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

[White Rabbit]

On 1/16/2025 at 7:57 AM, Ben Zioner said:

This will be my policy now. Just hope LTR lasts until I die, 4 or 5 years hopefully, as 77/78 would be a nice age to go.

 

I would then be proud of having limited my  IT to 4 or 5 % of my life's income. Which is everyone's duty: keep the basturds honest.

Ya can make it to 88 and it's a lucky number.

[Ben Zioner]

2 minutes ago, White Rabbit said:

Ya can make it to 88 and it's a lucky number.

Nope, my prognosis is based on medical facts, not stats. 

[The Cyclist]

12 minutes ago, oldcpu said:

Not entirely - but there is nothing in CRS rules about requiring countries to report individual's global income

 

Bingo.

 

and another thought before I head off to the Hospital.

 

Did the New interpretation of the rules, the issuance of POR 161 / 162, not move Thailand to a defacto worldwide taxation policy, albiet, still with some exemptions?

[oldcpu]

On 1/16/2025 at 7:57 AM, Ben Zioner said:

This will be my policy now. Just hope LTR lasts until I die, 4 or 5 years hopefully, as 77/78 would be a nice age to go.

 

 

We are hoping you can last much longer with a very healthy and mobile life - and able to enjoy and appreciate the great things in life.

 

I suspect (possibly like you) that when the 10 years of my LTR is over , and if LTR still available, I need to decide:  do I go for another 10 years, or simply revert back to a Type-O (with annual extensions) ?  Possibly by then an agent will appeal to me more which will drive up the Type-O annual extension costs, and I may still stay with the LTR visa.  ...  Taxation may also be an issue then, although that is far in the future, and given TIT, who knows?

[Ben Zioner]

On 1/16/2025 at 7:59 AM, SportRider said:

ATM cards will at some time be included (but not yet implemented AFAIK). 

 

Credit cards not included (and may be too complicated). 

Not complicated at all. Only needs computing power, which becomes cheaper every day.

[Yumthai]

9 minutes ago, oldcpu said:

Not entirely - but there is nothing in CRS rules about requiring countries to report individual's global income.  Further, CRS rules even exempt government regulated accounts for individuals.

Please elaborate.

CRS rules apply to FIs. FIs (may) try to make their customers comply with what CRS require them.

Individuals are free to comply or not (with/without consequences) with their FIs policy/requirements.  

[oldcpu]

3 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

Bingo.

 

and another thought before I head off to the Hospital.

 

Did the New interpretation of the rules, the issuance of POR 161 / 162, not move Thailand to a defacto worldwide taxation policy, albiet, still with some exemptions?

 

No Paw.161/162 did not do such.  Those documents only refer to income remitted into Thailand, with 1-Jan-2024 being a demarcation date.

 

There is no Thailand tax on global income if not remitted to Thailand.  Further, there is no requirement by Thailand to list global income due to CRS requirements, despite what some on this forum inaccurately post.

.

[watchcat]

Does pension  count as overseas income?

[oldcpu]

3 minutes ago, Yumthai said:

Please elaborate.

CRS rules apply to FIs. FIs (may) try to make their customers comply with what CRS require them.

Individuals are free to comply or not (with/without consequences) with their FIs policy/requirements.  

 

For example, both the Thailand and Canada faq on CRS implementation aspects for their countries, while noting in general that Financial Institutions accounts for individuals need to be reported to OECD per CRS, also note that government regulated accounts are not reported to CRS. 

 

For example such government regulated accounts in Canada include (but are not restricted to) Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) and Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs). Money in RRSPs and RRIFs are allowed to grow tax free by Canadian law.  However when one is taking money out of the RRIFs and RRSPs, one must then pay tax to Canada on such withdrawals, and one must file a Canadian Income tax return.

 

The Thailand FAQ re: CRS also notes Thailand government regulated funds for individuals are not reported to CRS.

[White Rabbit]

12 hours ago, oldcpu said:

 

I hear you ...  i read what you note.  But I think we both know the current practice is different in cases involving some foreigners.

 

My wife had the view (likely incorrect) that I needed a TIN even thou my income not assessable.  I did not know what was correct.

 

She applied online for a tax ID for me (via some Thai language site).  She had to upload my passport, pink-ID, etc ... and provided other information on me.

 

This goes to the Central RD office in Bangkok.  Guess what they do?  .... I'll tell you.  They pass the application to Phuket RD.

 

What did Phuket RD do?  They called my wife and I up on the phone (my wife answered and talked to them).  They noted they would not give me a tax ID even thou  I was spending > 180 days in Thailand (closer to 300 days per year in Thailand) as I was not remitting income to Thailand.  But ... but ...  but what about "CRS" that some post on-and-on-and-on about (not you posting that - granted). It was never mentioned.  I don't think the Phuket RD (to which Bangkok RD delegated this to) cares less about CRS for individuals.

 

So ?   Bangkok RD passes this to the local office to decide.

 

I don't dispute what you typed ... but the facts are also that neither the HQ Bangkok RD nor the local provincial RD will provide myself tax-ID at this time.

 

I am not saying do not file an income tax return nor am I saying don't go try to get a Thai TIN.  I am saying I tried and failed (with full disclosure to them as to my finances).

 

Everyone needs to decide on their own approach.

 

I just play super safe - stayed 172 days and on a LTR WP visa. Am I super paranoid?

 

BTW: I wouldn't mind to pay some taxes but fed up filling out forms and undressing myself outside the bedroom. Understandable at my age. 😉

Thailand would be well advised to levy a flat tax per head of 3000.- USD or so. In return we'd get a proper tax residence/TIN - can be useful should our home countries/other institutions demand such.

That might not be in line with OECD regulations but then who cares? Thailand can safely ignore. 

