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

[saintdomingo]

On 1/16/2025 at 4:03 PM, MikeandDow said:

There are always way around Tax laws in every country !! whether or not its illegal!!, Thai laws are the same always loop holes.!! me dont trust banks here!  dont do bank tranfers, deal in cash !! bring cash  into thailand  You can bring up to $20,000 USD or the equivalent in foreign currency into Thailand without declaring it to customs. You can also bring up to 500,000 Thai baht (THB) into the country.  I work FIFO every trip do the same been doing it for 15yrs  the old phrase "Money under the bed" works for me ( Iam a poor pensioner )

And then when you change the US$ is there no record from the currency exchange.? And at what rate would you buy THB outside Thailand.?

The first point would only be relevant if visas and extensions become conditional on tax clearance. FIFO is a new one to me.

[saintdomingo]

1 hour ago, Badrabbit said:

Is it now law that I must file a tax return?

Is it law that I must obtain a TIN?

I'm a little fish in a big sea, I bring in less than 1 million per year via 3 small pensions, I pay tax in the UK.

Why would they be concerned with me?

Agree with you, but think the question should be "will they be concerned with me.?" If the task of seeking out people is more trouble than is justified by the amount collected they may not be concerned with the likes of us.

[saintdomingo]

5 hours ago, Jingthing said:

60k single

120k married

Isn't there another allowance for over 65.?

[wmccpa112253]

Please provide a reference to your claim that intl. credit card charges are taxable if converted to thai baht.  Specifically, please reference the Thai tax code section 40 which details Assessible Income.

Thank you

[The Cyclist]

42 minutes ago, DUNROAMIN said:

If this all true I guess I'll be up for back taxes after living here for 9 years with no tax file number. If this government starts taxing pensioners it will be another item to tip the scales for leaving Thailand.

 

Highly unlikely, as this is only effective 01 Jan 2024.

 

[anchadian]

20 minutes ago, saintdomingo said:

Isn't there another allowance for over 65.?

Yes, 190K for over 65 years

[suzannegoh]

On 1/15/2025 at 10:36 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?

It wouldn't  be to your advantage to do that,you'll just pay an extra 3 to 5% for nothing.

[MikeandDow]

1 hour ago, saintdomingo said:

And then when you change the US$ is there no record from the currency exchange.? And at what rate would you buy THB outside Thailand.?

The first point would only be relevant if visas and extensions become conditional on tax clearance. FIFO is a new one to me.

I normally buy Thai baht at a bank  at the country i am working at,  who cares if there is a record Thailand will not know !! If this is Tied to visas their will be ways and means,  Thailand is a courpt country. FIFO  (Fly in Fly out) 

[DaRoadrunner]

On 1/15/2025 at 8:04 PM, Briggsy said:

What would be the incentive to file?

 

Let me give you some completely hypothetical examples.

 

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

2. They issue an estimated assessment for a year you did not file.

3. They issue a fine for a year you did not file.

4. The Thai bank freezes your bank account unless you provide proof you have filed a tax return.

 

Currently these all seem very unlikely.

 

So I am back to my original question, what would be the incentive to file a Thai tax return.

 

They start doing s**t like that its bye bye Thailand.

 

Furthermore, if they think they have any authority to tax my foreign pension I will tell em where to shove it.

 

At the moment it looks like they haven't got a clue what they are going to do. Wait n see.

[it is what it is]

1 minute ago, DaRoadrunner said:

 

They start doing s**t like that its bye bye Thailand. Furthermore, if they think they have any authority to tax my foreign pension I will tell em where to shove it.

 

They start doing s**t like that its bye bye Thailand.

 

no problem, up to you

 

Furthermore, if they think they have any authority to tax my foreign pension I will tell em where to shove it.

 

good luck with that. i bet they're quaking in their boots

[MikeandDow]

6 minutes ago, DaRoadrunner said:

 

They start doing s**t like that its bye bye Thailand.

 

Furthermore, if they think they have any authority to tax my foreign pension I will tell em where to shove it.

 

At the moment it looks like they haven't got a clue what they are going to do. Wait n see.

They have the Authority to revoke your visa !!

[Jingthing]

2 hours ago, saintdomingo said:

Isn't there another allowance for over 65.?

You're thinking of something else.

I'm talking about the very low thresholds that require FILING.

Many people are required to file that will owe zero tax.

[TheAppletons]

2 hours ago, saintdomingo said:

Isn't there another allowance for over 65.?

 

a) Personal Allowance for self (PA1) - 60,000 

b) Personal Allowance for wife (PA2) - 60,000 

c) Over age 65 years exemption (OAE) - 190,000 

d) 50% of pension income received, up to 100k (PD) - 100,000 

e) In addition, the first 150,000 of assessable income is zero rated and free of tax (ZR)  

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1324294-introduction-to-personal-income-tax-in-thailand/#comments

 

[ross163103]

Just my two cents worth, but I think the Thai govt is pushing this issue hoping farangs will get a TIN, file taxes, and pay voluntarily, which some will do.

What I've learned from many many years in Thailand is Thai people want things easy not complicated. Seems to me this is a very complicated issue that will take a LOT of research, time, and effort on the government's part; just one example being trying to figure out charges on a credit card made in Thailand!

Personally I'm going to wait until if/when it's linked to me getting a visa then reevaluate the situation if that happens. As one poster mentioned, Thailand has LOT'S of laws, how many are enforced? It's a gamble I'm willing to take, maybe I lose maybe I win, you never know. Mai pen rai

[Neeranam]

On 1/15/2025 at 8:04 PM, Briggsy said:

Let me give you some completely hypothetical examples.

 

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

2. They issue an estimated assessment for a year you did not file.

3. They issue a fine for a year you did not file.

4. The Thai bank freezes your bank account unless you provide proof you have filed a tax return.

 

Currently these all seem very unlikely.

The more I think about, these different departments don't like dealing with each other. In Thailand, every official has their own little kingdom and when head of other little kingdoms encroach upon theirs, there is conflict, partly based on the strict hierarchical social structure but also on Thais' non-confrontational 'rules'. 

For many years, the Dept of Labour refused to tell the Dept of Immigration if someone handed back their WP, for example. Laziness, shyness, and most importantly, "greng jai", not wanting to put other people 'out' by giving them extra work/headache, etc.

Immigration were clever and employee many agents to take the bribes from foreigners, whom they don't particularly like dealing with, especially in areas of 'Thainess'. I could list many more example, like the Special Branch police not wanting to talk to the Ministry of Interior when I became a Thai citizen. This, like many other things was due to the Military govt, and especially the great General Anupong cracking down on police corruption. 

All departments are corrupt, and have their own rules, so the likelihood of Bank officials liaising with Immigration or Revenue Department is highly unlikely, but... there is an opportunity for them all to make money off the naive foreigners who will eagerly giving in to intimidation or extortion(particularly from the highly corrupt Immigration Police) by any one of the departments, who will use agent scum to do their dirty work. As we see, the foreign charlatans, who are working illegally if giving Thai tax advice and the agents are starting to rise from the bottom of the pond.