Fear of back taxes preventing some businesses from participating in government co-payment scheme

Signs are popping up outside restaurants and shops across Thailand, advising customers that they don’t accept payment via the government’s 50/50 stimulus scheme. Thai PBS World reports that a number of 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 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 subsidising 50% of payments to participating businesses.

According to the report, one Bangkok shopkeeper, named as Rangsiphan Poonphan, says she’s heard of a number of stores refusing to take part in the scheme, afraid…