Businesses are refusing to participate in the government co-payment scheme.
On 10th February, Thai PBS World reported that signs are popping up outside restaurants and shops across Thailand, advising customers that they do not accept payment via the Government’s 50/50 stimulus scheme. Businesses are refusing to participate in the Khon La Khrueng (Let’s Go Halves) subsidy scheme, fearful that the government will come along and claim back taxes further down the road.
According to the Thai PBS World report, over 1.3 million stores and other businesses have joined phase 4 of the co-payment scheme. The government introduced the scheme last year in a bid to help a population feeling the financial pinch of Covid-19 and to stimulate the Thai economy. It works by subsidizing 50% of payments to participating businesses.
The Fiscal Policy Office says the Khon La Khruengscheme is not linked in any way to the Revenue Department’s database and therefore the matter of back taxes is not a problem.
