Overseasidol.com — Thai actor Joong Archen has shared his perspective on the recent proposal to increase Thailand’s Value Added Tax (VAT), a topic that has sparked widespread discussion.
Taking to social media, he commented on the suggestion to raise the current rate from 7 percent to 10 percent.
In his statement, Joong emphasized that if the government intends to align Thailand’s VAT rate with countries like Japan, it should also ensure that public welfare systems are improved to a comparable standard.
He argued that fiscal policies should not focus solely on numerical targets but must also consider their real impact on citizens’ quality of life.
He highlighted that higher taxes should come with tangible benefits, including improved public services, stronger social security systems, and better long-term welfare support.
Without these, increasing VAT would simply place additional financial pressure on the public without delivering meaningful returns.
According to Thai media reports, the proposal originated from the Senate’s Economic, Fiscal, and Financial Committee.
Two approaches have been suggested: gradually increasing the VAT rate from 7 percent to 10 percent following Japan’s model, or implementing a direct increase to 10 percent.
The additional revenue is expected to support the expansion of welfare programs, particularly to address the challenges of an aging population.
However, the proposal remains under consideration and has not been implemented.
The Thai government has previously indicated that its current priority is economic recovery, and there are no immediate plans to raise the VAT rate.
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