Politicians insist they have no problems with Revenue Department
POLITICIANS from the major Democrat and Pheu Thai parties have not been summoned by the Revenue Department after the Office of the Auditor-General called on authorities to find out whether politicians with increased assets had paid sufficient taxes.
The politicians, however, said they were willing to comply with laws and regulations while they insisted that they had never had any tax problems.
Issara Somchai, a Democrat politician and former social development and human security minister, told The Nation that he had no problems with the Revenue Department, though he had been summoned in February to clarify increased assets.
“They just asked how the assets increased so I gave my explanation and some related documents to them,” Issara said. “I submitted the tax form just like everyone else, and there have been no problems.”
He said he had recently bought a plot of land but it was not of a high value. He said he had also informed the National Anti-Corruption Commission of the additional asset.
Concerning the recent call by the Office, Issara said he was not certain what the issue was although he said he was ready to present himself and any documents if requested by authorities.
“If I have to pay additional tax, that’s fine. I can do that. They know where to find me and I am willing to abide by the law,” Issara said.
Phongthep Thepganjana, a Pheu Thai Party politician and former justice minister, said he had not been contacted by tax authorities but he was ready to cooperate. He said that normally politicians only had to declare assets to the NACC. He did not know why the Revenue Department had to be involved this time.
He said he submitted his tax form in line with regulations, regardless of the increase or decrease in his assets.
Meanwhile, Democrat Party politician Satit Wongnongtoey, who served as a Prime Minister’s Office minister in Abhisit Vejjajiva’s administration, told The Nation he had been contacted by telephone and informed he might need to present himself as well as some unspecified documents. While stressing he was ready to meet the authority, Satit said he thought it was an old issue.
Satit insisted he had not been involved in any “grey” business. He was just a politician who owned a private kindergarten school, he said.