The govt is always looking for new justifications to raise taxes.  Since bad air/pollution is a hot media topic right now then now is a good time for the govt to say, "Hey, to help reduce pollution we need this new tax." 

 

Of course none of the tax money will go towards effective pollution reduction because a 200 baht tax on motorcycle is no deterrent to riding a motorcycle.  Heck, many Thais don't even pay the annual road tax/registration fee...nor wear helmets...nor drive/ride safely...etc...etc...etc.   But most do keep enough money in their pocket for on-the-spot payment to the BIB for not issuing a ticket.

What a joke .Hundreds of buses spewing out black diesel fumes to the detriment of  following motorcyclists  and pedestrians

Again total lack of thought.each motorcycle carries 3 to 5 people and burns a minimum of petrol. Probably well on its way to to over 100 k per liter, Vs the preferred huge pickup truck or SUV usually with one person.on board that gets maybe 1 kilometer per liter of petrol. The ones polluting and needing maybe more taxing are the PICKUPS and SUVS they are the polluters and problem. Not busses or scooters. Typical rich blaming the poor.

Do some real studies like the rest of the world

" He said that all bikes over 50,000 baht in value might be subject to the new tax of 150-200 baht per vehicle."

That's what it says he said. So according to this logic, the average operator of a motorcycle valued under B50,000 would be exempt?

Would this small tax be levied on sales of new bikes over B50,000 or any bike worth more than B50,000?

Sounds like a brain fart that was ejected before it was mature enough to make sense. A common approach in these parts.

I hope they were referring to noise pollution as well.

1 hour ago, jippytum said:

What a joke .Hundreds of buses spewing out black diesel fumes to the detriment of  following motorcyclists  and pedestrians

Land of S use your imagination 

Any crap to steal money.

Yes the buses and unroadworthy cheap cars and bikes. There is no police lol

11 hours ago, webfact said:

But the time had to be right before such an initiative was introduced. He said that all bikes over 50,000 baht in value might be subject to the new tax of 150-200 baht per vehicle.

I assume, from reading the above, that the new tax will only apply to new motorcycles worth over 50,000 Baht on registration, so I doubt it will affect 99% of the current population; although Thais selling a second-hand car or motorcycle seem to want the moon for it!

5 hours ago, Wiggy said:

I know. But it's what the motorcyclists will do if they haven't paid it. In most cases, not all.

 

With automobiles, the excise tax is paid when the vehicle is sold the first time, eg by the manufacturing or assembling company or the importer and there is no reason to believe that it will be different for motorcycles if and when an exise tax is levied on them.   

 

The payment of excise taxes for all products and services subject to this tax is governed by the Excise Tax Act B.E. 2560 (2017) and Ministerial Regulations issued under the authority of this law.

Well they can start with a noise pollution tax the idiots roar past here and you can hear them up to half a klm away, but that wont happen because the police dont move from the centre of town

So what will they do with the money earned from this? Pay the Earth for polluting it? What a crock of S*^T. Someone is looking to pocket a lot of money from this brain-fart of an idea!

As one who has frequently been gassed by the tourist buses and large trucks on Sukomvit Road, I would object to this tax.  Thailand has a severe pollution problem and it will not go away by taxing motorcycle riders.  Of course, it is the riders who have purchased the newest and most efficient motorcycles who appear to be targeted.

 

The ubiquitous  Thai  Honda Wave and Yamaha Fino riders all over Thailand will be tax exempt.  There is much about Thailand's tax system that is unfair but nothing ever seems to be done about any of the problems.  This new tax if enacted, should be dedicated exclusively to pollution reduction as should all such taxes.

฿1,000 is more appropriate. 

15 hours ago, Wiggy said:

Unbelievable. So now the police will stop them and the motorcyclist will bribe him 50 baht for not having paid the 200 baht. Wealth creation for the traffic police in full swing. You can introduce as many frigging rules/laws as you want, but without enforcement there really is no point. They might say that you can't get insurance without paying the new tax. So what? Most don't have insurance anyway. If it happens though, then why not a 10,000 baht fine for buses and trucks? They're the biggest polluters, by far.

It's just an idea at the moment but if the tax was introduced there would be no argument about whether tax has been paid or not because it would be added to the cost of a new bike at the time of purchase, it would not be retrospective.

 

13 hours ago, mercman24 said:

another stupid idea cooked up by brainless idiots, start on those black smoke belching buses of yours that run up and down Sukhumvit road.

Ah yes, all those LPG fuelled buses belching out black fumes!  Apart from the odd one or two, buses haven't been like that for years. 

