I just asked the BOI how many years of tax returns do I need to submit to verify my passive income for the 5 year extension. Their answer:

“Under the current criteria for the Wealthy Pensioner category, we only require one year of passive income evidence. This means you only need to provide your tax return from the previous year.”

This is the same as when I originally applied in October, 2022.

2 minutes ago, Martyp said:

I just asked the BOI how many years of tax returns do I need to submit to verify my passive income for the 5 year extension. Their answer:

“Under the current criteria for the Wealthy Pensioner category, we only require one year of passive income evidence. This means you only need to provide your tax return from the previous year.”

This is the same as when I originally applied in October, 2022.

So, someone who used IRA distributions as passive income to qualify, could quit making those distributions after receiving their visa, then one tax year before the 5-year renewal, start making the $80k in distributions again to get another 5 years, then quit again. I'm curious if it's the same for the health insurance requirement. Stop buying the health policy after visa issuance then buy it again 1 year before 5 year renewal date? What about the $100k in bank method in lieu of health insurance. Can one take the $100k out of the bank after visa issuance and then put it back 1 year before renewal? It doesn't sound like they are requiring people to show continued compliance.

12 minutes ago, Martyp said:

I just asked the BOI how many years of tax returns do I need to submit to verify my passive income for the 5 year extension. Their answer:

“Under the current criteria for the Wealthy Pensioner category, we only require one year of passive income evidence. This means you only need to provide your tax return from the previous year.”

This is the same as when I originally applied in October, 2022.

That also makes sense. Because otherwise people without more than one year of data would just apply for a NEW LTR visa instead of prolonging their existing one

18 minutes ago, K2938 said:

That also makes sense. Because otherwise people without more than one year of data would just apply for a NEW LTR visa instead of prolonging their existing one

That's good news. If they only require one year of data, I can stop buying the health insurance now, and use the $100k in bank method for my 5-year renewal. I couldn't use the $100k when I applied in 2024 because the money was in my brokerage acct, but I moved it to a high-yield savings acct in January. I guess the worse can happen is I would have to re-apply and pay 50k again. That would still be cheaper than paying 3 more years of insurance premiums.

Do what you like. My pension income continues and I will keep the only insurance I have.

My pension income over $80k will continue also. I am only concerned with switching to the $100k in bank method to eliminate the Thai insurance premiums.

4 hours ago, Pib said:

Also been recent news articles that some in Phuket are complaining about this new 1 year visa saying it's drawing the wrong type of crowd

The above was actually my first thought when I thought about what is 3 million to invest in property considering the prices in the western world and that Thailand now gone to be flooded by the whole world. I have a 1-year visa, so then not interesting.

Anyway, thanks for your information.

Felt

14 minutes ago, Felt 35 said:

The above was actually my first thought when I thought about what is 3 million to invest in property considering the prices in the western world and that Thailand now gone to be flooded by the whole world. I have a 1-year visa, so then not interesting.

Anyway, thanks for your information.

Felt

It's a pricey 1 year visa and if I'm reading below correctly it has "annual visa application renewal fee" of Bt25K to Bt27K depending on where the fee is paid.....below fee snapshot from the earlier Sansiri weblink given.

2 hours ago, Martyp said:

Do what you like. My pension income continues and I will keep the only insurance I have.

+1. I've just had my initial 'WP' application approved, using the insurance which I've relied on as a lifetime expat. They asked for more proof, but it turns out they were happy with the benefits overview doc, which is very generic, but shows a snapshot of limits & entitlements. So, no extra cost, no special Thai insurance, nothing extra.

Passive Income proof went through without even a question, despite me using USA WHT '1042' forms instead of any of the examples they mention on their application guidelines. I really expected some discussion over the 1042s.

5 hours ago, JohnnyBD said:

So, someone who used IRA distributions as passive income to qualify, could quit making those distributions after receiving their visa, then one tax year before the 5-year renewal, start making the $80k in distributions again to get another 5 years, then quit again. I'm curious if it's the same for the health insurance requirement. Stop buying the health policy after visa issuance then buy it again 1 year before 5 year renewal date? What about the $100k in bank method in lieu of health insurance. Can one take the $100k out of the bank after visa issuance and then put it back 1 year before renewal? It doesn't sound like they are requiring people to show continued compliance.

