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Thailand downturn threatens tax audits and VAT rise

  • Sep 19, 2013 | Richard Asquith

Thailand downturn threatens tax audits and VAT rise

As Thailand enters recession, the falling tax receipts mean that the VAT office is looking to increasing the numbers of VAT inspections and potentially raising the VAT rate.

There has been a sharp fall in the receipts from import VAT,  which is the biggest source of the consumption tax take.  This is likely to lead to the revenue authorities increasing the number of Thai VAT audits and inspections in the hope of identifying areas of non-compliance and therefore the opportunity to charge penalties and interest.

Thai VAT rate competes with Singapore

Also, the current 7% Thai VAT rate may have to be raised if the shortfall persists to the end of the year.  Aside from the political unpopularity of such a move, it would also place Thailand in an uncompetitive position towards Singapore’s 7% GST rate.

The current 7% VAT rate is well below the average EU VAT rate of over 21%.  China VAT rate is 17%, and Japan’s Consumption Tax rate is 5%, although there are plans to double it to 10% by 2015.


VP Global Indirect Tax
Richard Asquith
VP Global Indirect Tax Richard Asquith
Richard Asquith is the former VP Global Indirect Tax at Avalara