Thai tax tangle: Expats warned of new rules on overseas income

[gamb00ler]

  On 1/15/2025 at 3:27 PM, MikeandDow said:

 Yes, you can use a credit or debit card to pay in US$ in Thailand, but you should be aware of fees and exchange rates.

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I understand that using an ATM owned by a Thai bank you can choose to allow the Thai bank to do the conversion rather than taking the card processor's rate.  Is that also possible when making a retail purchase?

[tomazbodner]

  On 1/15/2025 at 11:24 AM, MikeandDow said:

They will have to be knocking on my door before i fill out any of there BS

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Wow macho man! Well, if they do knock, you'll be 200,000 THB lighter and Dow will be visiting you behind bars for a year.

[tomazbodner]

  On 1/15/2025 at 3:36 PM, gamb00ler said:

I understand that using an ATM owned by a Thai bank you can choose to allow the Thai bank to do the conversion rather than taking the card processor's rate.  Is that also possible when making a retail purchase?

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On some terminals, yes, but unsure if all. Android based tap only terminals often have that option. Worth to ask cashier.

 

Seen that option in restaurants and shops in department stores.

[Airalee]

  On 1/15/2025 at 3:19 PM, gamb00ler said:

I think it's unlikely that you can pay in US$ with a credit or debit card in Thailand.  Usually the hospital's agreements with the VISA/MasterCard processing companies would limit them to Thai ฿ transactions.  In the US those companies insist all purchases are processed in the local currency (US$).

 

I think paying with US currency would be easily accomplished.

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Yes.  I can.  My hospital gives me the choice.

[MikeandDow]

  On 1/15/2025 at 4:02 PM, tomazbodner said:

Wow macho man! Well, if they do knock, you'll be 200,000 THB lighter and Dow will be visiting you behind bars for a year.

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Your as bad as these Tax agents full of BS

[Celsius]

off to get my TIN.

 

brb

[Gknrd]

 

 

Hard to believe the changes. Not long ago I could go to a Thai bank and bring in thousands of dollars free, No 800K in the bank to get the yearly retirement. 

 

Got to feel for anyone that actually fell for the scams in Thailand.  Government is just as bad as most gold digging women in LOS's  A joke... 

 

As the guys are forced out it is going to put a real hardship on the good Thai women there.  

 

Instead of being so greedy they should of grandfathered in the old timers.

[Bravoxray]

What if one is over the 180 day threshold and the only income (aside from untaxable Social Security) is a U.S. government pension which the DTA says is not taxable in Thailand. Is it still mandatory to register and file?

[Phillip9]

  On 1/15/2025 at 3:36 PM, gamb00ler said:

I understand that using an ATM owned by a Thai bank you can choose to allow the Thai bank to do the conversion rather than taking the card processor's rate.  Is that also possible when making a retail purchase?

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This is usually a terrible idea.  The rates given by ATMs and POS retail transactions in Thailand are robbery.  They are some of the worst in the world I have seen.  I frequently check their rate vs the rate I get from my bank, and the Thai banks charge something like 4% more of the total than my bank does.

[ChasingTheSun]

It is easy for immigration to require a tax ID for all 90 day renewals.

 

Once they have your tax Id they will monitor your Thailand bank accounts and your tax returns or lack thereof, and flag you at your next 90 day immigration appointment if they think something is fishy with your tax filings.

 

🍺 🍿

[Aussie999]

  On 1/15/2025 at 1:25 PM, scorecard said:

There's another item that still needs clarification 'income'.

 

Previous answers seemed to suggest that (for example) Oz old age pensions transferred automatically to Thai bank accounts are not classified as 'income'.

 

But we still wait and see. 

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We hold our breath 

[Phillip9]

  On 1/15/2025 at 9:47 PM, ChasingTheSun said:

It is easy for immigration to require a tax ID for all 90 day renewals.

 

Once they have your tax Id they will monitor your Thailand bank accounts and your tax returns or lack thereof, and flag you at your next 90 day immigration appointment if they think something is fishy with your tax filings.