On the home page for the LTR visa (ltr dot boi dot go dot th), under "TYPES OF LTR VISA", it says in red text "NOTE FOR ALL VISA TYPES: Every condition and requirement must be maintained during the length of the visa, including investment amounts, employment status, bank account balances, and insurance coverage." I read this to mean all requirements at the time of issuance of the visa must be maintained every year of the visa. So, they may only ask for one year or two years at the 5-year mark, but legally you are in violation of the terms of the visa if you don't meet all requirements in year 2 or year 3, for example. I would not be surprised if they change their mind at some point and want to see proof you met the requirements for every year of the preceding 5 years.

Also, on the home page for the LTR visa (ltr dot boi dot go dot th), under the “INFO SERVICES” tab, “Law & Regulations”, Document 15. Notification of Income Tax No.427 says “Clause 2 A foreigner categorised as High-Skilled Professional, Wealthy Global Citizen, Wealthy Pensioner, or Work-from-Thailand Professional who is eligible for income tax reduction or exemption under Section 3, Section 4, or Section 5 of the Royal Decree issued under the Revenue Code governing reduction of tax rates and exemption of taxes (No. 743) B.E. 2565 (2022), as the case may be, must meet the following qualifications:

(1) Be granted a Long-Term Resident Visa under immigration law, as the case may be;

(2) Meets qualifications for and complies with rules and conditions on Long-Term Resident Visa as prescribed by the Office of the Board of Investment.”

1 hour ago, Richard007 said:

On the home page for the LTR visa (ltr dot boi dot go dot th), under "TYPES OF LTR VISA", it says in red text "NOTE FOR ALL VISA TYPES: Every condition and requirement must be maintained during the length of the visa, including investment amounts, employment status, bank account balances, and insurance coverage." I read this to mean all requirements at the time of issuance of the visa must be maintained every year of the visa. So, they may only ask for one year or two years at the 5-year mark, but legally you are in violation of the terms of the visa if you don't meet all requirements in year 2 or year 3, for example. I would not be surprised if they change their mind at some point and want to see proof you met the requirements for every year of the preceding 5 years.

Yes, i read those rules before. I just find it odd that they would now be telling people that they will only be looking back one year at the 5 year renewal.

On 2/19/2026 at 9:19 AM, Martyp said:

When I originally applied in October 2022 I was only asked for one year of my tax return. Later I saw comments from people saying they requested 2 years. I am not expecting them to ask for more than this but I will ask. They suggested we connect with them on LINE to ask questions.

Can I have the line account please.

On 2/19/2026 at 11:06 AM, JimGant said:

In fairness to EPT, they do seem professional -- and they, unlike BoI, did wrestle out of TRD the info that LTR visa holders owe no tax on remitted foreign income, regardless of when earned.

Sorry I haven't followed the whole thread, who is EPT... I am guessing its not Expat Thai Tax ??

9 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

Sorry I haven't followed the whole thread, who is EPT... I am guessing its not Expat Thai Tax ??

I believe he was refering to the ExpatTax Thailand video I posted above.

32 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

Can I have the line account please.

Search for LTR x Smart Visa TH or try this

11 hours ago, JohnnyBD said:

Yes, i read those rules before. I just find it odd that they would now be telling people that they will only be looking back one year at the 5 year renewal.

I've seen it on their application instructions somewhere. It something to the effect that 'one year out of the previous 3' needs to be supplied. I'm not going to chase it up, but it's in the guidelines somewhere. That's for the initial application, not the renewal. My recent approval was based on tax returns for 2024 only. That's all I sent them and there were zero questions asked. I realise that renewals may be different but just because the paperwork says the criteria must be maintained doesn't mean that, in practice, their policy can't be to just check one year only.

1 hour ago, xllxix said:

I've seen it on their application instructions somewhere. It something to the effect that 'one year out of the previous 3' needs to be supplied. I'm not going to chase it up, but it's in the guidelines somewhere. That's for the initial application, not the renewal. My recent approval was based on tax returns for 2024 only. That's all I sent them and there were zero questions asked. I realise that renewals may be different but just because the paperwork says the criteria must be maintained doesn't mean that, in practice, their policy can't be to just check one year only.

