The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) has proposed a raft of measures, including establishing permanent downtown value-added tax (VAT) refund points and a public-private committee tasked with solving taxation problems and regulatory obstacles, in order to facilitate business and drive the country's economic growth.
The TCC asked the Finance Ministry to provide tax incentives for existing hotels and accommodations that undertake renovations to support tourism business, Kalin Sarasin, the TCC chairman, said after meeting Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana yesterday.
The Revenue Department is offering VAT refunds to foreign tourists outside airports on a trial basis.
The TCC requested that the Finance Ministry join forces with the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking in setting up a joint committee to fix taxation problems and regulatory obstacles.
The Finance Ministry has been urged to accelerate practical guidelines to comply with the land and buildings tax and raise public awareness before the new tax comes into effect on Jan 1 next year, Mr Kalin said.
The land and buildings tax will replace the house and land tax and the local development tax, which have drawn criticism for being outdated.
To facilitate cross-border and border trade, as well as solve traffic congestion at border checkpoints, the chamber proposed that the Customs Department extend the opening hours at eight customs houses until midnight.
These customs houses are Si Sa Ket's Chong Sa-ngam, Chiang Rai's Mae Sai, Tak's First Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, Nong Khai's Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, Mukdahan, Ubon Ratchathani's Chong Mek, Nakhon Phanom's third Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge and Loei's Tha Li.
The chamber also requested the Customs Department act as the main coordinator and the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission host the development of electronic data connectivity through the National Single Window system.
The TCC called for the Finance Ministry to allocate fiscal 2020 budget to fund prevention measures against corruption in the procurement process, including the integrity pact and the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative, Mr Kalin said.
"The finance minister has accepted the proposals and will provide coordination and monitor progress," he said. "The TCC is willing to collaborate and support the government, particularly for economic stimulus measures."