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The Revenue Department of Thailand will amend a law to tax individuals with foreign income, even if that income is not brought into Thailand. Director-General of the Revenue Department, Kulaya Tantitemit stated that the current tax law mandates individuals residing in Thailand for over 180 days per year to pay taxes on foreign income if … …

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I read this story in the Post this morning and noted two things.

1) Kulaya mentioned plans to expand the tax base by requiring platforms with an income of 1 billion baht or more to report their sources of income.

She's referring to companies and corporations, as surely there aren't that many individuals earning 1 billion baht a year.

2) Previously, the department revised the criteria for tax residency, mandating that individuals residing in Thailand for at least 180 days per year and earning foreign income must pay personal income tax if that income is brought into the country within the same year it was earned.

For individuals, this is the only measure that would be relevant, and they still have no mechanism, at last word to track or verify.  If I'm not mistaken, this is solely based on voluntary reporting.

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

My read is that after the current 12 month rule change settles in (2025/2026), is that Thailand is going to implement worldwide (global) personal income taxation for its tax residents - including Expats. The current 12 months rule change and this impending change, will not affect USA Citizens who will continue to pay income taxes on their income worldwide because they have a Citizen based taxation. But for the rest of us who have a Resident based taxation system, it will have an impact. That is because it will not only be the income remitted in Thailand that is taxable - when they implement a global taxation system, it will be any income earned anywhere in the world by a Thai tax resident.

  • Like 1
On 6/5/2024 at 12:40 PM, MrStretch said:

1) Kulaya mentioned plans to expand the tax base by requiring platforms with an income of 1 billion baht or more to report their sources of income.

She's referring to companies and corporations, as surely there aren't that many individuals earning 1 billion baht a year.

I believe that she is referring to all financial institutions with an income of 1 Billion baht (banks etc.) must report to TRD all the sources of their income - deposits received - both nationally and internationally. This is common in the west, and it is how the western countries Tax Depts/Offices track people's incomes.

Thailand has not done this in the past - they are clearly moving forward to a system that will allow them to track people's income more easily. As to whether they have the resources or expertise to make this happen and when - who knows.  They certainly dont have those skilled resources yet - nor do they have a lot of resources to chase Thais (and non-Thais) who should, but dont even lodge a tax return.  They say AI is going to make this sort of thing a lot easier and quicker - probably true. 

12 hours ago, AussieBob said:

My read is that after the current 12 month rule change settles in (2025/2026), is that Thailand is going to implement worldwide (global) personal income taxation for its tax residents - including Expats. The current 12 months rule change and this impending change, will not affect USA Citizens who will continue to pay income taxes on their income worldwide because they have a Citizen based taxation. But for the rest of us who have a Resident based taxation system, it will have an impact. That is because it will not only be the income remitted in Thailand that is taxable - when they implement a global taxation system, it will be any income earned anywhere in the world by a Thai tax resident.

If they are adopting worldwide income

It will truly only negatively impact those residents in Thailand that have been working in Thailand for an outside source and not paying income taxes there(anywhere)....

 

If it's a worldwide income system, then tax treaties will come into play 

 

 

 

On 6/18/2024 at 11:26 PM, Marc26 said:

If they are adopting worldwide income

It will truly only negatively impact those residents in Thailand that have been working in Thailand for an outside source and not paying income taxes there(anywhere)....

If it's a worldwide income system, then tax treaties will come into play 

They are going to implement global taxation - and IMO it will happen soon (2025/26).  At the moment they only tax money earned worldwide, when that money is remitted into Thailand. When they make the change, income tax will be liable on all income earned worldwide.  The current tax system is full of holes and unknowns, and a global taxation system is 'alien' to the Thailand legal system (which is not 'common law' based).  Lots of things need to be clarified and decided now, and then going forward many things will need to be sorted and managed centrally.  Localised Provincial interpretations and decisions will have to controlled, and they will need to have the ability to be over-ruled by TRD centrally.

