Generally speaking, Specific Business Tax (SBT) is an alternative tax that is levied on certain types of businesses—particularly those in the financial services sectors. It was first introduced in tandem with the value-added tax (VAT) regime in 1992. The method for collecting SBT can be likened to that of sales tax, which was used in Thailand in the previous incarnation of indirect tax collection, before VAT.

“Begin with the End in Mind” is the second habit in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R Covey. In a lawyer’s mind, everything must end badly. This is not because we truly believe that all transactions are destined to fail, but because we owe it to our clients to consider and prepare for the worst, so they can focus on the future potential of the deal at hand.

The key to developing a successful business lies not only with having good entrepreneurial spirit and skills, but also with having sound knowledge of the laws and regulations that affect you and your company. To help business owners understand and navigate the ever-shifting legal landscape, Practical Law Company, in association with Lex Mundi, has published the latest edition in its series of multi-jurisdictional question-and-answer guides to doing business worldwide.

Cynthia M. Pornavalai and Ahmet Yesilkaya, partner and consultant in Tilleke & Gibbins’ corporate and commercial group, have coauthored the Thailand chapter of Getting the Deal Through – Real Estate 2014, a guide to real estate in 28 jurisdictions worldwide. The chapter provides an insight into real estate ownership and investment in Thailand, and it examines foreign investment law in terms of liability, choice of law, and important considerations when investing in Thailand. In particular, the chapter covers the following topics:

The evolution of real property financing in Thailand—from primarily bank loans to rigid property funds to the proposed real estate investment trusts (REITs)—reflects the liberalisation of the Thai market, the need for alternative funding options, and the need for the country to maintain its regional competitiveness.The Capital Market Supervisory Board under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued regulations last year governing the issuance and offering of REITs in Thailand. The regulations took effect on Jan 1 this year.

Directors and officers of both local and multinational companies in Thailand are subject to a complex array of legal duties and obligations. When things go wrong, company executives often find themselves named personally in civil suits, regulatory investigations, and criminal prosecutions, putting their assets and their livelihoods at risk. Gaining an understanding of the local legal and regulatory environment is therefore an essential step for any director or executive working in Thailand, and this short guide aims to answer some of the most common questions asked.

Practical Law Company has published the latest edition of its Corporate Real Estate Multi-Jurisdictional Guide, a country-specific Q&A guide that delves into a number of key, topical subject areas in corporate real estate worldwide.

Directors and officers of both local and multinational companies in Thailand are subject to a complex array of legal duties and obligations. When things go wrong, company executives may find themselves named personally in civil suits, regulatory investigations, and criminal prosecutions, putting their assets and their livelihoods at risk. Understanding the local legal and regulatory environment is therefore essential for any director or executive working in Thailand. This article aims to answer some of the most common questions posed by directors.