Economy
Khon Kaen Municipality Denies Tax Claims Regarding Wat Pa Adulyaram
Khon Kaen’s mayor has refuted allegations that the municipality attempted to collect land taxes from a local temple, citing its status as public religious land.
On August 18, 2026, the Mayor of Khon Kaen City, Prasit Thongtaengthai, addressed public reports suggesting that the municipality had demanded land tax payments from Mr. Hiang Phimsri, the owner of the land deed for Wat Pa Adulyaram. The temple, which occupies approximately 21 rai of land, has been utilized for Buddhist religious purposes since 1990.
Mayor Prasit clarified that the municipality has never issued any tax collection notices or taken legal action to extract funds from this property. He emphasized that the land is classified as public property dedicated to religious use, which exempts it from local land and building tax obligations under current regulations. The Mayor invited anyone claiming to have received a tax bill for this specific property to present a receipt as evidence, as the municipality maintains that no such demand was ever authorized.
For residents and visitors, this clarification serves to resolve concerns regarding the administrative status of local religious sites. While the municipality has firmly denied the allegations, the situation highlights the importance of verifying official documentation if one receives unexpected tax correspondence. As of now, no evidence of a tax demand has been produced, and the municipality maintains that the temple remains exempt from taxation.