Temple tax ID ‘will spur e-donations’

The Revenue Department (RD) is issuing a tax record identification number to temples nationwide so they can use it to receive donations online, which will be easy to trace, according to the National Office Of Buddhism (NOB).

The e-donations were brought up for discussion at a meeting yesterday of the Supreme Sangha Council chaired by the Supreme Patriarch.

NOB inspector-general Somkiat Thongsri, who is also the office spokesman, said the RD was assigning each temple with an individual ID number to receive e-donations from the faithful.

There are about 40,000 ples nationwide.

The electronic cash donations will be easy to trace and monitor, while donors will also find the service fast and convenient, according to Mr Somkiat.

Donors can send cash donations online at the touch of a button and claim tax rebates on their e-donations without having to submit a donation receipt from the temple to the RD.

However, the meeting cautioned that the ID numbers which the RD issues to the temples must not be those assigned tem- to income tax earners, as temples are not taxable establishments.

The RD confirmed the e-donations will not incur taxes on the temples.

In fact, it would motivate more people and businesses to make donations as the transactions will be subject to monitoring for the sake of transparency.

Donors will also receive their tax rebate more quickly, Mr Somkiat added.

Meanwhile, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) sub-committee investigating the alleged embezzlement of state funds by NOB officials acting in collusion with Wat Phanan Choeng in Ayutthaya has wrapped up its investigation and is presenting the case to prosecutors, according to NACC member Surasak Kiriwichian.

The sub-panel has found substance to the embezzlement accusations in the Wat Phanan Choeng case, allegedly committed by former NOB director Phanom Sornsilp and Pranom Kongpikul, the former deputy NOB director.

The case is one of many involving more than 30 temples in the so-called “change money” controversy, in which NOB senior officials were accused of giving out state money intended for temple maintenance, and then asking the temples to return the money to their private accounts.