It is not necessarily about only working Expats. According the the tax code and TRD advices, an Expat's Pension is taxable income - as is the interest/earnings he/she gets from money invested outside Thailand - when it is brought into Thailand.  This has never been enforced in the past and TRD just 'let it go' and assumed all money earned overseas was only remitted after 12 months (tax free).  Now that has changed, there is a while can of worms about what is taxable and when and where. Countries like Philippines and Malaysia have specifically excluded all forms of income that Expats earn overseas - as long as the money has been subjected to the tax system of the country in which it was earned. The Malaysian Finance Minister stated it best something like this - 'we are not going to penalise retirees who come here and bring their money here to spend it here'. 

Actually, double tax treaties come into play now - and will more under this new 12 month rule change - and more so under the global tax system.  But your point is very much 'nail on the head' and it is the biggest problem with how TRD implements this new system, and the global system. How and where and when is TRD going to manage income tax returns for Expats, when there are 61 separate tax treaties. How can Somchai in the Provisional TRD Office deal with an Expat's claim made under their home country's DTA. A bloke recently had a meeting with the local TRD Office, with his Thai tax lawyer with him, and the TRD Official said they dont use DTAs and dont know how they will work. TRD HQ has a lot of work ahead of it, because they never enforced PIT rules before for Expats (and many Thais).  Hopefully the Thai Govt will do what Malaysia and Philippines did and exclude retired Expats - which I hope includes married ones too.

 

  • Like 1
23 hours ago, AussieBob said:

They are going to implement global taxation - and IMO it will happen soon (2025/26).  At the moment they only tax money earned worldwide, when that money is remitted into Thailand. When they make the change, income tax will be liable on all income earned worldwide.  The current tax system is full of holes and unknowns, and a global taxation system is 'alien' to the Thailand legal system (which is not 'common law' based).  Lots of things need to be clarified and decided now, and then going forward many things will need to be sorted and managed centrally.  Localised Provincial interpretations and decisions will have to controlled, and they will need to have the ability to be over-ruled by TRD centrally.

It is not necessarily about only working Expats. According the the tax code and TRD advices, an Expat's Pension is taxable income - as is the interest/earnings he/she gets from money invested outside Thailand - when it is brought into Thailand.  This has never been enforced in the past and TRD just 'let it go' and assumed all money earned overseas was only remitted after 12 months (tax free).  Now that has changed, there is a while can of worms about what is taxable and when and where. Countries like Philippines and Malaysia have specifically excluded all forms of income that Expats earn overseas - as long as the money has been subjected to the tax system of the country in which it was earned. The Malaysian Finance Minister stated it best something like this - 'we are not going to penalise retirees who come here and bring their money here to spend it here'. 

Actually, double tax treaties come into play now - and will more under this new 12 month rule change - and more so under the global tax system.  But your point is very much 'nail on the head' and it is the biggest problem with how TRD implements this new system, and the global system. How and where and when is TRD going to manage income tax returns for Expats, when there are 61 separate tax treaties. How can Somchai in the Provisional TRD Office deal with an Expat's claim made under their home country's DTA. A bloke recently had a meeting with the local TRD Office, with his Thai tax lawyer with him, and the TRD Official said they dont use DTAs and dont know how they will work. TRD HQ has a lot of work ahead of it, because they never enforced PIT rules before for Expats (and many Thais).  Hopefully the Thai Govt will do what Malaysia and Philippines did and exclude retired Expats - which I hope includes married ones too.

They will do what the rest of the countries do or they would sort of be blackballed from the Global system

 

Now I don't personally have to worry about it, so it's easy for me to say

 

But I don't think any expats need to worry about getting taxes twice on their pensions 

23 hours ago, AussieBob said:

They are going to implement global taxation - and IMO it will happen soon (2025/26).  At the moment they only tax money earned worldwide, when that money is remitted into Thailand. When they make the change, income tax will be liable on all income earned worldwide.  The current tax system is full of holes and unknowns, and a global taxation system is 'alien' to the Thailand legal system (which is not 'common law' based).  Lots of things need to be clarified and decided now, and then going forward many things will need to be sorted and managed centrally.  Localised Provincial interpretations and decisions will have to controlled, and they will need to have the ability to be over-ruled by TRD centrally.

