Thailand's Revenue Department announces that five gangs have been arrested for supplying fraudulent VAT documents worth 100 million THB. (Photo: Bangkokpost.com)Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s Revenue Department is developing a data analytics system tofacilitate entrepreneurs to integrate into the tax payment system and fightagainst falsified tax invoices, the Director-General of the Revenue Department,Kulaya Tantitemit has said.
Speaking at a pressconference alongside the Economic Crime Suppression Division on February 15,Kulaya informed that the two agencies detected five gangs for involvement inthe production of fake value-added tax (VAT) invoices.
The Revenue Departmentestimates that these fraudulent acts have led to a tax revenue loss ofapproximately 100 million THB (2.7 million USD).
According to Kulaya,the new data analytics system is a strategic move to bolster tax and customsadministration. It will enable about 800,000 entrepreneurs to access the VATpayment system free of charge, she said.
She emphasised thatinvestigations uncovered that registered businesses had been issuing VATinvoices without carrying out any actual business transactions.
Such actions harm theVAT system, causing the government to lose a massive amount of revenue, shesaid.
Pol Maj Gen SophonSarapat, deputy commander of the Central Investigation Bureau saidentrepreneurs who illegally issue VAT invoices or use such documents aresubject to both civil and criminal penalties.
In civil cases,offenders are liable to pay a fine doubling the amount of tax, plus a surchargeat a rate of 1.5% interest per month, or a monthly fraction of the tax amount.
In criminal cases, they have to pay 2,000 to 200,000 THB per tax invoice, and can facea prison sentence of three months to seven years per invoice./.
