Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha said after the cabinet meeting on Tuesday that they have decided to lower the land and building tax by 90 per cent but only in 2020.
The new land and building tax was supposed to be collected in April but the government decided to postpone collection until August as many businesses have been severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) called for the collection to be postponed by at least one year, but the cabinet decided to lower the rate by 90 per cent until the end of 2020 instead.
The tax reduction would cost the government 39.42 billion baht in terms of income.
For example, if the tax rate for land worth more than 5 million baht was set at 0.01 per cent. With the 90 per cent reduction, the owner would now be paying 50 baht instead of 500 baht in 2020.
The PM has also declined to comment on the possibility of Songkran in July.
“Now is not the time to be asking about this,” he said. “Now is the time to continue monitoring the outbreak situation after Phase 3 of the easing period.”
Most businesses have now reopened in Phase 3, which began on Monday, but bars and entertainments venues are still prohibited.
Phase 4 of the easing period is expected to come into effect on June 15.
Culture Minister Itthiphol Kunplome said on Tuesday morning that his ministry will propose to the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)’s meeting on Friday for the postponed Songkran holiday period to be in July, possibly between July 4-9.
Schools will reopen as planned for July 1 and onwards, PM Prayut said.
He said the Ministry of Education is working to improve its free distance learning program based on the challenges that occurred during Phase 1-2 which was launched in mid-May.
He also said that the government is looking for ways to accelerate its water management projects to prevent drought and flooding in the coming future. Thailand is currently experiencing the worst drought in 40 years.
Lastly, PM Prayut said he is “happy” with Japan’s move to ease entry restrictions on people from Thailand, but there is a need for the two countries to discuss and come up with measures to prevent any further spread of the virus.
When asked about cabinet reshuffle and the possibility that his deputy, Prawit Wongsuwan, will become the new leader of the ruling pro-military Palang Pracharat Party, the PM stormed out of the press conference.
Other cabinet results
Government’s spokesperson Narumon Pinyosinwat said on Tuesday that the cabinet has decided to allow registered migrant workers from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar to continue to stay and work within the kingdom until the end of July.
Initially, migrant workers from the three countries whose visa and work permit ran out after March 26 were allowed to stay in Thailand until the end of May.
However, since the State of Emergency has been extended until the end of June, their visa and work permit will now be automatically extended until the end of July.
