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

[topt]

53 minutes ago, roobaa01 said:

Gday

Story from Pattaya 

Went on thuesday to the revenue office with my bank statements and books. I had thb 299000 transferred acc. to my statements and the 800000 in my second book for the annual extension. I transferred the THB 800 k in 2023. I asked the officer for a tax accessment. The officer came up with THB 5000 in income tax. I disputed the amount for I pointed out I'm pensioner 65 plus hence to be entitled to at least tax rebates THB 560k. That was denied for I was advised that also the 800 k are taxable? I left advising I would seek a second opinion.

 

Wbr

Roobaa01

Why did you need to show him the 800k?

If transferred in 2023 it would have been taxable in 2024 if at all so did he say you needed to do a late tax return........

If only transferred 299k why go at all?

If you already have a TIN you could file online.

[JimGant]

50 minutes ago, roobaa01 said:

Went on thuesday to the revenue office with my bank statements and books.

Why? It sounds like you were well aware of your 560k TEDA/150 freebie -- and that you owed no taxes. Was it because you had assessable remitted income that exceeded one of those arbitrary 60/120/220 thresholds?

 

Anyway, your report is just one more that points out that, since Por 161/162, there has been no remedial training at TRD facilities. Thus, since most agents have never heard of a DTA, an expat's self-assessment on taxes -- to include knowledge of their specific DTA and Por 162 application -- will be more accurate than that of your average TRD agent. And, in your case, the agent was even stupid about allowances and deductions.

 

So, with all these reports of dumbed-down TRD offices, why file a tax return if you know you don't owe any taxes? And even if you exceed one of those 60/120/220k thresholds, according to Integrity Legal/Benjamin Hart, there's nothing in the Code explicit to these -- so no enforcement. Thus, nothing is going to happen to you -- if you owe no taxes and therefore don't file a null tax return. And for SURE, you don't need a piece of paper to wave at Immigration stating you've filed a tax return.

[MartinL]

1 hour ago, roobaa01 said:

Gday

Story from Pattaya 

Went on thuesday to the revenue office with my bank statements and books. I had thb 299000 transferred acc. to my statements and the 800000 in my second book for the annual extension. I transferred the THB 800 k in 2023. I asked the officer for a tax accessment. The officer came up with THB 5000 in income tax. I disputed the amount for I pointed out I'm pensioner 65 plus hence to be entitled to at least tax rebates THB 560k. That was denied for I was advised that also the 800 k are taxable? I left advising I would seek a second opinion.

 

Wbr

Roobaa01

The interest on the 800,000 ฿ in a savings account will be taxable but if it's in a Thai savings account, the 15% withholding tax will already have been debited and your bank book will prove that. In fact, you'll likely be due a refund on at least some of that WHT since your 299,000 ฿ won't bring you into the 15% tax band even in the worst case. Looks like another clueless local official.

[Hamus Yaigh]

58 minutes ago, topt said:

If only transferred 299k why go at all?

+1 Makes no sense why anyone would go.

[redwood1]

6 hours ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

+1 Makes no sense why anyone would go.

 

Like I have posted before some people are just desperate to pay taxes....Whether they owe taxes or not, does not matter to them.........And they will not take, No for an answer.......

Maybe even going so far as going to multiple tax offices to find one who will let the obsessed with paying farang pay..

 

 

[Expat68]

Just came back from my local Revenue Office. Took with me everything which I needed. The lady looked at everything but obviously was not 100% certain on the matter. She went to get her superior. Superior asked me several questions.

Which country do you get your income paid? Do you work in Thailand? Do you pay tax on your income in the UK? Do you have evidence that you pay tax in the UK? After answering the questions and providing evidence, the lady informed me that there is no need to fill a tax form in Thailand. If I decided to change and pay tax on my UK income in Thailand then I would need to fill in a form. So for me until there is a clear instruction I will just carry on as normal 

[Expat68]

Just came back from my local Revenue Office. Took with me everything which I needed. The lady looked at everything but obviously was not 100% certain on the matter. She went to get her superior. Superior asked me several questions.

Which country do you get your income paid? Do you work in Thailand? Do you pay tax on your income in the UK? Do you have evidence that you pay tax in the UK? After answering the questions and providing evidence, the lady informed me that there is no need to fill a tax form in Thailand. If I decided to change and pay tax on my UK income in Thailand then I would need to fill in a form. So for me until there is a clear instruction I will just carry on as normal 

[Badrabbit]

22 hours ago, Expat68 said:

Just came back from my local Revenue Office. Took with me everything which I needed. The lady looked at everything but obviously was not 100% certain on the matter. She went to get her superior. Superior asked me several questions.

Which country do you get your income paid? Do you work in Thailand? Do you pay tax on your income in the UK? Do you have evidence that you pay tax in the UK? After answering the questions and providing evidence, the lady informed me that there is no need to fill a tax form in Thailand. If I decided to change and pay tax on my UK income in Thailand then I would need to fill in a form. So for me until there is a clear instruction I will just carry on as normal 

I've been told this on 4 separate occasions by my local tax office.

 

[JimGant]

1 hour ago, Badrabbit said:

I've been told this on 4 separate occasions by my local tax office.

You went 4 times to your tax office -- just to have it confirmed that you owe no taxes? Hopefully your trips were to get a refund on tax withholdings on your bank interest........

[Badrabbit]

4 hours ago, JimGant said:

You went 4 times to your tax office -- just to have it confirmed that you owe no taxes? Hopefully your trips were to get a refund on tax withholdings on your bank interest........

No idea what you are talking about.

[rattlesnake]

On 3/19/2025 at 7:37 AM, Expat68 said:

Just came back from my local Revenue Office. Took with me everything which I needed. The lady looked at everything but obviously was not 100% certain on the matter. She went to get her superior. Superior asked me several questions.

Which country do you get your income paid? Do you work in Thailand? Do you pay tax on your income in the UK? Do you have evidence that you pay tax in the UK? After answering the questions and providing evidence, the lady informed me that there is no need to fill a tax form in Thailand. If I decided to change and pay tax on my UK income in Thailand then I would need to fill in a form. So for me until there is a clear instruction I will just carry on as normal 

 

As expected, they don't have the remotest idea how to begin addressing this issue and it is simply never going to happen.

[motdaeng]

1 minute ago, rattlesnake said:

As expected, they don't have the remotest idea how to begin addressing this issue and it is simply never going to happen.

 

sorry, i'm not a visa expert. there are different visas for foreigners, like work visas, business owner visas, digital nomad visas, etc. but how are these foreigners "encouraged" (or forced) to file their tax returns?

[rattlesnake]

11 minutes ago, motdaeng said:

 

sorry, i'm not a visa expert. there are different visas for foreigners, like work visas, business owner visas, digital nomad visas, etc. but how are these foreigners "encouraged" (or forced) to file their tax returns?

 

Working visas are another issue altogether.

 

What I am 99% sure is never going to happen is that every foreigner residing here more than 180 days is going to be explicitly required to file a tax return, let alone pay a single baht. Even if the Thai authorities manage to actually implement and enforce this mammoth task, the resulting discontent and capital flight, combined with the loss of face when neighbouring countries are publicly shown as better alternatives to Thailand, will cause such exponential and inextricable problems that they will immediately drop it and sweep it under the carpet.