Cabinet approves support for firms hit by new tax

The cabinet yesterday approved in principle the draft National Competitiveness Enhancement for Targeted Industries Bill to mitigate the impact of the so-called Top-Up Tax.

- WICHIT CHANTANUSORNSIRI

The Top-Up Tax is a mechanism designed to ensure multinational enterprises pay a minimum level of corporate income tax, typically aligned with the global minimum tax (GMT) initiative led by the OECD.

According to Chusak Sirinil, the minister for the prime minister’s office, the draft bill aims to alleviate the burden on businesses affected by collection of the Top-Up Tax.

Thailand enacted an emergency decree on the Top-Up Tax in 2024, which takes effect from Jan 1, 2025. This tax is collected from large multinational enterprises and affiliated entities operating in Thailand with a consolidated group revenue of at least €750 million (about 30 billion baht) in at least two fiscal years within the past four fiscal years.