More than Bt4.3-bn lost in luxury car tax evasion, says DSI

Thailand has lost income worth Bt4.311 billion due to tax evasion on luxury cars, according to an investigation of 259 luxury cars, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) deputy chief Korrawat Panprapakorn said on Friday.

The DSI is forwarding information from Italy to the Customs Department to assess unpaid tax for another batch of 600 cars, including 169 Lamborghini and 390 Ferrari super cars, he said. All car importers who were found to have evaded paying full tax would face legal actions, he said.

Korrawat said the Customs Department had assessed the third batch of 136 cars had avoided payment of Bt2.473 billion in taxes. The first batch of 32 cars avoided paying Bt673 million in tax and the second batch of 91 cars avoided paying Bt1.165 billion.

The total loss in tax avoidance was Bt4.311 billion.

So far 16 suspects from three business groups have been reported for the first batch and the DSI will soon summon another 16 suspects from two business groups to account for the second batch, Korrawat said.

For the third batch, the DSI was still investigating to determine those involved.

As for importers who claim they suffered damages from the DSI confiscation, Korrawat said the agency was asking the Customs Department to collect the unpaid tax before it considers withdrawing the confiscation orders.