BANGKOK, 7 May 2014 – The Excise Department is considering tax collection from manufacturers of television sets and digital set-top boxes, deeming prices of those items have a tendency to adjust up to keep pace with the technological progress and rising demand.
Director General Somchai Poonswad said that the advent of digital TV would most likely leave analog TV sets industrial electronic junks in the near future, posting threats to the environment.
He said his department would talk to the Industry Ministry’s Department of Industrial Works, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC), and the consumers’ network in order to determine whether or not television sets and set top box should be categorized as environmental risk items. If the meeting concludes against those devices, Mr. Somchai said, they are subjected to excise tax collection worth up to 10% of the price tags.
According to Mr. Somchai, items that are considered luxurious, having morally gray value or posting threats to the environment are subjected to excise tax. Televisions and set-top boxes may fall under the last-mentioned category.
He said the matter would be finalized once the new government is formed.