It is not necessarily about only working Expats. According the the tax code and TRD advices, an Expat's Pension is taxable income - as is the interest/earnings he/she gets from money invested outside Thailand - when it is brought into Thailand.  This has never been enforced in the past and TRD just 'let it go' and assumed all money earned overseas was only remitted after 12 months (tax free).  Now that has changed, there is a while can of worms about what is taxable and when and where. Countries like Philippines and Malaysia have specifically excluded all forms of income that Expats earn overseas - as long as the money has been subjected to the tax system of the country in which it was earned. The Malaysian Finance Minister stated it best something like this - 'we are not going to penalise retirees who come here and bring their money here to spend it here'. 

Actually, double tax treaties come into play now - and will more under this new 12 month rule change - and more so under the global tax system.  But your point is very much 'nail on the head' and it is the biggest problem with how TRD implements this new system, and the global system. How and where and when is TRD going to manage income tax returns for Expats, when there are 61 separate tax treaties. How can Somchai in the Provisional TRD Office deal with an Expat's claim made under their home country's DTA. A bloke recently had a meeting with the local TRD Office, with his Thai tax lawyer with him, and the TRD Official said they dont use DTAs and dont know how they will work. TRD HQ has a lot of work ahead of it, because they never enforced PIT rules before for Expats (and many Thais).  Hopefully the Thai Govt will do what Malaysia and Philippines did and exclude retired Expats - which I hope includes married ones too.

One scenario where people might get royally screwed is an American living in Thailand and earning money outside the US/Thailand

 

The US has a very generous foreign income tax exclusion that you don't pay taxes on up to $120k

 

So I'd imagine if the US hasn't taxed that $120k and Thailand deems you a tax resident then Thailand may tax that because you didn't pay tax on it so no double tax is in play on that 

On 6/24/2024 at 9:12 AM, Marc26 said:

They will do what the rest of the countries do or they would sort of be blackballed from the Global system

Now I don't personally have to worry about it, so it's easy for me to say

But I don't think any expats need to worry about getting taxes twice on their pensions 

Right now we dont know either way - it all depends on how the TRD implement things. But not worrying about it and dismissing it, is not a wise move - but no need to worry too much either. All will be revealed eventually - it is something to be aware of as it could affect expats who live in Thailand and receive money from/in an overseas country. 

On 6/24/2024 at 9:15 AM, Marc26 said:

One scenario where people might get royally screwed is an American living in Thailand and earning money outside the US/Thailand

The US has a very generous foreign income tax exclusion that you don't pay taxes on up to $120k

So I'd imagine if the US hasn't taxed that $120k and Thailand deems you a tax resident then Thailand may tax that because you didn't pay tax on it so no double tax is in play on that 

Yep - one of many scenarios and even more unanswered questions that TRD will hopefully one day provide clarity about.  But as one bloke said a while ago - he thinks they may just let it run its course and get things sorted out in the Appeals Tribunal and Courts, rather than trying to provide an answer to every possible scenario and situation.  TRD started to do that in October last year, and they are either still working on it, or have thrown up their hands when realising all the complications this rule change made.

  • 4 months later...

It is now November and Thai Tax Office (TRD) has still not released clarifications or details, nor have they released their annual 'How to complete PIT Tax Guides'.  Talk about incompetent and disorganised - the biggest change to income taxation is this country for many decades, and they still have not provided what in every western country would be mandatory BEFORE the new taxation rule was changed - details on how the change will impact people, and training for the tax professionals, and detailed Q&A for all. 

 

A mate I know in Pattaya is planning a move with some friends there, to Cambodia or Vietnam. They want to spend time in Pattaya, because they are all very 'comfortable' there - lots of Expats and services and they know what is where and when etc.. So what they plan to do, if this goes ahead and Expats are 'nailed to the cross', is to base themselves over there and visit Thailand 2 times a year (maybe 3 if OK) for 3 months at a time.

They reckon and I agree, that if you come in as a Tourist they cannot hit you with income taxes - under the Income Taxation Act Tourists are not subject to income taxation - only residents living here. It looks like how it will work is that if TRD is made aware (by Thai banks) of a Foreigner receiving over X Million Baht is foreign deposits (X = 2, 5, 10?) and they have no tax return/s in that name, they will verify with Immigration if they are a long-stay Expat (retired, married, working, etc). If they are on a long-stay Non-Immigration Visa then they may get in contact and ask why do tax return/s.

