Customs Department Considers Measures to Help SMEs

By Paphamon Arayasukawat 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Customs Department is seeking ways to reduce the impact of the exemption on import tax and value-added tax (VAT) for imported goods worth up to 1,500 baht, as such measures are hurting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Director-General Patchara Anuntasilpa said the department may consider measures similar to a non-tariff barrier to help protect domestic SMEs from low-priced imports worth no more than 1,500 baht per piece that enjoy import tax and VAT waivers.

He said exempting such low-priced import products from import tax and VAT creates an unfair playing field for local SMEs, which have to pay VAT in accordance with Thai law.

Mr Patchara said any efforts to collect tax from imported goods with relatively low prices have to utilize other tax laws, not those relating to customs.