Title: Draft Royal Decree Issued under the Revenue Code regarding Exemption of Value Added Tax (No. …) [VAT Exemption to Electronic Books]
The Cabinet approved in principle the Draft Royal Decree Issued under the Revenue Code regarding Exemption of Value Added Tax (No. …), B.E. … [VAT Exemption to Electronic Books] as proposed by the Ministry of Finance. Newspapers, magazines or textbooks provided through the internet in the electronic format would be exempted from VAT in the same manner as printed newspapers, magazines or textbooks.
Title: Toll rate adjustment for concession highway, Din Daeng – Don Mueang section and northern extension section
The Cabinet was reported on the adjustment of toll rates for concession highway, Din Daeng – Don Mueang section and northern extension section as proposed by the Ministry of Transport. The adjusted rates followed the agreement No. 3/2007, dated September 12, 2007, effective from December 22, 2014 to December 21, 2019.
Toll Rate for Type 1 Vehicles Toll Rate for Type 2 Vehicles
(passenger cars and 4-wheel light trucks) (bus and trucks with more than 4 wheels)
Din Daeng 70 100 Sutthisan 70 100 Outbound Lardprao 70 100 Ratchadapisek 70 100 Bang Khen 70 100 Outbound Laksi 30 40 National Memorial 30 40 Inbound Toll Gate (traffic heading south) Don Mueang* 100 140 Inbound Laksi 70 100 Changwattana 70 100 Inbound Lardprao 70 100
Title: Corporate income tax exemption to expenses regarding research and development of technology and innovation
The Cabinet approved the following proposals of the Ministry of Finance:
1. An increase of corporate income tax exemption to expenses regarding research and development of technology and innovation from two times to three times
2. Expenses from technology research and development as stated in 1. must not exceed the maximum expense the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Science and Technology have designated.
3. The tax privilege will be effective for five years, from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019
4. Technology and innovation research and development projects as stated in 1. must be checked and certified by the National Science and Technology Development Agency and other concerned agencies as required by the Ministry of Finance.
Title: Measure on cutting construction costs of government agencies
The Cabinet approved a measure to cut construction costs of government agencies as proposed by the Bureau of the Budget.
Gist is as follows:
On December 16, 2014, the Cabinet agreed to the fuel price restructuring in line with the decrease of 2.00 baht/liter of automotive diesel oil price. Consequently, the retail price of automotive diesel oil was at 26.9 baht/liter. Meanwhile, the excise tax of diesel oil was increased by 2.5 baht/liter. The price restructuring would affect the investment budget for the government sector’s construction projects as well as the country’s income. This would also lead to stipulation of standard price for provision of construction materials in the government sector’s construction projects, which gets along with the current situation and regulations regarding supplies and facilities.
Title: Direction for merger of AFET and TFEX
The Cabinet agreed and approved the proposals of the Ministry of Finance as follows:
1. The Cabinet allowed the Ministry of Commerce to continue proposal of the Draft Agricultural Commodity Futures Trading Act (No. …), B.E. …
2. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Agricultural Futures Trading Commission (AFTC), the Agricultural Futures Exchange of Thailand (AFET), Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX), and Thailand Clearing House were to prepare for amendment of related regulations.
3. The Cabinet approved the principle regarding personnel issues of the Office of the Agricultural Futures Trading Commission and AFET.
4. The Cabinet approved the details and operating plan of the merger between AFET and TFEX.
Title: Rice donation for disaster victims in the Republic of the Philippines and Malaysia
The Cabinet granted the following approval to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
1. A donation of 500 tons of rice separately for the Philippine government and the Malaysian government in support of local disaster victims, using the reserves for emergencies in the central budget for the fiscal year 2015.
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) December 30, 2014--