Sustainable finance and green tax initiatives | Photo via Freepik

 

Thailand’s Excise Department will introduce six new tax initiatives to enhance environmental sustainability and public health. Director-General Pornchai Thiraveja announced that these policies aim to align with evolving global trade standards, prioritizing climate action and public health concerns.

 

The first measure expands the tax scope on environmentally harmful products, preparing for the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. This step is part of Thailand’s new climate change law, including a carbon tax and emissions trading system.

 

The second measure broadens the tax base for luxury goods, while the third introduces incentives for green products like sustainable and bio-based fuels. Another policy proposes a salt tax to address high sodium consumption health risks. Battery tax structures will also be revised to encourage innovation and reduce environmental impact.

 

The most notable measure restructures the cigarette tax system, proposing a uniform tax rate to replace the existing two-tier system. To support this transition, assistance programs for the Tobacco Authority of Thailand and promotion of cigarette exports are planned. Efforts to combat illegal cigarette imports and review tax calculation metrics will also be strengthened.

 

The department projects excise tax collections of 578 billion baht in 2026 and 611 billion baht in 2027. Meanwhile, Bangkok Airways earned a 5-star sustainability award from the Tourism Authority of Thailand for promoting greener aviation, reported The Thaiger.

 

Key Takeaways

• Six new tax measures aim to enhance sustainability and health.
• Initiatives include a revised cigarette tax and incentives for green products.
• Tax adjustments align with global standards and upcoming carbon regulations.

 

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-12-04

 

 

 

In the meantime Thailand want to be the place for people to retire, but tha land has such a high tax policy that many expats can find better and much cheaper places... Another measure to kill a part of the economy

None of this will bite until they can get rid of cash and get a digital currency.  Look at the lineups outside of banks after millions of Thais got locked out of their accounts.  The smart ones are going back to cash.  Whomever is cooking up these utopian schemes is out of touch with the Thai populace.  This climate change hogwash is so 2024.  Now it's full throttle, drill baby, drill, because you can't run data servers on wind and sunshine. 

5 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

In the meantime Thailand want to be the place for people to retire, but tha land has such a high tax policy that many expats can find better and much cheaper places... Another measure to kill a part of the economy

 

Yes, imported goods are much cheaper in neighbouring countries, which makes life for a Westerner much more pleasant. 

5 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

None of this will bite until they can get rid of cash and get a digital currency.  Look at the lineups outside of banks after millions of Thais got locked out of their accounts.  The smart ones are going back to cash.  Whomever is cooking up these utopian schemes is out of touch with the Thai populace.  This climate change hogwash is so 2024.  Now it's full throttle, drill baby, drill, because you can't run data servers on wind and sunshine. 

 

Last sentence correct, but you seem to contradict yourself. 

 

11 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

None of this will bite until they can get rid of cash and get a digital currency.  Look at the lineups outside of banks after millions of Thais got locked out of their accounts.  The smart ones are going back to cash.  Whomever is cooking up these utopian schemes is out of touch with the Thai populace.  This climate change hogwash is so 2024.  Now it's full throttle, drill baby, drill, because you can't run data servers on wind and sunshine. 

I pay cash to prostitutes because online payment will leave traces that’s all of u were wondering

Thailand, the hub of taxes. 

1 hour ago, villageidiotY2K said:

I pay cash to prostitutes because online payment will leave traces that’s all of u were wondering

what will you do when cash is eliminated?

take the prostitute to a mall and buy her a handbag in exchange to avoid "leaving a trace"? 

 

10 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

what will you do when cash is eliminated?

take the prostitute to a mall and buy her a handbag in exchange to avoid "leaving a trace"? 

 

Marry her and get a bigger tax allowance!

Thailand is chomping at the bit to be a hub of green tax nonsense.....We want to be big boys too, in keeping up with all the EUs green tax nonsense...

 

Also, it's funny how salt is demonized,

But the contriversial and very toxic to loads of people MSG  always gets a free pass 100% of the time..

48 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Thailand, the hub of taxes. 

 

Yes, and the hub where no one cares about sustainability measures and environmentally harmful products except the govt.

 

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Another policy proposes a salt tax to address high sodium consumption health risks.

