Khon Kaen Municipality Denies Land Tax Claims on Temple
Khon Kaen Municipality denies collecting land taxes from a temple property in Khon Kaen, saying the donated land qualifies as public property exempt from taxation since 1990.
Khon Kaen Municipality has firmly denied allegations that it collected land taxes from Heiang Phimsiree, owner of title deed number 61945, who donated the land to build Pa Adulyaram temple. The municipality insists it has never sent any documents or taken action to collect taxes on the plot, as the land qualifies as public property exempt from taxation.
Mayor Prasit Thongtaangthai stated that according to the property deed number 61945 registered under Heiang Phimsiree's name, the land comprises approximately 21 rai, 3 ngan, and 61 square wah. Since 1990, its use has been designated as Pa Adulyaram temple for religious purposes, placing it outside the scope of local land tax collection.
Even after the Land and Building Tax Law changed in 2019, the municipality has not collected taxes from the landowner, as temple land is classified as public property exempt from such levies, despite the deed still bearing Heiang Phimsiree's name.
The mayor reiterated that the municipality has never sent letters or taken any action to collect taxes from Heiang Phimsiree's heirs. Only one separate plot under title deed number 10955—houses numbered 45/84 and 45/88—which is private property belonging to Phimsiree, Heiang's wife, had taxes collected.
When the municipality collects taxes and a property owner pays, a receipt must be issued. The mayor confirmed that allegations of tax collection from Heiang's heirs are false and invited anyone with doubts to present a tax payment receipt as evidence to dispute the claim.
