Introduction to Personal Income Tax in Thailand

[KhunHeineken]

3 hours ago, Liquorice said:

You're also missing the point that if you remit funds held prior to 1st Jan 2024, those funds are exempt of tax and therefore no requirement to file a tax return or obtain a TIN. Other than your word, you'd have nothing from the TRD to show Immigration.

Do you really think it will play out that way, either in 2025, or in the future?  Do you remember where you are? 

[KhunHeineken]

19 hours ago, JohnnyBD said:

It can be very difficult to prove a negative. No, I didn't remit any monies. Prove it. How? Go to every bank in the country to get a statement that you don't have an account with them. No, I didn't make any ATM withdrawals using a foreign bank debit or credi card. Prove it. How? That's unworkable. Luckily, I do not need to go to IM for another 5 years with my new LTR visa.

The Thai government knows all the bank account of foreigners.

 

One would have to submit bank statements to the TRD.  Calculations and deductions will be applied.  A bill may or may not be presented.  

 

Some members have already posted of their TRD experience, and that's pretty much the way it went.  

 

Do you really think it's going to be that easy to say, "I don't remit assessable income" and it all just disappears for you?   

[10000Baht]

2 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Do you really think it's going to be that easy to say, "I don't remit assessable income" and it all just disappears for you?   

And what are you doing (like in my case) when your responsible Local Revenue Office told you:

Your to Thailand remitted money from your State Pension is in relation to the DTA non assessable income!

You don't need a TIN and you don't get a TIN!

Bye bye, have a nice day!

[KhunHeineken]

19 hours ago, MikeN said:

Because of the number of exemptions, that's why. In the case of Australians ...got a military pension? Non assessable income, no need to file. Civil servant? ditto. Police pension? ...ditto 

There are 61 countries with Double Taxation Agreements, most of them different. You think IOs are going to understand the varying details about who will need to file a tax return or not?

You missed the point, completely. 

 

Ok, let's say an Aussie expat in Thailand is on a military pension.  It's a government service pension, thus covered by a DTA.  The pension is paid into his Aussie bank account, and he transfers it to his Thai bank account.  Pretty standard for many expats. 

 

Now, the Thai bank just sees the "cash" transfers.  The Thai bank doesn't know it's from a military pension, do they?  The Thai bank just reports to the government the flow of funds through our Aussie vet's account.  Let say our Aussie vet goes over the tax free threshold in Thailand.  Not difficult to do..

 

This is where it gets interesting.  Our Aussie vet knows his pension is covered under a DTA, so, using the self assessment method, does nothing.  However, this still leave the Thai government with the question, what is the source of this Thai tax resident's funds?  

 

Can you see how they MAY use immigration laws to send him off to a TRD Office for them to "go through him" and then issue a certificate of clearance so he can get his extension?  

 

Is the above soooooooo left field that it's impossible?   

 

Also, the Aussie old age pension is not covered by the DTA.  Do you have any advice for the thousands of Aussie aged pensioners? 

[Jingthing]

11 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

You missed the point, completely. 

 

Ok, let's say an Aussie expat in Thailand is on a military pension.  It's a government service pension, thus covered by a DTA.  The pension is paid into his Aussie bank account, and he transfers it to his Thai bank account.  Pretty standard for many expats. 

 

Now, the Thai bank just sees the "cash" transfers.  The Thai bank doesn't know it's from a military pension, do they?  The Thai bank just reports to the government the flow of funds through our Aussie vet's account.  Let say our Aussie vet goes over the tax free threshold in Thailand.  Not difficult to do..

 

This is where it gets interesting.  Our Aussie vet knows his pension is covered under a DTA, so, using the self assessment method, does nothing.  However, this still leave the Thai government with the question, what is the source of this Thai tax resident's funds?  

 

Can you see how they MAY use immigration laws to send him off to a TRD Office for them to "go through him" and then issue a certificate of clearance so he can get his extension?  

 

Is the above soooooooo left field that it's impossible?   

 

Also, the Aussie old age pension is not covered by the DTA.  Do you have any advice for the thousands of Aussie aged pensioners? 

Just speculation.

If such a thing happens, then we'll discuss it,

There is no reason to bother with such things now.

JUST KEEP RECORDS.

 

Next 

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[KhunHeineken]

20 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

More scaremongering unsubstantiated cr@p posing as information/facts!!

Do you have any content to post? 

[JohnnyBD]

1 hour ago, KhunHeineken said:

Do you really think it's going to be that easy to say, "I don't remit assessable income" and it all just disappears for you?   

Yes, it's that easy. It all magically disappeared when I received my LTR-WP visa. BOI informed me in writing that all my foreign income is tax exempt and I do not need to file a tax return. TRD & IM are two of the gov't agencies that had to sign off on my LTR visa. No more worries. Good luck to you.