Excise reform plan to be ready this week

"Once we have the study, it could be implemented quickly to shut the door on tax evasion and ensure fairness for all. It should also raise at least Bt20 billion to Bt30 billion in additional government revenue," Deputy Finance Minister Pruttichai Damrongrat said last week.

The study is being conducted by a committee chaired by Supha Piyachitti, deputy permanent secretary for the Finance Ministry. Yesterday, the committee led by deputy permanent secretary Sathit Limpongpun resolved that no department officials needed to be punished for not taxing Santika Pub.

He said though the department's director-general had insisted that Santika was excluded from paying excise tax, that conclusion was the result of different opinions. From now on, a standard rule would be applied to all pubs and bars across the nation.