The Thai tax authorities will be able to tax e-cigarettes. This is despite the products being illegal in the country since 2014.
"There are vejpers everywhere anyway" says the tax authorities.
The Thai tax authority is investigating the possibility of taxing e-cigarettes. At present, e-cigarettes are illegal in Thailand, but in recent years the ruling party has on various occasions opened up the possibility of regulating products instead. The Swedish Tax Agency is now joining the discussion, stating that the situation is unsustainable.
"There are vejpers everywhere now, but we have neither the power to tax them nor the resources to arrest them," the IRS states in a press release.
Nearly one million consumers
Vejpkollen has previously reported on the situation of vejp users in Thailand. The widespread ban on e-cigarettes and e-liquid has led to a large black market and the number of vejp users in Thailand is unclear. According to government statistics, there are 80,000 vejp users in Thailand, but according to consumer organizations, the number is closer to one million. Moreover, since the ban became official in 2014, new models, disposable vapes, have proliferated as much in Thailand as in other countries. However, a proposal to legalize the trade was voted down by Parliament in 2022.
Want to be able to intervene financially
Despite the official ban, the Thai tax authorities will now propose some form of taxation on e-cigarettes. If only to be able to intervene financially against those who use the products.
"Taxing and legalizing are not the same thing from our perspective. It is illegal under consumer and tax laws to drive a home-made car on the roads. We want the same to apply to e-cigarettes. The issue of legalization lies entirely with the Department of Commerce." writes the Thai Tax Authority.