 

(Joining the OECD with its agenda of creating worldwide bureaucracies which Thailand obviously aims to really has no advantages except perceived prestige. However, with Trump I don't think the OECD has a bright future anyway. He doesn't favour worldwide regulations and rightly so. The Chinese will never join as secrecy culturally always trumps transparency for them.)

[oldcpu]

16 minutes ago, watchcat said:

Does pension  count as overseas income?

 

 If the pension comes from overseas, then I would say yes. 

 

In the case of Thailand, my understanding is 'pensions' are treated as 'income'. 

 

Although having typed that, note that Thai Tax code article 42 lists exempt income that is not to be included in tax calculations,  where income exempt due to ministerial regulations are not to be included in Thai tax calculations.  One the needs to accurately assess if their overseas income (in particular pensions) are exempt due to Thai ministerial regulations. In some  cases they are exempt, in other cases they are not exempt.

 

For example, Canada's DTA (Double Tax Agreement) with Thailand states  Canada has exclusive taxation rights on Canadian pensions (for Canadian pension receipt by those who are tax residents of Thailand).  In contrast, German's DTA with Thailand states Thailand has exclusive taxation rights on German pensions (for German pension receipt by those who are residents of Thailand).

 

There are of course other relevant ministerial regulations.

[oldcpu]

20 minutes ago, White Rabbit said:

I just play super safe - stayed 172 days and on a LTR WP visa. Am I super paranoid?

 

I don't think you are paranoid.  In my case, I previous planned for such an eventuality as this 'uncertainty' period, and while a non-resident moved a fair amount of money to Thailand, which can pay for my lifestyle here for a few years without replenishment.

 

So at present I remit no money to Thailand.

 

I am also on an LTR visa.

 

and I reside here for just under 300 days per taxation year.

 

 

20 minutes ago, White Rabbit said:

Thailand would be well advised to levy a flat tax per head of 3000.- USD or so. In return we'd get a proper tax residence/TIN - can be useful should our home countries/other institutions demand such.

 

Speak for yourself. I am not keen on paying $3000 USD in Thailand taxes - given I not need legally pay any to Thailand in the current circumstances.   I have invested in Thailand (condo , Thai government bonds) and I pay Thailand VAT.

 

20 minutes ago, White Rabbit said:

That might not be in line with OECD regulations but then who cares? Thailand can safely ignore. 

 

(Joining the OECD with its agenda of creating worldwide bureaucracies which Thailand obviously aims to really has no advantages except perceived prestige. However, with Trump I don't think the OECD has a bright future anyway. He doesn't favour worldwide regulations and rightly so. The Chinese will never join as secrecy culturally always trumps transparency for them.)

 

A lot of the posts here on this forum about OECD CRS requirements are unfounded scare mongering.  Best to conduct one's own research and not believe the scaremongering posts.

.

 

[Yumthai]

3 minutes ago, oldcpu said:

For example, both the Thailand and Canada faq on CRS implementation aspects for their countries, while noting in general that Financial Institutions accounts for individuals need to be reported to OECD per CRS, also note that government regulated accounts are not reported to CRS. 

 

For example such government regulated accounts in Canada include (but are not restricted to) Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) and Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs). Money in RRSPs and RRIFs are allowed to grow tax free by Canadian law.  However when one is taking money out of the RRIFs and RRSPs, one must then pay tax to Canada on such withdrawals, and one must file a Canadian Income tax return.

 

The Thailand FAQ re: CRS also notes Thailand government regulated funds for individuals are not reported to CRS.

Sure. My point is Financial Institutions may incur legal penalties for non-compliance with the CRS regulations, individuals not.

Individuals won't face legal penalties either, other than possibly account restrictions/closure, for not willing to file the CRS form presented by their banks. Therefore, individuals are not required to directly/strictly comply with CRS.

[oldcpu]

10 minutes ago, Yumthai said:

Sure. My point is Financial Institutions may incur legal penalties for non-compliance with the CRS regulations, individuals not.

Individuals won't face legal penalties either, other than possibly account restrictions/closure, for not willing to file the CRS form presented by their banks. Therefore, individuals are not required to directly/strictly comply with CRS.

 

Well ... individuals face no fines from CRS.  That doesn't mean that national governments could then not fine individuals.

 

I believe CRS requirements will be flowed down to the national level , and fines structured accordingly.

 

Having typed that, don't believe the scaremongering hype of some about what CRS demands. Such hype is unfounded opinion, and when asked for official OECD references they don't post any.  Why? Because there is none - and its easier for them to post unfounded scare mongering.

[The Cyclist]

Mr Hart's latest video

 

 

 

Are the IRS Agents that he mentions, here at the invitation of the Thai Government ?
 

I have no doubts that there is agents of the OECD here in Thailand, advising and directing at the top levels.

 

But honestly folks, its all fake news, scaremongering, and people posting on forums, apparently pushing agendas, and nothing will be changing in Thailand.

[oldcpu]

8 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

Mr Hart's latest video

 

 

 

Are the IRS Agents that he mentions, here at the invitation of the Thai Government ?
 

I have no doubts that there is agents of the OECD here in Thailand, advising and directing at the top levels.

 

But honestly folks, its all fake news, scaremongering, and people posting on forums, apparently pushing agendas, and nothing will be changing in Thailand.

 

A Benjamin Hart opinion video on American taxation.   Hah !!

 

Aside from the American's - who  cares? Further, note one of the very first word from him is that this is an opinion video.

 

My view - is if not an American, don't waste one second of your time watching such - and second for the Americans, note the video source - and then search this forum to understand the view of many on this forum in regards to posts from that source.

 

 

 

 

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, watchcat said:

Does pension  count as overseas income?

Only if accessable AND remitted (as per your DTA). 

Otherwise of no interest to Thai revenue.