AN INTRODUCTION TO THE REVENUE DEPARTMENT OF THAILAND

The Revenue Department of Thailand was founded on the 2^nd September 1915 by King Rama VI, following on from King Rama V's visions to establish countrywide infrastructure, and to provide a revenue collection platform in order for Thailand to remain aligned internationally.

Taxation is the main source of government's revenue. A large part of tax collection comes from three main agencies under the Ministry of Finance. These are the Revenue Department, the Excise Department, and the Customs Department - which collectively account for about 85-90% of the government's revenue. The Revenue Department itself collects more than half of the total tax collection.

Main objectives

• To collect all taxes efficiently at an appropriate level, at the lowest compliance cost to the Revenue Department and to taxpayers.
• To assist in the development of the economy through tax initiatives, which will enable Thailand to remain competitive among economic counterparts.
• To instil an ethics of voluntary tax compliance, and to pursue effective measures of reprimanding tax evaders.
• To administer the tax system with the principles of honesty, efficiency and fairness.

To be achieved by

• Giving high quality services to all taxpayers.
• Ensuring a high level of voluntary tax compliance by giving taxpayers a thorough understanding of the tax system.
• Advising taxpayers on their rights and responsibilities under the law.
• Advising taxpayers on the framework for compliance and the penalties for non-compliance.
• Advocate necessary measures in order to promote efficiency in tax collection.
• Constantly applying innovative measures in order to achieve all set objectives.