 

Goes along with the sugar tax. Buy a bag of potato chips and a candy bar and you're going to fork out more.

As always, negativity galore.

On 12/4/2025 at 11:47 PM, Celsius said:

 

Last sentence correct, but you seem to contradict yourself. 

 

 

"Do I contradict myself? I contain multitudes"

With apologies to Walt Whitman 

On 12/4/2025 at 4:39 PM, snoop1130 said:

Director-General Pornchai Thiraveja announced that these policies aim to align with evolving global trade standards, prioritizing climate action and public health concerns.

You mean thy might actually clean the place up--- 

Thailand already has far too many taxes and it's very well known that when a government is completely lacking in creative juice and is unable to find solutions to their problems they just raise taxes.

 

The reality is that the economy here would be dramatically boosted by lowering taxes rather than raising them, especially on items like luxury goods and fine wine which would encourage a more affluent group of tourists to come here. Luxury taxes are already far too high and people travel outside the country to buy a new purse rather than buy it here. Wealthy tourists  would never even consider going into a luxury boutique here to purchase clothing, jewelry, a new purse or other luxury items, it just doesn't happen.

 

There's a reason why those stores are always empty and they are all likely money losers. 

 

 

When will we see a Green Tax on air conditioners?

Thailand is becoming the place we try to escape from.

1 hour ago, Peter Crow said:

When will we see a Green Tax on air conditioners?

Ahhhh, you can't afford air con.

24 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

Ahhhh, you can't afford air con.

Got 9 of those in my house...

 

Sorry for the frustrated Schadenfreude...

On 12/5/2025 at 5:08 AM, villageidiotY2K said:

I pay cash to prostitutes because online payment will leave traces that’s all of u were wondering

 

Won't be long before this is common in girly bars...

 

 

2 hours ago, Peter Crow said:

When will we see a Green Tax on air conditioners?

Never would be the answer to that..seeing as the global warming climate alarmists predict  the global boiling 🤣  aircon must be a human right and free from taxation.

On 12/5/2025 at 5:08 AM, villageidiotY2K said:

I pay cash to prostitutes because online payment will leave traces that’s all of u were wondering

Pay cash for everything possible if you value your freedom

once it's cashless then they will know about every transaction,  location,recipient,time and amount privacy will be dead.

On 12/4/2025 at 6:07 PM, flaming dragon said:

None of this will bite until they can get rid of cash and get a digital currency.  Look at the lineups outside of banks after millions of Thais got locked out of their accounts.  The smart ones are going back to cash.  Whomever is cooking up these utopian schemes is out of touch with the Thai populace.  This climate change hogwash is so 2024.  Now it's full throttle, drill baby, drill, because you can't run data servers on wind and sunshine. 

NZ contributes 0.17% to global emissions and is still promoting the buying of 23 billion dollars of carbon credits which will cripple NZ, how stupid and insane are these politicians that buy into this farce, many big countries have already dumped the idiot of all time scheme.

The main cause of carbon emissions is agriculture, farms growing grain to feed cattle and cattle grazing in dust paddocks that can not contain carbon. Not cows farting that's BS.

The USA is the worst offender in this.

On 12/5/2025 at 6:39 AM, save the frogs said:

what will you do when cash is eliminated?

take the prostitute to a mall and buy her a handbag in exchange to avoid "leaving a trace"? 

 

Perhaps by then they will be giving old timers one for free lol

They learn fast here in Thailand. They saw how the western leaders are scamming their own with the hateful environmental taxes on anything to everything. A great money making business plan incentive with the environmental tax rackets in most European nations. Europe is destroying itself and sadly Thailand has taken the (bad) example. But no worries. In general the locals will be exempted. Wonder who will be the golden goose to shell out the money (again) ? 

2 minutes ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

They learn fast here in Thailand. They saw how the western leaders are scamming their own with the hateful environmental taxes on anything to everything. A great money making business plan incentive with the environmental tax rackets in most European nations. Europe is destroying itself and sadly Thailand has taken the (bad) example. But no worries. In general the locals will be exempted. Wonder who will be the golden goose to shell out the money (again) ? 

So if no taxes, how does anything get done, is it you doing stuff for free..........?  🤫

 

Do you live in a cave, or camp out in the forest.....?  🫡