15 hours ago, stanleycoin said:

Ah all the intellectuals have been at it again.

Nice one 

 

All BMW, and Benz cars will be exempt for ever.

Wonder who drives these cars.

Clear case of,   i'm all right jack syndrome. 

 

 

 

"All BMW, and Benz cars will be exempt for ever".

From the OP..."Excise chief Krisada Jeenawijarana said that cars had been subjected to such tax before..." 

 

The intellectual has, indeed, been at it again.

13 hours ago, Thian said:

They even can't buy new buses when there's a huge budget for them.

 

I read somewhere that BKK will get 100 new buses in March...still haven't seen them though.

If you bothered to read the news you'd know that they can buy new buses, the first 100 have been delivered and test runs began 2 weeks ago.  Another delivery is expected next month and another in May.

7 hours ago, jippytum said:

What a joke .Hundreds of buses spewing out black diesel fumes to the detriment of  following motorcyclists  and pedestrians

The majority of buses run on LPG and have done for a few years.

6 hours ago, robertthesculptor said:

Again total lack of thought.each motorcycle carries 3 to 5 people and burns a minimum of petrol. Probably well on its way to to over 100 k per liter, Vs the preferred huge pickup truck or SUV usually with one person.on board that gets maybe 1 kilometer per liter of petrol. The ones polluting and needing maybe more taxing are the PICKUPS and SUVS they are the polluters and problem. Not busses or scooters. Typical rich blaming the poor.

Do some real studies like the rest of the world

"...Vs the preferred huge pickup truck or SUV usually with one person.on board that gets maybe 1 kilometer per liter of petrol".

What a joke.  Which models of pickup or SUV consume 1 litre per kilometer?

Hello, this is money grab calling...is anyone home?

2 hours ago, Just Weird said:

"All BMW, and Benz cars will be exempt for ever".

From the OP..."Excise chief Krisada Jeenawijarana said that cars had been subjected to such tax before..." 

 

The intellectual has, indeed, been at it again.

You have a lot of faith in what the Excise department say.

they will and won't do 

 

Edited March 27, 20188 yr by stanleycoin

So Somchai's 40 year old Honda that's belches more smoke than a steels works is Okay then? Unless it's classed as 60,000 baht classic  I suppose

11 hours ago, stanleycoin said:

You have a lot of faith in what the Excise department say.

they will and won't do 

 

I have faith in that statement because that is what happened!

Its the blind leading the blind. Bikes are an easy target and normally don't cause that much pollution. Try BMA buses, truck, pick ups, food vendors during charcoal (Carbon Monoxide) etc. Also get some zoning in BKK and get rid of businesses what normally wouldn't operate within city limits in the west, Japan, S Korea etc. As they are a major source of pollution / VOC's.

Edited March 28, 20188 yr by Jimbo1964

On 27/03/2018 at 3:07 PM, JOC said:

As usual the government's priorities are spot on....!!

Swallow a camel and choke on a gnat.....

No there just trying to make money off there own non reforming ways. A failed 4 years of talking a lot of crap. A dinasour bunch of elderly 

Edited March 29, 20188 yr by Media1

On 27/03/2018 at 4:37 PM, gr8fldanielle said:

motorcycles are the easiest to pull over and don't block traffic. 

Now if they could only figure out how to successfully pull over the real polluters. Hmmmmmm?

 

l pull over but then the next Chinese smoker comes lol. Corruption is made here. They have the copyright

On 3/27/2018 at 8:45 AM, webfact said:

The message must be if you damage the environment there is a cost to pay, said Krisada.

And he seriously thinks m/cs are the main culprit, culpable though they are?

On 3/27/2018 at 8:45 AM, webfact said:

Motorcycles to face up to 200 baht "pollution tax"

Just another sneaky way to rip off the poor.....

On 3/27/2018 at 8:53 AM, Wiggy said:

Unbelievable. So now the police will stop them and the motorcyclist will bribe him 50 baht for not having paid the 200 baht. Wealth creation for the traffic police in full swing. You can introduce as many frigging rules/laws as you want, but without enforcement there really is no point. They might say that you can't get insurance without paying the new tax. So what? Most don't have insurance anyway. If it happens though, then why not a 10,000 baht fine for buses and trucks? They're the biggest polluters, by far.

As with the Television tax in the UK it will be applied at the point of sale then collected by civic authorities under threat of large fines and imprisonment on a yearly basis. 

...and the buses and lorries belching out black soot???

As with the Television tax in the UK

At least with the TV licence you do get to watch qood quality programs without adverts interrupting viewing every 5 minutes.