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So everyone should stop worrying and do nothing until immigration starts requiring a tax ID.

[Thingamabob]

The Pattaya City Expat Club now join a long list of expat groups in Thailand promoting not the best interests of foreigners living  in Thailand, but trying to advance the business of fringe legal tax advisers operating here. Should you feel the need to discuss tax issues best to do so directly with your local TRD office. 

[DogNo1]

All of the money that I wire to Thailand and use to fund my credit cards comes from savings in previous years accumulated after paying US taxes on them.  I don't bring in any funds assessable for Thai income tax.  If  worldwide income is assessable in the future, I may have to file.

I've never seen a Thai tax form and wouldn't be able to read it anyway.  I wonder whether there is a foreign earned income deduction available.

 

 

 

[Expat68]

Two things, is there a tax form online (in English) that a individual can fill in. Any medical visits/operations, you can claim on the said form. I was a qualified bookkeeper in the UK, so there is no way I will be going to any of these so called professionals, pretty sure I will know more than them

[Robert Tyrrell]

If your Country has a DTA Agreement !!Or Double Taxation Agreement!! My Nation does not !! Double Taxation is Illegal in my Country Thailand 🇹🇭  🙂 You should be ashamed of yourselves the backbone of your economy EXPATS !!! Trying to double and triple Tax people SHAME !!! PEOPLE WORK HARD ALL THERE LIVES FOR GOVERNMENTS TO PLUNDER PEOPLES RETIREMENT MONIES !!! SHAME ON YOU !!! 

[Sig]

  On 1/15/2025 at 11:11 AM, snoop1130 said:

Both experts urged expats to retain detailed records of foreign transactions to avoid audits and potential penalties.

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Can anyone tell me how on earth the act of keeping records can help you avoid an audit? As if they know who is and who isn't keeping records and then they target the ones who aren't keeping records???

[thaibreaker]

  On 1/15/2025 at 1:04 PM, Briggsy said:

1. They refuse to extend your permission to stay unless you provide proof you have filed a tax return.

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Chonburi Immigration stated 2 days ago at Pattaya Mail that there are no plans to link any visa or visa extension to any tax IDs, or TINs.

 

So just forget that. Won't happen.

[arick]

  On 1/15/2025 at 11:24 AM, MikeandDow said:

They will have to be knocking on my door before i fill out any of there BS

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Yes they need to start checking their own people which they can't even do. So how in the hell are they going to monitor expats 

[ukrules]

  On 1/15/2025 at 11:39 AM, stubuzz said:

If you transfered money to buy proerty, would this be taxed?

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Maybe

[hotchilli]

  On 1/15/2025 at 11:29 AM, Jingthing said:

Misinformation.

No need to get a TIN or file unless your remitted  accessable income is over the threshold.

For example if you're only remitting exempt US social security no need for tin or to file.

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Would be nice if they gave a figure for the threshold..

[Jingthing]

  On 1/15/2025 at 9:31 PM, Bravoxray said:

What if one is over the 180 day threshold and the only income (aside from untaxable Social Security) is a U.S. government pension which the DTA says is not taxable in Thailand. Is it still mandatory to register and file?

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No.

No.

Just keep records in case of audit.

[Jingthing]

  On 1/15/2025 at 10:50 PM, hotchilli said:

Would be nice if they gave a figure for the threshold..

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I recall 60k baht single and 120k marriage.

[Jingthing]

  On 1/15/2025 at 10:46 PM, arick said:

Yes they need to start checking their own people which they can't even do. So how in the hell are they going to monitor expats 

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With expats they will often see large remittances so therefore a potential target to audit.

They wouldn't want to waste work on dry wells.

[Jingthing]

  On 1/15/2025 at 10:29 PM, thaibreaker said:

Chonburi Immigration stated 2 days ago at Pattaya Mail that there are no plans to link any visa or visa extension to any tax IDs, or TINs.

 

So just forget that. Won't happen.

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Agreed.