Many people think it is all too hard and TRD will just continue to 'let it go' for Expats, but there is also the concern that the Govt is hammering the TRD to introduce a new taxation system and to enforce compliance a lot more.  They need more taxation in order to meet the Budget shortfall due to a declining economy, ageing population, and the need to pay for all the 'stimulus programs' (vote buying) they have been doing and will do it the future.  Reducing the public service and slowing waste and corruption is never mentioned of course.

Unfortunately, Expats would be caught up in that new system and new enforcement. No one knows for sure what will happen (still) but I do know this, any retired/married Expat who willingly raises their heads so TRD can see them (lodges a tax return) is IMO risking a lot of trouble. Wait and watch is my plan - wait and watch. 

 

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  • 1 month later...
On 11/16/2024 at 9:35 AM, AussieBob said:

It is now November and Thai Tax Office (TRD) has still not released clarifications or details, nor have they released their annual 'How to complete PIT Tax Guides'.  Talk about incompetent and disorganised - the biggest change to income taxation is this country for many decades, and they still have not provided what in every western country would be mandatory BEFORE the new taxation rule was changed - details on how the change will impact people, and training for the tax professionals, and detailed Q&A for all. 

---------------------------------

It is now mid-January and Thai Tax Department (TRD) has still not released any further clarifications or details, nor have they released their annual 'How to complete PIT Tax Guides'.  

The latest TRD website information relates to the 2023 tax year.  Given that the documents and tax payable money must be lodged by end-March, I expect that the information will be released soon.

Year 2023 | The Revenue Department (English Site)

However, PWC has released a Tax Information Booklet for 2024, and that very much reflects the information in their 2023 booklet.

Thai Tax 2024/25 Booklet

From the other forum - An Aussie bloke went with his Thai Wife into his local TRD Office and asked if his Australian Pension was taxable income in Thailand under the DTA.  The Officer did not know and asked the Office Manager. She said she thought it was not taxable income, but rang the Head Office to check. The Head Office told her that Government paid welfare payments are not taxable in Thailand. 

There is a lot of 'activity' by 'tax experts' offering their 'snake oil' services for Expats to lodge a tax return in Thailand.  IMO they are scammers, because nothing has changed with regards to Tax rules and regulations, except for Thailand Tax Residents who make money on investments overseas, and who can no longer bring those earnings into Thailand after 12 months and pay no income tax on those earnings.

Thailand is currently re-drafting it's Tax Laws in order to implement a global taxation system, such that Thailand Tax Residents will be liable to pay income taxes on assessable income they earn anywhere in the World - whether it is brought back into Thailand or not.  IMO that is when things might affect retired Expats living in Thailand (those not working and/or earning any income from investments overseas). 

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2 hours ago, AussieBob said:

There is a lot of 'activity' by 'tax experts' offering their 'snake oil' services for Expats to lodge a tax return in Thailand.  IMO they are scammers, because nothing has changed with regards to Tax rules

The only thing that will change is hopefully the authorities will crack down on these so called subject matter experts and their dodgy Falang legal firms and YouTube channels trying to drum up a frenzy of fear amongst Expats and Pensioner's about Tax Law in order to get them into the Office to sell them other products. 

To many dodgy Falang working illegally in restricted jobs trying to sell advice on something they're not qualified in.

Anyone worried about this matter only needs to download their relevant DTA (Double Taxation Agreement) and read it.

  • Like 3
48 minutes ago, 23RD said:

The only thing that will change is hopefully the authorities will crack down on these so called subject matter experts and their dodgy Falang legal firms and YouTube channels trying to drum up a frenzy of fear amongst Expats and Pensioner's about Tax Law in order to get them into the Office to sell them other products. 

To many dodgy Falang working illegally in restricted jobs trying to sell advice on something they're not qualified in.

Anyone worried about this matter only needs to download their relevant DTA (Double Taxation Agreement) and read it.

Yes Indeed.  Stay away from both TRD and any Expat 'Tax Expert' in Thailand.  The Thai Tax system for PIT is very much 'old school' and it is up to the individual to calculate their taxes due and to then pay that amount. The vast majority of Thais do not do a tax return and TRD does not operate anything like the Tax Office in western countries (thank goodness).  

