Thailand’s Revenue Department (RD) is preparing to apply new technologies to its operations, in a move to become a digital organization within the next two years.
Director-General of the Revenue Department Ekniti Nitithanprapas said it will utilize digital technologies to handle all types of tasks, such as e-filing, e-tax invoice, e-receipt and SME single accounting. He asserted that the move will improve the country’s tax collection system and facilitate the management of big data, which is linked to state enterprises and related agencies.
According to the department’s head, data analytics will be incorporated into all stages of tax collection, including the estimation of corporate income tax, tax collection analysis, risk management and tax audits. The Revenue Department this year expects 1.86 trillion baht in tax revenue and aims to collect two trillion baht next year.
The RD will also revamp its international income tax system to promote equality between Thai and foreign businesses and increase international tax audits to pave the way for e-commerce taxation. Legislative amendments are underway to facilitate the restructuring process.
However, Director-General Ekniti insisted there are no plans to raise value-added tax (VAT) above 7% this year, as the country’s economy has only begun to recover. The organizational overhaul, which involves training revenue officials in the new digital processes, will be fiscally efficient and is expected to take six months to complete.
The department anticipates that the so-called Digital RD will be a reality by 2020. Digital RD will serve as a tool to enhance the country’s competitiveness in several aspects, especially regarding the ease of doing business.
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