chiang mai

The first 20k baht of interest can be tax free at the bank, if they have a record of your TIN,

TRD doesn't send out tax returns any more, the system is online. It's up to you to file or not file a return, TRD is passive throughout. They don't send you reminders, they don't track you down, it's down to you to make the right decision.

As soon as you start to receive bank interest that has 15% withholding tax deducted, you are a part of the tax system. Once you receive a year long visa and your immigration record show you remained in country for more than 180 days in a calendar year, you are part of the tax system. Formalizing all of that by obtaining a TIN and filing a tax return (if needed), merely completes the formalities. I've been filing taxes here for 15 years, on and off. Some years I file, some years I don't need to file, I never hear from the TRD when I don't file and when I go to the TRD office the next year to file, nothing is ever said. Being "in the clutches" makes it sound like you're crossing a line that can never be uncrossed and that life will never be the same again, to which I say, nonsense.

Any retired expat who remains in Thailand for more than a cumulative 179 days each calendar year is considered to be tax resident here whether they like it or not. This is mot a matter of choice whether to be tac resident or not, if you remain here you are.

I've been UK non resident for tax purposes for 15 years. I still file a tax return because I have rental income that arises there. I still have a tax code that gets updated from time time and I can see this via the HMRC Gateway, along with all my tax history over the years. My UK State Pension fits nicely within the Personal Allowance so any UK tax I pay depends on my rental income and whether or not I take funds from my UK SIPP. I am to all intents and purposes just another UK tax payer who doesn't have to declare any income that arises outside of the UK and everyone else who is not tax resident will be similar..

The terms of a DTA take precedence over national tax laws in every instance so your argument makes sense. As you imply however, exactly how the TRD would view this is not clear.

A problem is that the tax years do not align, Thailand returns must be filed by 31 March whereas the UK tax year doesn't end until 5 April. The issue here is that tax credits, or so I am told, cannot be carried forward although I have not seen first hand proof of this.

Register the letter, I always do and never have a problem.

https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/topics/policy-sub-issues/global-tax-revenues/revenue-statistics-asia-and-pacific-thailand.pdf

If you are not tax resident (more than 180 days) you are not eligible to obtain a TIN or file a return to reclaim tax paid.

A warning I guess.

The pin is still in!!!

I believe this is the difference between what the TRD rules state versus the accepted. practise.

Your understanding is correct, any income that arises in the UK is still taxable there for people who are not uk tax resident.

Here's some more enlightening tax trivia with which to regale friends at cocktail parties, a sure ice breaker if ever there was one. 🙂 https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/topics/policy-sub-issues/global-tax-revenues/revenue-statistics-asia-and-pacific-thailand.pdf

In fact 11% file returns but only 6% pay tax, most who do so pay via a PAYE equivalent at work.

Ask the same question of the Revenue Head Office in Bangkok and they will say yes sir, certainly sir. Retirees have bank accounts, banks pay interest and deduct 15% withholding tax from that interest, the customer can file a tax return to obtain a refund of that tax, to do so they need a TIN. DO NOT Take no for an answer, if you want a TIN, demand you are given one.

Er, yes, but.....remitted funds from overseas can still count as assessable income so that answer was far too simplistic and narrow.

Depends on the source of the income, if pre 12/31/23 savings, they are tax free. Most retirees just starting out here will have savings of some sort I imagine.

Now I understand, thanks. Yours is a Wise transfer in Baht, mine is a recurring standing order which required upfront paperwork signed by BBL and Manilla US SSc beforehand. BBL sees each of your transfers as unique stand alone transfers. Mine are seen differently as a prearranged recurring set of transfers, hence labelled differently.

I did, it says, "Residence based taxation", which means tax residents are taxed and in Thailand's case, taxed based on income that is remitted. It doesn't say that the population is taxed on global or world wide income, which is something else entirely. Regardless, "Worldwide income is not a global tax policy, that's nonsense".

There's a world of difference between an entire country being taxed by another, without governmental representation than there is the taxation of foreign tax residents by the country they live in.

Take a picture of them!

Neither does UOB, they don't restrict the number of FET's, the amounts, or the source of the FET. Re. BBL transfers. the inbound payment is US SSc which probably would show as FTT except H/O then transfers on to Chiang Mai.

Hmmm, they don't so we shouldn't....not sure I buy that but each to their own.