Cigarette excise rejig to level field

The amended excise tax structure for cigarettes is scheduled to take effect on Oct 1, in response to the Tobacco Authority of Thailand’s request to review the 40% flat tax rate, says the Excise Department.

The present tobacco tax structure is scheduled to expire in September, according to Excise Department director-general Lavaron Sangsnit.

Although details of an amended excise tax rate for cigarettes have not been disclosed, the new structure will be based on four principles, which aim to strike a balance between farmers’ income, public health, government revenue and efforts to prevent smuggling, said Mr Lavaron.

The new structure intends to limit the impact on the income of tobacco farmers, who sell their produce to the authority, when domestic cigarette sales stumble.

The new structure also aims to discourage people from smoking and simultaneously thwart the…