Govt to allow public to pay tax via credit cards

BANGKOK: -- The Revenue Department is to introduce tax payment through credit cards in its attempt to boost the number of taxpayers.

Deputy Finance Minister Chaiyod Sasomsab has given the government's policies to the executives of the Revenue Department, urging them to develop the information technology (IT) for more effective tax collecting.

The new system expected to start next year, will allow people to pay taxes via their credit cards. The plan, which is expected not only to increase the number of taxpayers but also to facilitate them will be first applied to the collection of personal income tax.

Many commercial banks here have expressed their readiness to facilitate taxpayers via credit cards.

It is expected the number of taxpayers via credit cards will increase from four million people who pay taxes via the Internet.

The Director–General of the Revenue Department Sirote Sawatpanit said that the number of people who pay taxes via the Internet has increased since the introduction of the system.

Some even opt for transferring their tax money at the ATM machines.

When the multi-application Smart ID card project is completed, the department's tax data will be shared with the Interior Ministry, he said.

The tax amount collected in the first nine month of the 2005 fiscal year is over the target due to the effective system of tax collection and the continuous economic expansion, he said. Consequently, it is believed that the amount of tax collected this year will exceed the estimated tax collection of 820 billion baht.

--TNA 2005-07-18

Now I have heard it all.

Get into debt to pay your tax...................

No wonder the banks love the idea.

Paying interest on taxes! No way!