First car, First house, First tax indulgence | Bangkok Post: business

TAX CORNER

Over the past two weeks, you didn't have to be a car or a house shopper to hear the thundering criticisms of the government's programmes to offer excise tax rebates on first cars, and income tax allowances on first houses.

While the government says the goal of such tax privileges is to help lower-income people afford the cars and houses, it turns out that it will mostly benefit the rich; after all, who would be foolish enough to pass up 100,000 baht?

A few interesting issues also arise in respect of such tax indulgence. First of all, the excise tax rebate, for the first car in your life, is granted at the maximum of 100,000 baht. The simple question that could lead to a more crucial tax issue is: "Who is liable to pay excise tax on the cars?".