Should I do my own tax online or just pay a Thai accountant

[new2here]

For me, I have done it, in-person, at my local RD office.

 

To me fair, I have a rather straight forward return… none the less, I take all my papers; receipts (ex tax withholding forms from banks for interest received), tax withholding certificate from employer, etc 

 

then the staff just “plug in” what data goes where.. I’m usually done in about 15 mins or so. They usually ask some confirming questions; do i have a thai child, am I married etc.. All questions that might impact the final tax calculation.

When done they show me my refund (i commonly get a bit back) and i’m in my way.

 

My personal take here is so long as you don’t have an overly complex return and you generally know what is and is not necessary to report and what can be shown to revenue as a deduction- then i think DIY is very doable but the opposite I think also holds true.. If you’re not familiar with the process , have a more complex return - then a tax pro might be the better way to go 

[Drumbuie]

On 1/23/2025 at 12:13 PM, newbee2022 said:

I posted many details already, because it was my thread. 

To make you wiser: With low income you don't need to pay taxes! 

Under 65 a person can earn 210,000 a year before tax is due on income (60,000 personal allowance plus the first 150,000 is tax free). 

 

Even in Bangkok people doing ordinary jobs don't earn enough to pay tax. THB 10,000 -12,500 a month (120,000- 150,000 a year)  is the sort of wage you'd be paid  in farang-facing hospitality, for example. 

 

It's not really worth the TRD chasing people who are dodging the 5% tax rate on the next tranche of income because it would cost more than it produces in revenues.

 

It's logical to suppose that, after wealthy tax- dodging Thais, relatively high income groups like expats will be next on the TRD's list for investigation. 

 

[oldcpu]

6 minutes ago, Drumbuie said:

 

It's logical to suppose that, after wealthy tax- dodging Thais, relatively high income groups like expats will be next on the TRD's list for investigation. 

 

 

If true, then IMHO it underscores the importance to understand one's own exposure to taxes, and legally manage one's exposure  to try and legally ensure no unnecessary taxation.

 

This IMHO believes on needs to be aware of Thai Revenue Department ministerial directives por.161/162, which when taken together in part states any foreign savings/income from before 1-Jan-2024, if brought into Thailand from 1-Jan-2024 onwards is tax exempt, and not to be included in a Thai tax calculation, and not to be considered assessable income.

 

This will not help those living from pension check to pension check, but it may help those who prior to 1-Jan-2024 held a substantial amount of money outside of Thailand.

 

It also, IMHO underscores the need to understand what is written in the Double Tax Agreement (DTA) between Thailand and the source country of one's foreign income (such as pensions in particular). In some cases only Thailand can tax such foreign pensions. In other cases both countries can tax such foreign pensions (and tax credits become involved), and in other cases Thailand has agreed not to tax such foreign sourced pensions.

 

After por.161.162, it is more important now for one to better understand the implications when bringing foreign funds into Thailand.

[newbee2022]

7 hours ago, Drumbuie said:

Under 65 a person can earn 210,000 a year before tax is due on income (60,000 personal allowance plus the first 150,000 is tax free). 

 

Even in Bangkok people doing ordinary jobs don't earn enough to pay tax. THB 10,000 -12,500 a month (120,000- 150,000 a year)  is the sort of wage you'd be paid  in farang-facing hospitality, for example. 

 

It's not really worth the TRD chasing people who are dodging the 5% tax rate on the next tranche of income because it would cost more than it produces in revenues.

 

It's logical to suppose that, after wealthy tax- dodging Thais, relatively high income groups like expats will be next on the TRD's list for investigation. 

 

And your point is? Can't see it

[Letseng]

On 1/23/2025 at 11:19 AM, advancebooking said:

I think you have no experience of Thailand at all. 

 

We have a business with high level Thai professionals working for us on contract part time. I know for a fact that they do not report income and pay a very small amount of tax. They get away with this for years. In the first week of jan I give them the document of total income for the prior year. But I bet they dont report it. Talked with several of them and they dont care. I stand by my comment that the thai rev dept is hopeless govt department. Look at the thousands of vendors in markets who dont pay a dime of tax. Do you think the workers in 7 11 pay tax haha no way. The list goes on. 

..workers in 7/11...- Do they even earn enough to pay tax? I doubt it. :-))

[skraach]

On 1/22/2025 at 8:36 AM, Mutt Daeng said:

The tax e-Filing home page is at https://efiling.rd.go.th/rd-cms/ 

AFAIK it is Thai language only.

TRD also has a RD Smart Tax app for filing taxes. It used to have an English language option, but the current version is Thai only.

[triplez]

agree with some of the previous posters: 
If its not an overly complicated case, then filing yourself online is relatively straightforward. I have my wife look over my shoulder and confirm when I am not sure what something means.