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Thaksin family 'fights tax bill' Thaksin family 'fights tax bill'
(about 1 hour later)
Two children of ousted Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra are to fight an order they pay millions of dollars in taxes on a controversial deal, their lawyer says.Two children of ousted Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra are to fight an order they pay millions of dollars in taxes on a controversial deal, their lawyer says.
Thai tax officials announced on Tuesday that Mr Thaksin's son and daughter must pay taxes on the family's $1.9bn sale of shares in telecoms giant Shin Corp.Thai tax officials announced on Tuesday that Mr Thaksin's son and daughter must pay taxes on the family's $1.9bn sale of shares in telecoms giant Shin Corp.
The tax-free sale to a Singapore firm last January triggered mass protests against Mr Thaksin.The tax-free sale to a Singapore firm last January triggered mass protests against Mr Thaksin.
Lawyer Nopadol Patama said the Thaksin family would bring the case to court.Lawyer Nopadol Patama said the Thaksin family would bring the case to court.
Mr Thaksin said he had transferred his shares in the firm he founded to his children and other relatives when he became prime minister.Mr Thaksin said he had transferred his shares in the firm he founded to his children and other relatives when he became prime minister.
He had also insisted that the sale had satisfied the rules, which allows for any sales conducted through the Thai stock exchange to escape tax.He had also insisted that the sale had satisfied the rules, which allows for any sales conducted through the Thai stock exchange to escape tax.
But Finance Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula told reporters that there was "solid ground to tax the revenue".But Finance Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula told reporters that there was "solid ground to tax the revenue".
He insisted the move was not politically motivated.He insisted the move was not politically motivated.
"Our decision was in line with the tax law," he said."Our decision was in line with the tax law," he said.
Corruption allegationsCorruption allegations
It is not clear how much Mr Thaksin's son Phantongtae and one of his daughters, Pintongta, owe but reports suggest it could be more than 10m baht ($320m). It is not clear how much Mr Thaksin's son Phantongtae and one of his daughters, Pintongta, owe but reports suggest it could be more than 10bn baht ($270m).
Revenue department chief Sirote Swasdipanich said the two children had been informed of their tax liabilities after they failed to meet a 30 September deadline to file tax returns. But the family's lawyer, Nopadol Patama, said the family would contest the decision in court.Revenue department chief Sirote Swasdipanich said the two children had been informed of their tax liabilities after they failed to meet a 30 September deadline to file tax returns. But the family's lawyer, Nopadol Patama, said the family would contest the decision in court.
"We closely consulted with the revenue department, which had told Thaksin's family that they did not have to pay taxes" as long as the sale went through the stock exchange, he is quoted by the AFP news agency as saying."We closely consulted with the revenue department, which had told Thaksin's family that they did not have to pay taxes" as long as the sale went through the stock exchange, he is quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.
"We have to prove legally that we have done everything in accordance with Thai laws," he added."We have to prove legally that we have done everything in accordance with Thai laws," he added.
The sale of Shin Corp to Singapore state investment firm Temasek last January was one of the main catalysts for widespread protests calling for Mr Thaksin to resign.The sale of Shin Corp to Singapore state investment firm Temasek last January was one of the main catalysts for widespread protests calling for Mr Thaksin to resign.
He was ousted by a military coup in September, amid allegations of corruption and abuse of power.He was ousted by a military coup in September, amid allegations of corruption and abuse of power.