Tax Collectors Recruited To Refill Coffers: Interview

[Mosha]

They should export Lhao Khao to ASEAN nations, after watching translated Thai soaps, they'll need a drink to celebrate Thai culture.

[hellodolly]

"If the proposal is approved, the Revenue Department assures that it could collect Bt157 billion more tax revenue in the first year and then increase this to Bt200 billion per year after three years of implementation," Deputy Finance Minister Tanusak Lek-uthai said in an interview last week.

So this guys knows he needs 2300 more people to collect 157 billion.

"The proposal has not yet made it clear enough where it could find more tax revenue, so I will ask the department to come up with a more concrete plan," he said.

But really have no idea where to find the new revenue, but knows the exact amount he can collect.

Interesting

The usual levels of analysis have been applied.

I might point out that the usual levels of analysis are a phone call from Dubai

[hellodolly]

Do any of these people sitting in positions of power of Government Departments have an IQ larger than their shoe size?

Well that is a good question. I personally think you for the most part are right. The gifted ones are about the same as the average room temperature in a well air conditioned room.

[Rancid]

So yet another country where politicians use spending like drunken sailors rather than using good policy to ungratiate themselves with the voters. Not enough in tax collection to pay for it so now they are sniffing around for more. At least they haven't followed the cancerous Fed and the ECB and started up the printing presses to start counterfeiting...yet.

[bangkokheat]

beginning of the end.

basically greedy, fat, corrupt and lazy bastards, if you want more money then start by being efficient. Governments around the world need a detox until the whole system is disease free

[rogeratkins]

Many farangs in Thailand have an own website on ebay and making a lot of income by e commerce and selling clothes and other stuff . Most of them have no work permit .It would be fair that they would be taxed .

[kimamey]

"If the proposal is approved, the Revenue Department assures that it could collect Bt157 billion more tax revenue in the first year and then increase this to Bt200 billion per year after three years of implementation," Deputy Finance Minister Tanusak Lek-uthai said in an interview last week.

So this guys knows he needs 2300 more people to collect 157 billion.

"The proposal has not yet made it clear enough where it could find more tax revenue, so I will ask the department to come up with a more concrete plan," he said.

But really have no idea where to find the new revenue, but knows the exact amount he can collect.

Interesting

Unless I'm reading it incorrectly it's the Revenue Department that has come up with these figures not the Deputy Finance Minister. He's asking the Revenue Department to come up with more concrete plans. It could be of course that at least part of their plan was going after small businesses such as street vendors who he doesn't want targeted. Whilst it would help if even low paid people could pay a little as it all adds up as there are high numbers the cost of enforcement could be prohibitive.

I noticed there was no mention of tackling, sorry of course I meant to say have a crackdown on tax avoidance by high earners. Don't ask me for evidence or exact figure as I don't have any but high earners in other countries avoid paying tax fairly successfully so I doubt that it doesn't happen in Thailand.

Edited August 27, 2012 by kimamey

[NowImEasy]

The finance minister came up with his estimates quite easily. He counted 2300 (+/-) of the most prosperous go-gos, karaoke and beer bars. His new tax agents would sit with the mama-san, then collect a service tax from the customer and his new "girl friend", and also a tax on the bar fine. Bingo! 200 Billion baht per year. Even if the tax collector skims his take from the top, there is still mega-billions to be had.

[dcutman]

"If the proposal is approved, the Revenue Department assures that it could collect Bt157 billion more tax revenue in the first year and then increase this to Bt200 billion per year after three years of implementation," Deputy Finance Minister Tanusak Lek-uthai said in an interview last week.

So this guys knows he needs 2300 more people to collect 157 billion.

"The proposal has not yet made it clear enough where it could find more tax revenue, so I will ask the department to come up with a more concrete plan," he said.

But really have no idea where to find the new revenue, but knows the exact amount he can collect.

Interesting

Unless I'm reading it incorrectly it's the Revenue Department that has come up with these figures not the Deputy Finance Minister. He's asking the Revenue Department to come up with more concrete plans. It could be of course that at least part of their plan was going after small businesses such as street vendors who he doesn't want targeted. Whilst it would help if even low paid people could pay a little as it all adds up as there are high numbers the cost of enforcement could be prohibitive.

I noticed there was no mention of tackling, sorry of course I meant to say have a crackdown on tax avoidance by high earners. Don't ask me for evidence or exact figure as I don't have any but high earners in other countries avoid paying tax fairly successfully so I doubt that it doesn't happen in Thailand.

