Thai SMEs Push to Expand Aid Program, Raise Income Cap to 5 Million Baht
Thai SME Association urges the government to extend the Thai Help Thai Plus stimulus program and raise the income eligibility cap from 1.8 million to 5 million baht annually to help more small businesses cope with rising operational costs.
On September 18, 2026, Napphong Theerawon, president of the Thai SME Association, submitted a letter to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul requesting the government to extend the Thai Help Thai Plus Phase 2 economic stimulus measure. The program aims to inject cash into the grassroots economy, revive consumer spending, and ease the cost-of-living burden amid continuing pressure from rising water, electricity, labor, and raw material costs.
The association proposed two key improvements to the program criteria. First, it requested an increase to the income ceiling from the current 1.8 million baht per year to 5 million baht per year, opening participation to small registered VAT-paying business operators. Second, it proposed using verifiable tax documentation—such as the most recent financial statements or tax return filed with the Revenue Department—as proof of actual income, ensuring transparency and fairness while incentivizing informal operators to formalize and enter the tax system.
The Thai SME Association believes these adjustments will ensure funds reach small retailers more effectively and serve as a key driver for Thailand's long-term economic recovery.
