Finance Ministry considers negative income tax for poor
The government plans to give handouts to people whose annual income is no more than Bt30,000, Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong said on Wednesday.
He said the Finance Ministry was considering introducing a negative income tax, which would lead to government sending cash to people who live under poverty line of Bt30,000 a year.
The government will also provide other benefits to the lower-income group who have registered under the welfare programme, he said.
Currently the government is verifying who will qualify for welfare after 14 million people enrolled for government assistance, Apisak said.
The government is expected to issue welfare cards for this group in October, which they can use for free transportation by bus or train and other public services.