Sir

You may be right. You must be better at deciphering these poorly written articles than myself. I read this no less than 5 times before my first post and another 2 times reading your take on it. I am still wondering.

[dcutman]

Yingluck is a robin-hood govt.

Tax the rich and freebies for the poor.

I think you have it backwards. They cut the corporate tax rate (read they gave money to the wealthy) and they increased the tax on liquor and cigarettes (read the took money from the poor) and then the discussion continues to talk about increasing the VAT tax (sales tax) which effects the poor and low income people the most. So either your comprehension skills are very low or you are a typical lying republican.

I will be expecting fuel prices (increase tax) going up real soon as well.

[puck2]

Tax the money "earned" by corruption, then the revenue department's coffers are full. Maybe they burst.

[remobb]

Just tax "tea money" that should bring in more cash than they could ever spend!

[noitom]

When you think about the situation in the context of this article, it's easy to see that Thailand's case is dire. They will end up going after the noodle guy because he can't hide or bribe. The last sentence states that three state enterprises will have a plan as to where they can sell more products. The key is that the tax shortfall and how the Thais are thrashing about. The second point is that Thais don't know how to sell anything except sex. They are the masters of the universe at selling sex and owning that global business. Where and what can they sell? More sex, that's easy. But you never see the truth about this.

[timewilltell]

My vote is to scrap Income Tax completely. Introduce a layered VAT system with the necessary tax inspectors to rigorously impose it. All food - zero rated. Then various levels of taxation on luxury items - the more luxurious the better. That way no one can avoid paying tax as everyone has to spend. The poorest get their necessities free of tax and the richest people who spend the most pay the most tax.

Simple and effective!

Are you an American Republican?

How do you figure the rich pay more in VAT?The rich are such a small percentage of the population. The vast majority of Thai barley have 2 bahts to rub together at the end of the month. So other than food the poor still have to pay the same tax on the same items that the rich have to buy. Of course not as extravagant or designer brand.

Nope I am not an American Republican. But the thing is money has to be spent - the rich spend more money and on more luxury items. The poor pay rent, buy food, buy simple clothes, buy fuel, electricity and water. If there is no VAT on those items the poor will pay no tax will they? Yes the poor would have to pay more tax to buy the things that the rich people buy but then the poor can't afford those items anyway and so don;t actually buy them. Of course as they become richer they will spend more on increasingly luxurious items and so start paying tax. It can be made made a quite straightforward and tiered tax system fair to everyone. I don't see the point in taxing someone earning 10,000 baht a month - it is just a disincentive to work. If the rich have money they will spend it and then you get the tax.

[dcutman]

My vote is to scrap Income Tax completely. Introduce a layered VAT system with the necessary tax inspectors to rigorously impose it. All food - zero rated. Then various levels of taxation on luxury items - the more luxurious the better. That way no one can avoid paying tax as everyone has to spend. The poorest get their necessities free of tax and the richest people who spend the most pay the most tax.

Simple and effective!

Are you an American Republican?

How do you figure the rich pay more in VAT?The rich are such a small percentage of the population. The vast majority of Thai barley have 2 bahts to rub together at the end of the month. So other than food the poor still have to pay the same tax on the same items that the rich have to buy. Of course not as extravagant or designer brand.

Nope I am not an American Republican. But the thing is money has to be spent - the rich spend more money and on more luxury items. The poor pay rent, buy food, buy simple clothes, buy fuel, electricity and water. If there is no VAT on those items the poor will pay no tax will they? Yes the poor would have to pay more tax to buy the things that the rich people buy but then the poor can't afford those items anyway and so don;t actually buy them. Of course as they become richer they will spend more on increasingly luxurious items and so start paying tax. It can be made made a quite straightforward and tiered tax system fair to everyone. I don't see the point in taxing someone earning 10,000 baht a month - it is just a disincentive to work. If the rich have money they will spend it and then you get the tax.

Oh OK now that you explain it that way, I still believe you are a American Republican, or at least sound like one. Are you saying the poor will not have to pay tax on cloths but the rich will? As well as fuel, and electricity. How will that work?

What about some of those other little items that the rich and poor use equally. How about

Soap

Shampoo

toilet paper

cleaning agents

a fan

television

microwave

gas and rice cooker

pots pans silverware.

and endless list

Or how about shit rich people dont buy?

Fertilizer

animal feed

chemicals for farming

tractors

work trucks

tools of all sorts

ect ect ect ect

this list is endless.

The !% rich dont even come close when it comes to paying taxes on items to keep at least a human lifestyle or a business going.

You sir are ignorant.