Thai tax authorities have sent ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra a tax bill for a whopping THB17 billion. The taxes are on profits he made from the sale of shares in Shin Corp, a telecom company, more than a decade ago, his lawyer said yesterday.
Thaksin’s legal team would appeal to the revenue department within 30 days, his lawyer, Noppadon Pattama, told reporters.
“We need to exercise our right to appeal to show that no legal miracle can happen to collect tax from Dr. Thaksin,” he said.
Allies of Thaksin say the new tax claim is politically motivated. He has lived in exile since being overthrown in 2006 to avoid corruption charges, but his populist movement remains at the heart of political division in Thailand.
Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters the tax claim was not aimed at bullying the Shinawatras.
A court ruled against a 2010 attempt by tax authorities to claim THB12 billion in taxes from the share sale by Thaksin’s children, Noppadon said. The court said they could not be taxed because the shares were owned by Thaksin and his wife.
The army overthrew the government led by Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, in 2014 in the name of ending political turmoil.
Last month, the junta started reconciliation hearings with political parties ahead of elections that could happen as early as next year, but those talks do not touch on Thaksin’s fate.
Reader Interactions