The DTAs very much exclude Thailand from assessing as taxable income monies paid to an Expat in another Country by another Government (Pensions and other Welfare Payments) - unless they are a Permanent Resident or Citizen of Thailand.  There are many exclusions, impositions, interpretations and unknowns - the whole Taxation system in Thailand is very 'fluid' in the interpretations of the various Rules and parts of the Taxation Law with regards to PIT.  When they are not sure, the TRD seeks answers from the Taxation Court, because TRD is not a world class well-managed Tax Department in any way shape or form.

Keep quiet, ignore the shrills and grifters, and wait - unless you work in Thailand and/or earn money overseas from any of the items that TRD details as taxable income, and also brought that money into Thailand after 1 Jan 2024.     

1. Salaries and wages (including income from stock options, house rent allowance and other fringe benefits)
2. Hire of work, office of employment or service rendered
3. Goodwill, copyright, franchise, patent, other rights, annuity, etc.
4. Interest, dividend, bonus for investors, gain on amalgamation, acquisition or dissolution of a company or partnership, gain on transfer of shares, cryptocurrencies or digital tokens.
5. Lease of property, breach of hire-purchase and instalment sale contract
6. Income from liberal professions, such as law, medicine, engineering, architecture, accountancy and fine arts
7. Income from a contract of work whereby the contractor provides essential materials other than tools
8. Income from business, commerce, industry and income other than as specified in (1) – (7).

 

16 minutes ago, AussieBob said:

Yes Indeed.  Stay away from both TRD and any Expat 'Tax Expert' in Thailand

Good point Bob it's amazing to see how many Expats want to hand over their personal financial details even though they've received no correspondence from the TRD.

 

19 minutes ago, AussieBob said:

Keep quiet, ignore the shrills and grifters, and wait - unless you work in Thailand and/or earn money overseas from any of the items that TRD details as taxable income, and also brought that money into Thailand after 1 Jan 2024.     

The key detail If you work in Thailand in which case you should already be registered with a TIN unlike most of these YouTubers.

  • Like 1
On 1/14/2025 at 2:55 PM, 23RD said:

The key detail If you work in Thailand in which case you should already be registered with a TIN unlike most of these YouTubers.

Yes mate - IMO a lot of 'Thai Youtubers' are not declaring the money they make on Youtube as they think that because it is paid in USA they dont have to. But that only applies for those in Thailand who are US Citizens - the rest are 'working' in Thailand and liable to pay income taxes in Thailand.  Unlike speeding fines and other breaches of the law, the TRD can go back in time and hit people for back-taxes they estimate are due (plus fines and interest penalties). Want to challenge that TRD decision? The rule is you must first pay the taxes and fines and penalties, and then you can lodge an appeal - in Thai only.   

  • Like 2

Nonsense , utter rubbish.  Some people will believe anything they read, or are told in the bar. Get tax advice if you need to, just don't fall victim to all the myths and rumors bounding around among the expat community. Everyone is different, there is no law that fits all. 

57 minutes ago, AussieBob said:

Yes mate - IMO a lot of 'Thai Youtubers' are not declaring the money they make on Youtube as they think that because it is paid in USA they dont have to.

Tax The YouTubers not The Expats you can't walk outside to go to the 7/11 in Pattaya without one of them walking past with his phone on a telescopic poles muttering to himself. 

  • Like 1
35 minutes ago, Pinetree said:

Nonsense , utter rubbish.  Some people will believe anything they read, or are told in the bar. Get tax advice if you need to, just don't fall victim to all the myths and rumors bounding around among the expat community. Everyone is different, there is no law that fits all. 

Nothing for us to worry about Pinetree Bud HM Forces pensions are exempt under the UK/Thailand DTA.

41 minutes ago, 23RD said:

Nothing for us to worry about Pinetree Bud HM Forces pensions are exempt under the UK/Thailand DTA.

