Thaksin Shinawatra testified for about two hours in the tax dispute case against the Revenue Department's seizure of assets worth 17 billion baht, leaving the court looking cheerful. Lawyer Winyat revealed the court will hold a hearing on the temporary protection order on 16 November 2026.
At 09:00 hrs on 7 October 2026, at the Central Tax Court in Government Complex, Building A, Chaeng Watthana Road, the court held a hearing on a temporary protection request in the case concerning Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, former Prime Minister, who requested the Central Tax Court to issue a temporary injunction preventing the Revenue Department from repeatedly seizing and attaching assets totaling 17 billion baht, which he claims is an improper duplicate tax collection.
Today, Thaksin arrived in a black Rolls-Royce, license plate Pho-Cho 195 Bangkok, to testify in person. Accompanied by his entourage and many reporters, the testimony lasted about two hours. He left the court immediately afterward looking bright and cheerful.
/ Later, Mr. Winyat Chatmontri, Thaksin's personal lawyer, revealed that today's hearing was on the temporary protection request. The plaintiff presented two witnesses: Thaksin Shinawatra himself and a former Revenue Department official. The defendant, the Revenue Department, had two tax collection officers testify. The hearing concluded today, and the court scheduled the decision on the temporary protection on 16 November 2026 at 09:00 hrs.
Winyat added that this case involves a dispute over issues previously examined in an earlier case. There are concerns that this lawsuit duplicates issues already ruled on by the Supreme Court's tax division. He explained that the prior case focused on the Revenue Department's tax assessment process, such as issuing summonses and following department procedures.
After that judgment, the Revenue Department has continuously pursued tax debts, including attaching Thaksin’s assets. Currently, approximately 90 million baht in bank accounts are frozen, along with five cars and jointly owned land with his sister in Chiang Mai Province. Among the cars are two armored vehicles. A reporter asked if this temporary protection request affects the bankruptcy filing. Winyat responded that the prior Revenue Department director tried to pursue bankruptcy proceedings, but the position may have changed. The approach now is that if the debt remains unpaid, bankruptcy may be filed in the future. They continue to dispute whether the tax debt actually exists or is outstanding. Therefore, this issue should be postponed, as there is still time to follow due process.
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Winyat further revealed that the main reason for requesting temporary protection is that some of the seized assets relate to funds already paid or collected by the state, referencing about 46 billion baht connected to the sale of Shin Corp shares and previous judgments. This raises the question: if this money has already entered state coffers, why is the same income being taxed again? Has the Revenue Department coordinated with the Ministry of Finance about these funds?
The temporary protection request today is not to revoke or cancel the tax assessment but to ask the court to consider whether there is reason to protect the assets while the case is pending. If the assets are auctioned and Thaksin later wins the case, it raises questions about the Revenue Department’s liability for the consequences.
Today, Thaksin testified that the armored vehicles are necessary for his safety due to past assassination attempts. He believes the vehicles are essential for his life and security. Winyat also noted that although some attachment orders have been lifted, enforcement action may still proceed, prompting the need for temporary protection, especially for currently frozen assets.
Another key point presented by the plaintiff is the tax amount claimed by the Revenue Department, including a principal of about 5.8 billion baht, allegedly from share sale income, plus fines and surcharges, totaling around 17 billion baht. The plaintiff argued that if this income is from the same sale already adjudicated and paid to the state, it must be considered the same income.
“If it is the same income, then it has already been taxed. It is unreasonable for one taxpayer, especially Mr. Thaksin, to pay again—17 billion baht is not a small amount, and it is part of the 46 billion baht already paid. If not, then everyone should deny it, including the Ministry of Finance,” he said.
