Cabinet decides to close income tax loophole

“Prime minister [General Prayut Chan-o-cha] has ordered that this matter be completed by the end of this year before the new law goes into effect in 2015,” government deputy spokesperson Sansern Kaewkamnerd said. 

Currently, people are able to file their taxes either as part of a non-juristic body or in the form of personal income tax. Sansern said this practice was redundant. 

Under the newly amended law, he said, people would no longer be allowed to file for personal tax as part of a non-juristic body. People subjected to tax would have to submit both personal income tax and tax as part of a non-juristic body once a year, so a person’s real income tax was clear. 

“This is aimed at closing the loophole for some people who exploit the tax system by setting up a non-juristic body,” he said. 

In addition, the Cabinet also approved five proposed strategic plans to develop transport infrastructure worth Bt68 billion, with funds to be earmarked in the 2015 budget. The plans include the construction of six double-track railway routes and another three 1.435-metre wide tracks, running from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai and Bangkok to Rayong. 

In a move to solve traffic problems in Bangkok and surrounding areas, six new routes for electric trains will be open for bids next year. The routes will include the Green Line (Mo Chit to Saphan Mai to Kukot), Orange Line (Thailand Cultural Centre to Min Buri), and Pink Line (Kaerai to Min Buri).

The plan also includes the purchase of 489 NGV buses in the first quarter next year.