All UK pensions are covered by the DTA, not just the Military ones.  However, the UK/Thai DTA, as opposed to those with other Countries, may still require proof to be provided, in order to obtain an exception, rather than it being automatic. Typical of the UK to fxxk its expats up, regardless.  That Country is truly a complete basket case. I wish fervently that I had not wasted 24 years of my life in its Military. It's no longer worth defending.   But as the Thai tax law hasn't changed, no action is yet required.   

  • Like 1
On 1/15/2025 at 4:41 PM, Pinetree said:

Nonsense , utter rubbish.  Some people will believe anything they read, or are told in the bar. Get tax advice if you need to, just don't fall victim to all the myths and rumors bounding around among the expat community. Everyone is different, there is no law that fits all. 

Nonsense and utter stupidity.  'Tax Experts' in Thailand are not subject to the same scrutiny and regulatory oversights as the same Professionals in the West. Any Expat going to see one here has no protections against them not 'doing the right thing', and SFA legal rights if it came to seeking remedy.  If those words do not make sense to you, then I strongly recommend you stay away from them - unless you personally know them and trust them implicitly with all your finances.  

Meanwhile, there are some Tax Firms in Thailand that will do the right thing. In fact two of the six organisations I enquired with over 6 months ago, said I do not need to get a TIN and lodge a Tax Return, and gave me the reasons (both in emails). Three others suggested I come in for a consultation (for a fee), and one said I would be in serious trouble if I did not lodge a tax return and quoted almost 50K Baht to do everything for me (including getting a TIN).  What I have seen since then, is more Tax Expert 'scammers' telling Expats they must lodge a tax return and that they can do it for (various fees listed) so come in for a chat.

As I said before - IMO keep quiet, ignore the shrills and grifters, and wait - unless you work in Thailand and/or earn money overseas from any of the items below that TRD details as taxable income, and also brought that money into Thailand after 1 Jan 2024.     

1. Salaries and wages (including income from stock options, house rent allowance and other fringe benefits)
2. Hire of work, office of employment or service rendered
3. Goodwill, copyright, franchise, patent, other rights, annuity, etc.
4. Interest, dividend, bonus for investors, gain on amalgamation, acquisition or dissolution of a company or partnership, gain on transfer of shares, cryptocurrencies or digital tokens.
5. Lease of property, breach of hire-purchase and instalment sale contract
6. Income from liberal professions, such as law, medicine, engineering, architecture, accountancy and fine arts
7. Income from a contract of work whereby the contractor provides essential materials other than tools
8. Income from business, commerce, industry and income other than as specified in (1) – (7).

 

 

  • Like 1
33 minutes ago, AussieBob said:

Nonsense and utter stupidity.  'Tax Experts' in Thailand are not subject to the same scrutiny and regulatory oversights as the same Professionals in the West. Any Expat going to see one here has no protections against them not 'doing the right thing', and SFA legal rights if it came to seeking remedy.  If those words do not make sense to you, then I strongly recommend you stay away from them - unless you personally know them and trust them implicitly with all your finances.  

Meanwhile, there are some Tax Firms in Thailand that will do the right thing. In fact two of the six organisations I enquired with over 6 months ago, said I do not need to get a TIN and lodge a Tax Return, and gave me the reasons (both in emails). Three others suggested I come in for a consultation (for a fee), and one said I would be in serious trouble if I did not lodge a tax return and quoted almost 50K Baht to do everything for me (including getting a TIN).  What I have seen since then, is more Tax Expert 'scammers' telling Expats they must lodge a tax return and that they can do it for (various fees listed) so come in for a chat.

As I said before - IMO keep quiet, ignore the shrills and grifters, and wait - unless you work in Thailand and/or earn money overseas from any of the items below that TRD details as taxable income, and also brought that money into Thailand after 1 Jan 2024.     

1. Salaries and wages (including income from stock options, house rent allowance and other fringe benefits)
2. Hire of work, office of employment or service rendered
3. Goodwill, copyright, franchise, patent, other rights, annuity, etc.
4. Interest, dividend, bonus for investors, gain on amalgamation, acquisition or dissolution of a company or partnership, gain on transfer of shares, cryptocurrencies or digital tokens.
5. Lease of property, breach of hire-purchase and instalment sale contract
6. Income from liberal professions, such as law, medicine, engineering, architecture, accountancy and fine arts
7. Income from a contract of work whereby the contractor provides essential materials other than tools
8. Income from business, commerce, industry and income other than as specified in (1) – (7).

