AIS x Thai SME Council Launches ProStart — Digital + AI Bundle with 200% Tax Deduction Thai SMEs Shouldn’t Miss

Major news Thai SMEs shouldn’t scroll past

On March 26, 2026, AIS SME officially partnered with the Thai SME Council to launch “SME ProStart” — a bundled package of digital and AI tools designed to be genuinely affordable for SMEs.

Put simply, this is not just another mobile promotion. It’s a clear sign that the Thai SME ecosystem is changing, from collaboration between major private-sector players and national SME networks to historic tax incentives approved by the Cabinet since mid-last year.

If your business has paid-up registered capital of no more than 5 million baht, or annual revenue of no more than 30 million baht, this article is written specifically for you.

What is SME ProStart, and why is it different?

A package designed to make getting started realistic

SME ProStart is not just a standard business mobile or internet plan. It brings together the tools SMEs actually need in one place, including:

• Mobile and high-speed internet services for business use
• Google Workspace with built-in AI capabilities such as Gemini for writing, data analysis, and online meetings
• Additional AI tools selected for practical SME use, whether for document management, customer communication, or internal data handling
• Pricing structured to qualify immediately for the 200% tax deduction

The most interesting part is that AIS is working directly with the Thai SME Council, a national entrepreneur network. This means council members receive special terms, along with guidance on how to claim the digital tax deduction, instead of simply being sold a package and left on their own.

Why now is the right moment

The numbers speak for themselves. Thailand’s digital transformation market is worth USD 10.94 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach USD 16.64 billion by 2031, growing at an average annual rate of 8.75%. The SME segment in particular is expanding even faster than the broader market, at 14.95% CAGR.

The takeaway is simple: this market is moving forward whether you join it or not. The question is whether Thai SMEs choose to get on board now, while special incentives are available, or wait until the cost of entry rises further.

The 200% tax deduction — understand it before deciding

The Cabinet approved it back in mid-2025

In June 2025, the Thai Cabinet approved a measure allowing businesses to claim a 200% deduction on digital expenses against income for tax calculation purposes. The measure is valid from June 2025 through December 2027 and covers eligible expenses of up to 300,000 baht per year.

In practice, this means that if you spend 100,000 baht on software and digital tools, you can deduct 200,000 baht (100,000 x 2) from taxable income. Depending on your tax rate, that could translate into real savings ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of baht.

Check whether your business qualifies

Eligible businesses must meet these criteria:

• Paid-up registered capital of no more than 5 million baht
• Annual revenue of no more than 30 million baht
• Registered as a corporate entity in Thailand
• Expenses must fall under the digital categories defined by the Ministry of Finance announcement, such as software, cloud services, SaaS, and Google Workspace

If the answer is yes across the board, then AIS’s SME ProStart package — designed around deductible digital expenses — may be exactly what your business needs.

A quick example

Let’s say your company purchases an SME ProStart package worth 150,000 baht per year:

• Actual expense: 150,000 baht
• Deductible amount: 300,000 baht (150,000 x 2)
• If your company pays tax at a 20% rate, your tax savings would be 60,000 baht
• Effective after-tax cost: 90,000 baht for tools worth 150,000 baht

Frankly, this is one of the best support measures the Thai government has introduced for SMEs in years. And because SME ProStart is already designed to fit the qualifying criteria, it reduces complexity even further.

Market context Thai SMEs need to know

The real challenges SMEs are facing

The launch of SME ProStart didn’t happen in a vacuum. Thai SMEs are currently dealing with three major obstacles:

• Digital skills gaps — many employees are still unfamiliar with modern tools, while business owners rarely have time for training
• Upfront cost concerns — enterprise-grade software often feels expensive, and the return on investment is not always clear
• Cash flow limitations — even when businesses know they need to invest, liquidity may not support it

These are exactly the issues that SME ProStart + the 200% tax deduction can help solve: lower real costs, reduce complexity, and give smaller businesses access to tools previously associated with larger enterprises.