We had been the ISO 9001:2008 Certified Accounting Firms and pass the quality assurance assessment under the Requirements for Quality Assurance for Accounting Firms from the Department of Business Development, The Ministry of Commerce.
As a foreigner doing business in Thailand, you may know that you have a duty to register a tax ID, file tax returns, co-operate with the tax officers, and of course, you have to pay tax as assessed by tax officers ON TIME. Should a taxpayer fail to pay a complete sum, the assessment officer has the right to seize and sell your assets by auction even without a court decision!
When a company is paying for services overseas, VAT must be paid on the services if they have been used in Thailand, regardless of whether they were acquired outside of the country. The payer must submit 7% VAT on behalf of the receiver by using form PND.54 by the seventh of the month following payment. If, for instance a Thai company pays for a software licence to a company overseas, then VAT is applicable because the service - the software - is to be used in Thailand. Companies registered for VAT will, however, be able to claim this back.
I have heard that many small businesses in Phuket - particularly restaurants and bars - are now being invited by the local tax officers to register for VAT. Therefore, I think it is a must that they have a clear understanding of the VAT laws that concern them. So, in this issue I have outlined the VAT laws that focus on small, local businesses.
The Revenue Department has a policy to meet every company at least once a year in a "General Visit". Most often the general visit will be a surprise visit and you will not be informed in advance.
Below is a classic ruling of the Revenue Department that relates to Internet provider services. Re: Withholding tax on internet service fees and VAT on provision of facilities ( Rul. No. Gor 0811(Gor Mor 03)/1215 dated 2 August 2000.)