An AEC source, who asked not to be named, said the panel will ask Sanit Rangnoi why the department had to appoint a 19-member committee to calculate the tax Panthongtae and Pinthongta Shinawatra were supposed to pay.

"We used to do this work before," the source said. "We don't see why the Revenue Department has to appoint this many people to calculate and decide on the taxation.

"There has never been a 19-member committee - it will delay the work and affect the tax amount [the pair] will have to pay."

Moreover, increasing the number of committee members would also increase the chance of information being leaked to help certain people, he said.

On April 10, the AEC submitted its tax calculation to the department and suggested it demand Panthongtae and Pinthongta pay Bt5.6 billion by April 15. Any later and the figure would increase because of a 1.5 per cent fine.

Today, the AEC will submit another tax calculation form to the Revenue Department suggesting it tax Ample Rich as a legal entity for Bt20.8 billion, the source said.

If the Revenue Department did not change its system, it could hurt the cases as three courts would have to rule on them because the subjects would likely appeal to the Supreme Court, the source said.

The AEC and the Revenue Department have had differing opinions on how, when and how much Panthongtae and Pinthongta's share sales were subject to tax.

Bancha Khaengkhan

The Nation