Govt revenue for fiscal 2013 above expectations

Government revenue was higher than expected in February and for the first nine months of the 2013 fiscal year starting from October 2012, according to the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO).

In February 2013, the government posted net revenue of Bt158.92 billion, 3.7 per cent higher than estimated. The February figure rose 9.3 per cent year on year.

FPO director-general Somchai Sujjapongse attributed the performance to high car-excise tax from the first-car policy, more income from petroleum concessions as a result of larger quantities of petroleum and high state-enterprise revenue.

February's car-excise tax was 26.1 per cent, or Bt2.63 billion higher than targeted while other state agencies earned revenue 15.7 per cent, or Bt2.66 billion higher than anticipated due mainly to more revenue from petroleum concessions.

The contributions of state enterprises were 118.1 per cent or Bt2.94 billion higher than expected while dividends from Airports of Thailand and Vayupak Mutual Fund 1 also exceeded expectations.

The Nation