Parties line up to oppose VAT increase

Major political parties contesting the 2026 general election have lined up to oppose proposed increases in value-added tax (VAT), warning that higher consumption taxes would further burden households and businesses struggling with economic pressures.

- WICHIT CHANTHANUSORNSIRI

The opposition followed approval by the government of a medium-term fiscal plan under which VAT would rise by 1.5 percentage points to 8.5% by 2028 and increase further to 10% by 2030.

The issue took centre stage yesterday at a seminar titled “Election 2026 and the Future of Thai Taxation’, organised by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, where representatives from political parties debated tax policy ahead of the polls.