The Revenue Department has quashed rumors about the reintroduction of a departure tax for Thais and foreign residents leaving Thailand, which had been circulating on social media. The tax was initially implemented in 1983, but it was abolished in 1991. The department is mandated by the constitution to evaluate the appropriateness of old executive decrees, including the departure tax.
The department’s deputy director-general, Winit Wisetsuwannaphum, confirmed that the government has no plans to reinstate the tax. He explained that the department conducted a survey on the tax from May 3 to May 17 on its official website, www.rd.go.th, to comply with the constitutional requirements.
Despite the department’s clarification, some members of the public saw the survey and became alarmed, assuming that the tax was coming back. Winit reassured the public that the government has no intention of re-implementing the departure tax.
Winit also revealed that the department would conduct similar surveys on inheritance and petroleum income taxes by the end of next year. The aim of these surveys is to gauge public opinion on executive decrees that were abolished by past administrations.
