Provincial road tax revenues soar

PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Land Transportation Office (PLTO) collected more than 93 million baht in road taxes last year. This continues the trend of higher year-on-year revenues. In 1998, the PLTO collected nearly 80 million baht, while in 1999 it collected more than 85 million. These figures exclude taxes levied on motorcycles. The PLTO says it expects to collect even more tax this year because of the increasing number of cars in the province. In addition, it has taken measures to make it easier for car owners to make their payments. “We are trying to help car owners pay their taxes by letting them pay at any post office or at any branch of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives in Phuket,” said Uthai Sriwilai, chief of the PLTO. To encourage payment by those who have failed to pay tax for a year or more, the PLTO is waiving the requirement for owners to have their car checked at PLTO offices. This waiver will remain in effect until September. Car tax revenues go to the Provincial Government for distribution to local government bodies, including the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), the Municipalities, and the Tambon Administration Organizations (OrBorTor). None of the revenue is sent to the central government in Bangkok.