Up to you mate.  I don't mind passing on the link, but I don't give a monkeys toss what others do. 

Given expats to Thailand come from many different countries and have many different income sources, and have many different financial situations (as to where their money is located and as to how its invested or not invested), I suspect the tax situation for each is different.

I was curious so i did my own research (especially to confirm statements of others).  I noted in the Thai tax code section (article(?)) 42 which in essence provides a list of income that is NOT TO BE INCLUDED in the Thai tax calculation.  My assumption (possibly incorrect) is if it is not to be included an Thai tax calculation, that makes the income not assessable and hence not to be included in an annual Thai income tax return.

In that same tax code article-42 list, was item-17, which noted income covered by Ministerial Regulations as tax exempt was not to be included in a tax calculation.

That has me thinking (and I could be incorrect) that such ministerial document under item-17 could include:

  • remitted to Thaliand income not assessable per Paw.161/162 ministerial directions (ie income/savings from before 1-Jan-2024 are not assessable/taxable by Thailand when brought into Thailand), and
  • per Royal Decree 743 any income remitted to Thailand by LTR-WP, LTR-WGC, and LTR-WFTP visa holders are not assessable taxable, and
  • any remitted income specifically noted in a Double Tax Agreement with another country (DTA) if stated as not taxable by Thailand, then it would be not assessable.

In my case I obtain pension incomes from Canada where the Canada-Thai DTA notes Canada (only) can exclusively tax such income -and I pay income tax to Canada on that. Such income is not taxable by Thailand per that DTA.

I also receive a pension from Germany, where the German-Thai DTA  notes Thailand (only)  can exclusively tax such income (if one is a Thailand tax resident). So I have been careful not to remit that money to Thailand.

Further as part of my tax management considerations, I applied for and obtained the LTR-WP (wealthy pensioner) Visa, which purportedly means foreign money remitted to Thailand is not taxable.

Still, to be ultra cautious , noting future tax changes possible, while I was a non-resident to Thailand not too long ago (a few years), i brought sufficient money into Thailand to maintain my standard of living for a bit more than a few years.  I also, when Paw-161/162 came out, before 1-Jan-2024, brought some more money into Thailand from abroad.  

I then brought no money into Thailand in 2024. 

In the mean time, my Thai wife, spooked by some of the tax chat (and myself also, to a lessor extent) applied on-line for a Thai tax-ID for me mid last year (2024). That went to Bangkok RD, who forwarded it to the provincial RD office where I live.  An official from the provincial RD office phoned our place (where my wife answered the phone) and asked why I wanted a Thai tax-ID? 

When the RD official was told I bring no money into Thailand (in 2024 tax year) and that I have no Thai income, that despite my qualifying as a Thai tax resident (as I spend ~300 days/year in Thailand), I did not qualify for a Thai tax ID and he would not provide one.

My wife noted I have a Thai Pink-ID and could that not be my tax ID?  The official noted yes it could be if activated by the RD (but he saw no point to activate).

My wife noted I had an LTR-WP visa, and the official noted he never heard of such.

So given all that - I plan to wait a few years, bring no more money into Thailand, and watch and see how this all pans-out.

My guess is it could simply be a lot of speculation/worry for nothing by many expats.  Although I also believe all expats should consider in detail the specifics of their own finances. 

But who knows?  As the saying goes:  This is Thailand.

Edited by oldcpu
  • Like 1
1 hour ago, Pinetree said:

Up to you mate.  I don't mind passing on the link, but I don't give a monkeys toss what others do. 

Clearly you care zero about others - only yourself.  Most accurate thing you have ever said 😉 

  • Like 1

I've just been sent a YouTube video from another Expat and I won't bother reposting it on this Forum of some YouTuber in Pattaya walking along with his phone giving Tax advice to Expats. 

Only out of sheer curiosity I watched 4 minutes 12 seconds of it and came to the conclusion. 

1. The particular Muppet never done a day's work in his life. 

2. Instead of him giving out advice he needed advice on his personal hygiene. 

The Internet is good for some things but not Thailand Tax advice. 

  • Like 2

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