Thai Excise Department eyes tobacco tax adjustment

[webfact]

Excise Department eyes tobacco tax adjustment

 

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Excise Department is set to propose a tobacco taxation adjustment to help discourage the smuggling of illegal tobacco products into the country.

 

The Excise Department Director General Lawan Saengsanit has announced that the department is to propose to the Ministry of Finance a new taxation scheme for tobacco products in March.

 

This new tobacco tax adjustment is expected to be signed into law in fiscal year 2022, with the aim of disrupting the smuggling of illegal tobacco products from abroad, while protecting the well being of the people from tobacco-related health issues, protecting the income of Thai tobacco farmers, and maintaining the level of revenue the government gains from legal tobacco sales, which is currently 60 billion baht annually.

 

Officials of the Excise Department, recently raided a warehouse storing illegal cigarettes in Hua Hin district, Prachuap Khiri Khan, where 201,200 cartons of illegal cigarettes worth 16 million baht were found.

 

The sale of these black market cigarettes would mean the government would lose around 11.26 million baht in revenue from tobacco sales tax; the persons responsible for the illegal importation of these items will face a fine of 169 million baht.

 

Black market cigarettes are now commonly found for sale online. The Excise Department says they have adjusted their investigative approach to identify the big boss behind this illegal operation.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-02-02

 

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[Antiparovian]

Gonna increase the Tax to disrupt smuggling. 55555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555

 

[PatOngo]

46 minutes ago, webfact said:

while protecting the well being of the people from tobacco-related health issues

What an absolute crock, it's just profit for the legal drug dealers!

[Misterwhisper]

41 minutes ago, webfact said:

201,200 cartons of illegal cigarettes worth 16 million baht

1 standard carton contains 10 packs of 20 (or 21) cigarettes each.

 

If the stated figures are factual, it would mean that each pack would've been appraised to be worth just 7.95 baht, or just under 0.80 baht per stick -- the cheapest cigarettes ever.

 

I guess the professional "journalists" at NNT confused "carton" with "pack".

 

And what does tax "adjustment" mean anyway? The article doesn't say. But if past "adjustments" are any indication, it will probably mean a de-facto tax INCREASE.

 

If that is the case, it will do nothing to help stamp out cigarette smuggling, but instead only encourage cigarette smugglers even more.

[smedly]

11 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

And what does tax "adjustment" mean anyway? The article doesn't say. But if past "adjustments" are any indication, it will probably mean a de-facto tax INCREASE.

In order for this adjustment announcement to make sense they must be considering reducing tax - but then adding the Thailand factor into the mix it is very likely nonsensical 

[Airalee]

18 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

1 standard carton contains 10 packs of 20 (or 21) cigarettes each.

 

If the stated figures are factual, it would mean that each pack would've been appraised to be worth just 7.95 baht, or just under 0.80 baht per stick -- the cheapest cigarettes ever.

 

I guess the professional "journalists" at NNT confused "carton" with "pack".

 

And what does tax "adjustment" mean anyway? The article doesn't say. But if past "adjustments" are any indication, it will probably mean a de-facto tax INCREASE.

 

If that is the case, it will do nothing to help stamp out cigarette smuggling, but instead only encourage cigarette smugglers even more.

They might not be too far off with those figures.  About 5 years ago, I crossed the border from Mae Sai to Tacheleik and was wandering around the market there.  A carton of Camels (10 packs) was 70 (seventy) baht.  I didn’t buy any, but I just couldn’t wrap my head around how they could be that cheap.  I even questioned them if the ฿70 was for a pack of 20 or the full carton.  It was for the full carton.  Mind blowing.

[canopus1969]

Amazed there are still idiots who smoke ????

[nausea]

A totally pointless, informationless, statement. I suppose this is just a knee jerk reaction to the raid in Hua Hin, but who knows. I don't see how any tax adjustment, other than a drastic decrease reducing tax revenue, is gonna have any effect on smuggling, 

[ChrisY1]

2 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

1 standard carton contains 10 packs of 20 (or 21) cigarettes each.

