Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing tax collection in Thailand. I am just going to jump in here. I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Nation, that's nationthailand.com, quoting directly: Finance proposes excise tax restructuring to boost revenue by 7.6%, targeting 578 billion Baht. Quoting directly: "The Ministry of Finance is preparing a proposal for the new government to restructure the excise tax system, aiming for a 7.6% increase in revenue for fiscal year 2026 reaching 578 billion Baht. This includes revising tax rates on various products, including a unified rate for cigarettes, adjustment to fuel and alcohol taxes, and the introduction of new taxes on health and environmental hazards, such as salt and carbon taxes." Yeah, because that is what we all need! Salt and carbon tax. Salt and Carbon! You're the carbon they are trying to tax everybody. We're all carbon-based life. This all goes back to the thing called the Club of Rome. They came up with this, I don't know, it was like almost 50 years ago I think at this point, 40 years ago, where they said oh if it's the environment we could just tax the hell out of everyone forever because they will just think it's something good and virtuous and meanwhile, who is it helping? I mean they've been doing carbon taxes in other jurisdictions for how long and what has anybody gotten out of it, other than poorer?

Quoting further: "Excise tax is a significant revenue source for the Thai government, contributing over 537 billion Baht in fiscal year 2025. The proposed changes are designed to improve tax collection efficiency and address health and environmental concerns, such as the introduction of a carbon tax and adjustments to taxes on high-pollution products like batteries." You know, I have got to be honest Thailand. You are losing all your inherent advantages. I mean one of the thing, look say whatever you want about the military government that was here for 10 years. It hermetically sealed this place against this nonsense. I mean honestly, introduction of a carbon tax? What does that mean? What are you taxing? Carbon? I am made of carbon. So for walking around I have to be taxed? For exhaling I have to be taxed? Why? What's your justification for that? It's nonsensical. 

Now excise taxes and stuff. For those who are unaware, yeah alcohol taxes, cigarette taxes, those kinds of things, they exist. There is an excise tax; it already exists. There's the Excise Tax Department. They deal with collections and things of that nature. I mean I'm probably just used to it so it doesn't bother me so much. But okay, I understand. Like alcohol that's created in this jurisdiction, they put a tax on it; fine. But what? I have got to be taxed just because I exist and I'm made of carbon and I exhale carbon dioxide; the thing plants breathe. It's ridiculous. Again undue foreign influence, just across the board. 

That being said, yeah, excise taxes have to be dealt with if you run a business here in Thailand. For example, my better half and I set up a restaurant here in Thailand, Pancake Palace. If you're interested, come on down here in downtown Bangkok. We have got not only breakfast anytime, as the name implies, including but not limited to just American breakfast. We also have English breakfast and we also have things like, now we have tacos - go ahead and show that. That said, we've also got hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chilli bowls - all kinds of good stuff - but we also have adult beverages, so if you want to come by in the evening and have a drink, great. We're going to end up having to pay some excise tax on that one, so link is in the description below by the way, if you want to come by Pancake Palace. 

But that said, I'm not exactly surprised by this. I mean the one thing that has been a constant since the Government said we all couldn't do business for two years during COVID, is they all came roaring back with the notion that we all owe them money for taxes of some sort. And now, really please Thailand, I love you too much to not say this. Don't do this carbon tax nonsense; it's nonsense okay? We have dodged a million bullets. It's like running into a hail of gunfire you already dodged. I mean that's the thing about this. That's why I keep bringing up the military government because say what you will about them, and there were things to be said, we got to avoid a lot of this nonsense. The World Economic Forum is a perfect example of things we got to avoid here in Thailand while they were running stuff. 

So look, I don't have much more commentary on the actual practicalities of tax here in Thailand. That being said, if you feel overwhelmed about American Tax, International Tax Matters, or Tax Matters specific to Thailand, it may not be a terrible idea to contact a legal professional, gain some insight and guidance into how best to proceed.