I asked them specifically about the 5th year extension. They replied that we submit 1 year of tax returns or bank statements.

On 2/19/2026 at 4:07 PM, Martyp said:

BOI LTR community meeting

Wealthy Pensioner LTR tax obligation - we do not have to file a tax return for any money remitted to Thailand. There are no time restrictions on the money. You could have earned it 5 years ago or yesterday. From the powerpoint slide - “If the LTR Visa holder has no domestic-sourced income apart from foreign-sourced income remitted into Thailand, no Personal Income Tax return filing is required.” This question was asked and answered the same about 5x

.....

The presenter on tax issues was

Kasapon Singprasertate Windows

Senior Tax Economist

The Revenue Department, Thailand

Many thanks for sharing what you heard in the meeting.

I confess to being pleased to read this, and at the same time scratching my head. Puzzled. Is this another reversal of how the Royal Decree is interpreted, or could this be tied into a new Ministerial Directive or new Royal Decree that is coming out real soon?

If I may explain ... back when many if us in the 2022/2023 time frame applied for and obtained our LTR visa, we were told no Thai tax on any remitted income (even if current year income) for LTR-WP/WGC remitted income.

There was internal forum debate on that - as the Royal Decree 743 reading suggested otherwise (for current year income - dependent on how one interpreted the wording).

I recall back the User @Guavaman called the Thailand Help desk and confirmed that (if my memory serves me right) no Thai tax on current year foreign income remitted to Thailand.

Further user @JohnnyBD contacted BoI and he was initially advised no Thai tax on any remitted foreign income for LTR-WP/WGC visa holders

However .... this was to change ..

However user @K2938 contacted BoI and was advised an LTR Visa holder could possibly be subject to Thai tax on any current year remitted income brought in a year in which it was earned (per recent RD guidance). So user JohnnyBD contacted BoI again and was also given this update (current year foreign income remitted to Thailand is potentially taxable). User @John207 also contacted BoI and they told him the same as the latest from JohnnyBD and K2938. ie income brought into Thailand in the current year of remitted income is potentially taxable (ie depends on DTAs with one's income source country and other factors).

Now we hear from a BoI seminar with an RD official presenting, that all remitted foreign income for LTR-WP/WGC visa holders is tax exempt, consistent with what user Guavaman and JohnnyBD were initially told, but contrary to what K2938 and John207 (and later JohnnyBD subsequently) were told.

Am I the only one who finds all this seems to be changing back and forth?

Am I the only one scratching my head ?

...

Having typed that, I wonder if the 'elephant' in the room, is the speculation (and maybe stronger than speculation) is the possibility for all Thai tax residents, that the current Thai government (freshly re-elected) may via the Thai RD have a ministerial directive, or possibly even a Royal Decree, promulgated sometime in the near future, to make all current year foreign income remitted into Thailand in the same year it is earned, Thailand tax exempt? That would be for all tax-residents and not just LTR. There was talk (news articles) before the election called, stating this was possibly in the works.

Obviously speculation by me, but for myself that appears to be a logical reason why the different Aseannow users were to some extent, getting different answers and why the current RD official seminar answer.

I guess, This Is Thailand and were are dealing with changing Thai RD assessments and approaches as they try to deal with the current fiscal situation in Thailand.

So i am (1) puzzled (about the past), and (2) pleased re: what I read on this forum about the seminar with BoI/RD, and (3) puzzled as to why and if this will change again.

I do like Thailand. If nothing else, life is never boring.

8 hours ago, oldcpu said:

Many thanks for sharing what you heard in the meeting.

I confess to being pleased to read this, and at the same time scratching my head. Puzzled. Is this another reversal of how the Royal Decree is interpreted, or could this be tied into a new Ministerial Directive or new Royal Decree that is coming out real soon?

This question about the timing of the income must have come up 4x and I remember one of the questioners mentioning interpretation of the Royal Decree. The answer kept come back the same. You don't pay tax or file a return. My tax advisor also told be that I don't have to file a return.

All I can do is tell you what this guy from the Revenue Department said. I also gave everyone his name.

