Revenue Dept targets more taxpayers

The department is also taking a long-term strategy by promoting tax awareness among children and teenagers.

The department has organised several public events in the last three years designed to foster a taxpaying mentality among youths and adults, Winai said.

"Paying taxes contributes to our common social and physical infrastructure," Winai told children at an event held yesterday.

He said it cost 60 satang to collect Bt100 in tax revenue. The average tax official collects up to Bt60 million a year.

The department expects Bt1.1 trillion in tax revenue for fiscal 2009, missing the target by 10 per cent, due largely to a sharp drop in imports.

However, department adviser Satit Rangkasiri said the domestic economy showed signs of picking up following the government's stimulus package.

For example, collection of value-added tax (VAT) has increased to Bt15 billion a month, up from a low Bt11 billion last December and early this year.

The department will target tax revenue of Bt1.1 trillion for fiscal 2010. It also plans to request another 2,000 tax officials.

Sathit said the department would inspect tax payments in industry clusters, by checking manufacturers, suppliers and retailers.

With its new computer network, the department can accurately check the tax payments of any individual, said Sathit.

Major taxes collected by the Revenue Department are personal income tax, corporate income tax, specific business tax and VAT.