[NanLaew]

  On 1/15/2025 at 11:11 AM, snoop1130 said:

Photo courtesy of Expatica

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

 

A packed meeting of the Pattaya City Expat Club turned into a lively debate as members received crucial updates on Thailand’s controversial new tax policy regarding overseas income transfers.

 

Hosted by Thomas Carden, director of American International Tax Advisers, and tax attorney Patcha Inkudanonda, the session offered clarity, and raised fresh concerns, about the Thai Revenue Department’s evolving guidelines.

 

Patcha explained that not all expats are required to file Thai tax returns. Exemptions apply to those in Thailand for less than 180 days in 2024, individuals who haven’t transferred money from abroad, those who only moved income earned before December 31, 2023, and holders of the 10-year Long Term Residence (LTR) Visa. For others, the advice is clear: obtain a tax identification number and file a return by March 2025.

 

“All foreign income must be declared but this doesn’t always mean a tax liability.”

 

 

In a surprise revelation, it was disclosed that foreign credit card usage in Thailand, if converted to Thai baht, is now considered taxable income. Carden urged expats to carefully review double taxation treaties between Thailand and their home countries but noted these are not blanket exemptions.

 

“Each treaty has unique terms, referencing them in tax submissions could help as a caveat.”

 

Attendees raised questions about investment transfers, such as using overseas funds to buy a Thai condominium, but Carden admitted such matters remain unclear. He acknowledged the Revenue Department’s intent to widen the tax base, with small earners inadvertently caught in policies aimed at wealthy Thais, reported Pattaya Mail.

 

Concerns about enforcement were addressed, with Patcha citing international agreements like the Global Forum on Transparency, enabling Thai officials to request banking information globally. Both experts urged expats to retain detailed records of foreign transactions to avoid audits and potential penalties.

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-01-15

 

 

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What "crucial updates"?

 

With absolutely bugger all new from the RD, the situation is unchanged.

[ukrules]

Remaining non resident is the best option all around if you're making decent money until the dust settles, I am continuing to take this approach for the next few years.

 

 

[gejohesch]

  On 1/15/2025 at 10:25 PM, Robert Tyrrell said:

If your Country has a DTA Agreement !!Or Double Taxation Agreement!! My Nation does not !! Double Taxation is Illegal in my Country Thailand 🇹🇭  🙂 You should be ashamed of yourselves the backbone of your economy EXPATS !!! Trying to double and triple Tax people SHAME !!! PEOPLE WORK HARD ALL THERE LIVES FOR GOVERNMENTS TO PLUNDER PEOPLES RETIREMENT MONIES !!! SHAME ON YOU !!! 

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I'm not clear about what you want to say here, but one thing I can tell you to make it clear is that a DTA (Double Taxation Agreement) is not an agreement that allows 2 countries to tax you on the same item. On the contrary, it is an agreement to avoid double taxation.

Now, each DTA between "Country 1" and "Country 2", be it Germany-Zimbabwe, USA-Timbuktu or Croatia-PNG will have all sorts of bells and whistles and they will differ from DTA to DTA. Certain income items will be taxable in Country 1 and not in Country 2, others will be taxable in Country 2 and not in Country 1 - and yet other items might not be taxable at all.

[Kenneth White]

I have concerns about my Social Security income. This is the first time I have read the double tax agreement, which states that if I live in Thailand for more than 180 days, I am considered a resident and must fill out a tax form. It does not mention paying taxes. I am married to a beautiful Thai lady and have lived here for many years. However, each time I apply for my one-year visa extension, I have never been asked to fill out a tax form. I guess I should continue and not say anything; keep my mouth shut. 

 

I agree with most that this article is a bit ambiguous. 

[Jingthing]

  On 1/15/2025 at 10:27 PM, Sig said:

Can anyone tell me how on earth the act of keeping records can help you avoid an audit? As if they know who is and who isn't keeping records and then they target the ones who aren't keeping records???

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Sounds like that was lost in translation. 

Records don't prevent audits.

Records are to be prepared for them.