4 hours ago, Martyp said:

This question about the timing of the income must have come up 4x and I remember one of the questioners mentioning interpretation of the Royal Decree. The answer kept come back the same. You don't pay tax or file a return. My tax advisor also told be that I don't have to file a return.

All I can do is tell you what this guy from the Revenue Department said. I also gave everyone his name.

Thanks for your report. If you could answer just a few more questions it would be very much appreciated.

1. Was the tax issue (not having to pay tax & not having to file tax returns) in the PowerPoint presentation, OR was it answered verbally by TRD person?

2. Did they give out copies of the PowerPoint presentation to take home?

Thanks again...

1 hour ago, JohnnyBD said:

I would only be 100% certain if it was in writing from TRD though.

Was RD 743 just some verbal statement?

1 hour ago, Peter Crow said:

Was RD 743 just some verbal statement?

No, RD 743 is not some verbal statement, but it's up to one's own interpretation if it means income from any year earned or only income earned from previous years. Below is the email BOI sent me on Dec 15, 2025 which I posted previously, and it states only income from different year is exempt, not income remitted in same year it was earned. That's why I said 99.99%, not 100% certain. I would like to see something in writing from TRD, and not each person's interpretation of RD 743. Have a good evening.

9 hours ago, JohnnyBD said:

That's why I said 99.99%, not 100% certain. I would like to see something in writing from TRD, and not each person's interpretation of RD 743.

Beyond the interpretations even the written rules can be amended at will and frequently.

Inconsistency and uncertainty are inherent to Thailand, that's the way it works here.

At some point long term residents need to accept it and move on (or out).

19 hours ago, JohnnyBD said:

Thanks for your report. If you could answer just a few more questions it would be very much appreciated.

1. Was the tax issue (not having to pay tax & not having to file tax returns) in the PowerPoint presentation, OR was it answered verbally by TRD person?

2. Did they give out copies of the PowerPoint presentation to take home?

Thanks again...

The BOI said that the presentations would be posted on their site. I haven't checked myself.

10 hours ago, JohnnyBD said:

No, RD 743 is not some verbal statement, but it's up to one's own interpretation if it means income from any year earned or only income earned from previous years. Below is the email BOI sent me on Dec 15, 2025 which I posted previously, and it states only income from different year is exempt, not income remitted in same year it was earned. That's why I said 99.99%, not 100% certain. I would like to see something in writing from TRD, and not each person's interpretation of RD 743. Have a good evening.

I see, now , what I do is to transfer early, every January, most of my previous year's income, which my beloved will be busy spending until the subsequent transfer. No big deal and that makes me 100%, in this regard..

I am much more concerne about what would happen if I accumulated funds on overseas account while LTR exempt and decided to remit while no more.

Also no one has ever mentioned the situation where a Thai tax resident inherits funds or a pension from an LTR holder..

4 hours ago, Martyp said:

The BOI said that the presentations would be posted on their site. I haven't checked myself.

Thank you for posting the slide. It was smart to take pics since they didn't give you any handouts.

3 hours ago, Peter Crow said:

I see, now , what I do is to transfer early, every January, most of my previous year's income, which my beloved will be busy spending until the subsequent transfer. No big deal and that makes me 100%, in this regard..

I'm pretty sure none of us have anything to worry about. I'm sure your beloved will enjoy the extra money early.

I prefer to play it safe because I know the rules can change or their interpretation of the rules can change at any time. Last year, I had to remit over 5 MM baht, so to play it safe, I only remitted 2023 & 2024 monies. This year, I will probably only need to remit my gov't social security which is exempt by DTA.

Good luck to you Sir...🙏

The renewal and housekeeping presentation is up on their website:

https://ltr.boi.go.th/page/news.html

The Tax discussion is not up yet, but fyi the presenter from TRD was:

Mr. Kasapon Singprasert, Senior Tax Economist from the Revenue Department

steve

I received the LTR WP by letter (via email) while in the USA, and I keep a printed (digital too) copy, and show when I entered Thailand (with my Passport).

I was not sure if I need to get the stamp now in my Passport or is showing the letter still ok?

And if I need to get the stamp, do I need to go to TIESC?

(I'm settled in Hua Hin for a few months.)