The Revenue Department will launch an investigation into whether owners of residential properties worth 40 million baht or more have understated their income and require those who own cars worth more than 3 million baht to report their possessions as part of measures to prevent tax evasion.
The home of former transport permanent secretary Supoj Saplom, whose assets were seized based on charges that he was unusually rich. The Revenue Department is taking a harder line on tax evasion.
Director-general Sutthichai Sangkamanee said residences on golf courses were the department's main focus. Investigations of the owners of expensive houses will begin next month.
The department earlier said it planned to use Geographic Information System mapping to evaluate the tax payments of members in each household in the targeted areas and make tax collection more efficient.
The Revenue Department launched an effort to collect higher tax revenue after collections fell short of target.
Mr Sutthichai said the Revenue Department planned to require 10,000 owners of cars with price tags of more than 3 million baht to report their possessions.
It will also require independent car importers and distributors, known as grey-market operators, to report their transactions.
The department has already asked the Land Transport Department for lists of those who own luxury cars. They will be sent letters requiring them to fill out information such as make and model, engine size, where they bought the vehicle and for what price.
Grey-market dealers must also report transactions and selling prices to the department, Mr Sutthichai said.
Should they choose not to cooperate, the Revenue Department will launch an in-depth investigation into the source of funds for buying such luxury cars.
The intensive investigations are part of the department's measures to improve tax-collection efficiency and enhance transparency and fairness, Mr Sutthichai said, adding that operators, companies and those who had understated their revenue to avoid tax payments were taking advantage of those paying proper tax.
He said importers and distributors in the grey market typically imported cars at far lower prices than authorised dealers and incurred a cheaper tax bill.
PwC Thailand lead partner Thavorn Rujivanarom praised the plan to investigate tax payments for luxury residences and vehicles.
The campaign still faces obstacles though. For instance, assets are often placed under a nominee's name, making them difficult for officials to track.
Mr Thavorn suggested the Revenue Department investigate the tax payments of a particular group rather than across the board, saying it was an easier and faster method and did not affect those paying tax in line with their income.
The department has a mandate to instruct banks to provide the financial records of customers for examination.
Mr Thavorn said revenue officials in each region had information about those suspected of understating revenue to avoid high tax payments, but the question remained as to whether officials would dare challenge wealthy and influential people.