Section 256 — Using forged government stamps
English translation
Whoever uses a forged government stamp, or a forged stamp owned by a foreign government, shall be liable to the punishment provided in Section 255.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
This is the use counterpart to Section 255, completing the make-and-use pattern used throughout the Chapter. The elements are (1) using (2) a forged Thai or foreign government stamp, knowing it to be forged. By taking its penalty from Section 255, the law treats using a counterfeit stamp as gravely as producing it. It targets, for example, affixing a forged revenue or duty stamp to goods or documents to evade the fee the genuine stamp would represent, and it often overlaps with specific revenue and excise offences.
Why this matters in practice
Penalty exposure equals Section 255 at one to seven years, and the matter is non-compoundable because the injured party is the State. Knowledge that the stamp is forged is essential to guilt. Because these cases usually arise in a revenue or excise setting, the Penal Code count may sit beside specific tax legislation, and courts apply the heaviest applicable provision where the acts overlap. Defences commonly test knowledge and whether the stamp is in fact forged.
Frequently asked questions
What penalty applies for using a forged government stamp?
Section 256 applies the same penalty as Section 255: imprisonment of one to seven years and a fine of 20,000 to 140,000 baht.
Is knowledge that the stamp was fake required?
Yes. The offence requires using the stamp knowing it is forged; using it in the genuine belief it is authentic lacks the required intent.