 

If the stated figures are factual, it would mean that each pack would've been appraised to be worth just 7.95 baht, or just under 0.80 baht per stick -- the cheapest cigarettes ever.

 

I guess the professional "journalists" at NNT confused "carton" with "pack".

 

And what does tax "adjustment" mean anyway? The article doesn't say. But if past "adjustments" are any indication, it will probably mean a de-facto tax INCREASE.

 

If that is the case, it will do nothing to help stamp out cigarette smuggling, but instead only encourage cigarette smugglers even more.

I think a pack at the Myanmar border is~10baht....

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

With my premium Japanese brand running 45 baht in Cambodia, 40 baht in Vietnam and 150 baht in Thailand, the excise department does have some leeway to "adjust" taxes. Meh, who am I kidding.  The only things they'll pursue is higher taxes, which gives the smugglers' a chance to raise their prices and the authorities a chance to raise their cut with the smugglers. 

[Paul Henry]

Thai logic at work yet again. Put up the price of tobacco so people will only buy the legal Thai product?

Maybe time to start a black market in wines? The govt uses the same rational to price wine. Big opportunity for some enterprising police or military officers.

[Jimbo2014]

The government provides free cigarettes all day.  Just stand anywhere in Thailand at the moment and you breath in about 3 packets a day.  The air is toxic.  Toxic Thailand.

[Golden Triangle]

3 hours ago, Airalee said:

They might not be too far off with those figures.  About 5 years ago, I crossed the border from Mae Sai to Tacheleik and was wandering around the market there.  A carton of Camels (10 packs) was 70 (seventy) baht.  I didn’t buy any, but I just couldn’t wrap my head around how they could be that cheap.  I even questioned them if the ฿70 was for a pack of 20 or the full carton.  It was for the full carton.  Mind blowing.

 

Have you ever tasted some of these foreign made well known brands ? When I was a smoker I did, they were absolute cack ???? you couldn't give them away ????????

[jollyhangmon]

5 minutes ago, Jimbo2014 said:

The government provides free cigarettes all day.  Just stand anywhere in Thailand at the moment and you breath in about 3 packets a day.  The air is toxic.  Toxic Thailand.

 

... careful man, excise dpt just listened up - don't give them any ideas ... 

 

[thedemon]

Quote

" while protecting the well being of the people from tobacco-related health issues"

 

Meanwhile the Thai Ministry of Finance owns, operates and profits from the TTM which manufactures cigarettes and tobacco products.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacco_Authority_of_Thailand

 

Considering that the Excise department is also under the umbrella of the Ministry of Finance, that's quite stunning hypocrisy.

[dinsdale]

Can anyone show me where it says increase? I see adjustment. Of course if it's down something is sure to go up. All puns intended.

 

[Justgrazing]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

 

This new tobacco tax adjustment is expected to be signed into law in fiscal year 2022, with the aim of disrupting the smuggling of illegal tobacco products from abroad, while protecting the well being of the people from tobacco-related health issues, protecting the income of Thai tobacco farmers, and maintaining the level of revenue the government gains from legal tobacco sales, which is currently 60 billion baht annually

 

How does that go together .. 

Smoking kills so if they want to reduce the death rate attributed to it farmers need to be growing something else .. 

Try ganja then everyone'll be too whacked to care .. 

And is that a symbolic T-bone joint in the pic' .. 

[mr mr]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

maintaining the level of revenue the government gains from legal tobacco sales, which is currently 60 billion baht annually.

 

ohhhhh the irony of this little gem. it can be applied worldwide to any government. 

 

 

[Reigntax]

On 2/2/2021 at 4:21 PM, canopus1969 said:

Amazed there are still idiots who smoke ????

 

Same could be said about any vice but wouldnt the world be boring without the occassional indulgence by choice. 

Lucky they still allow idiots access to keyboards, the internet and opinions !