be settled by any private party. Forging a government stamp is complete once the counterfeit stamp exists, so no sale or use need be proved. In practice these matters often arise in revenue and excise contexts and may run alongside specific tax or excise legislation that carries its own penalties. Defences typically dispute whether the item is a genuine government stamp and whether the accused produced it.
Frequently asked questions
Does forging a government stamp require that it be used?
No. Under Section 255 the offence is complete once the counterfeit stamp is made; using a forged government stamp is a separate offence under Section 256.
What penalty applies for forging a government stamp?
Imprisonment of one to seven years and a fine of 20,000 to 140,000 baht.