The Cyclist

You don't. Only what Thailand considers ' assessable income ' is pertinent to the thread. The ' Majority ' all come from different Countries and have different income streams, different DTA's, some might not even have DTA's. The only people who can inform and educate is the Thai Gov / Thai RD. Other experts can go into overdive and tout for business once definitive instructions have been issued by the Gov / RD. Everything else is speculation. I asked a question yesterday. Is my Gov pension ( non taxable in Thailand ) considered ' assessable income ' if it is not considered ' assessable income ' Do I need to file a Thai tax return. There is no definitive answer, and others have posted similar questions since. Nothing will be cut and dried until the Gov / RD extract their finger and make further announcements.

The UK - Thai DTA is pretty basic, probably by design. Which is why my Private Pension is now hitting my UK account instead of my Thai account. Which may change once the Thai Gov / RD comes out with clarification.

I am quite clear on the UK - Thai DTA regarding Government pensions and other pensions. What I was not clear on ( But was led to believe ) was that my Government Pension was not classed as ' assessable income ' and therefore no annual Thai Tax filing was required.

Thought that be the case. Although why a certain poster thinks that what happens in Germany happens throughout the rest of the World is beyond me.

Gov pension remitted directly to Thailand, P60's and Statements of Future Payments in a Nyrex folder. Cross refencing made easy. I am led to believe that you only have to file a Thai tax return if you have ' assessable income ' I am also led to believe ( but I could be wrong ) that income that is covered by a DTA is not classed as ' assessable income ' Agreed, which is why my private pension ( until I get official clarification ) is. now sent to my UK bank. I am still working on the assumption ( Until the Thai Gov / RD says otherwise ) income that is already taxed in your home Country will not be re-taxed in Thailand. Although people might have to get TIN's and file ' Nil ' tax returns.

Never filed a tax return in Thailand, for the reasons I bullet pointed above. So cannot comment on the above, although I would think that if you were subsequently audited and found to be telling little porky pies on the tax return you would be in the brown stuff, signed by the RD ot not

Yes there was a statement made to that effect. I was more thinking of the potential workload for the RD. Filing and checking all those pensions for no tax money collected. Is it possible that Germans living in Thailand do not pay tax in Germany on their pensions, and will now have to pay tax in Thailand ? A loophole being closed that allowed people to avoid tax. In the post that you quoted, it was clear the discussion was about pensions that were already taxed in the UK.

It could also be said that the RD might also be aware that the income from that ' Group ' was mostly covered by DTA 's and it would be a fruitless exercise chasing them to file tax returns when no monies would be payable.

Sure. I'm one of them. Is a pension covered by a DTA classed as ' assessable income ' ? I think not.

Yes I am sure others will have their own unique reasons. I just jotted down a few that were pertinent to me ( and probably others )

Re-invention of old fairytales It used to be Jack and the beanstalk, now it is Jack and the magic money trees.

If you are paying the appropriate tax on income - It can never be classed as tax evasion. Is that why the Big 4 keep getting skelped with massive fines. They dont know the difference between ' Avoidance ' and ' Evasion ' That comes under those pesky basics you keep talking about.

So it wouldn't be tax evasion then. Thanks for clearing that up.

Thought you worked for 1 of the big 4 ? The above would not be tax evasion if tax had already been paid at source.

Mike start taking your meds. The above is one of the biggest loads of tosh I have seen you post on this thread. 1. I am not questioning your decision to file a tax return. I couldn't care less what you do, or anyone else for that matter. 2. I am not blaming the CRS or the OECD. I am stating that nothing would be changing from the 01 Jan 2024 if it was not for Thailand joining the CRS, which is OECD led. How odd I thought the whole thread was about paying tax in Thailand. Whether that be locals, expats, or both involved in tax avoidance.

Cough Cough. Tax evasion is illegal Tax avoidance is a whole different ball game.

Can you get rid of the blame game ? I don't happen to be blaming anyone. It was what it was / is for years, and now it might be changing, time will tell. You are the person who repeatedly posts links about how few Thais file and pay tax. Why would any sane expat or retiree ( Unless they were working and earning money in Thailand, or claiming a refund on withholding taxes ) file a Thai tax return, when Thailand cannot sort itself out with its own people ? Nothing would be changing, if Thailand didn't join CRS. This is not Thailands doing, this is OECD led through joining the CRS.

If that it / was the case. And I have no idea if it is true or false. Then surely it would be down to the RD ( Who you would think should know the rules / tax laws ) to educate those 1000's of expats and retirees, who apparently reclaim money every year, by filling at the RD.

I would hazard a guess that a lot people thought they didn't have to file a Thai tax return because * They did not work or earn money in Thailand. * In Thailand for years but never a tax resident. * Income remitted was already taxed at source. I'll be the first to admit that I knew nothing about the requirements for filing tax returns until this thread. I dont think anyone with there head screwed on the correct way is going to go to the RD and say ' Hey Mr, please advise me how to throw money at you '

Why are you horrified by potential ? That just doesn't make any sense to me. My 2 pensions are also taxed in the UK, which is why I do not think they will be taxed again in Thailand. I have stopped 1 pension being remitted to Thailand ( better safe than sorry ) and will continue to remit my Gov pension. I am quite happy to hand the RD a printed copy of the UK - Thai DTA in addition to a video of MC Hammers ' You cant touch this ' And then stand my ground. Something I wouldn't do with my other pension. Wouldn't make any difference, if you go over the 180 day tax threshold of Thailand. Depending on what else comes out during 2024. A simple announcement of ' All pensions from Countries with a DTA with Thailand are exempt ' Which would come as no surprise if this was announced. The target here isn't pensioners being taxed in their home Countries, it is people with convoluted structures who are using loppholes to avoid tax.

As there has now been multiple posters ( myself included ) reporting that income remitted in has not had a 5,10,15 or even 30% withholding tax applied at the Thai bank. The poster is currect, unless something as yet unannounced pops up, between today and the end of 2024, nothing has changed. 2025 might be a whole new ballgame though.

Tell them that you understand the Thai culture / tradition of paying sinsod. Tell them that in your culture the brides parents by tradition pay for the wedding, and you have at least 20 relatives that need to fly in for the wedding. That should shut them up.

Why ? Its a ( deleted ) disaster.

Now give us your expert opinion on the how the bank knows a * Transfer direct from my UK account * Transfer through something like wise * Any other method of transfer into Thailand that people might use Is earnings....

That makes a Canadian Pension and your wise transfer free of any sort of withholding tax. Should be able to make it a treble with my pension payment tomorrow. The doomers & gloomers will be gutted