Transferring Money Into Thailand For Marriage Visa - Tax Issues?

[Eldritch]

Hey guys,

 

I am prepared to transfer money into Thailand for my marriage visa renewal but I am aware there could be new potential tax issues with bringing that much money into Thailand (400,000 baht). Is that the case or will it be no issue?

 

TIA

 

Eldritch

[Upnotover]

It won't be an issue bringing it in but if it's assessable income or not depends on many things.  But won't be anything to worry about, if ever, until 2026.

[DrJack54]

4 hours ago, Eldritch said:

Is that the case or will it be no issue?

This is a tax question/topic. Will move to that forum.

Just my opinion..... ignore tax considerations and go ahead with your plans.

If in the future you find it an issue then change plans according. 

[Eldritch]

1 hour ago, Upnotover said:

It won't be an issue bringing it in but if it's assessable income or not depends on many things.  But won't be anything to worry about, if ever, until 2026.

Thanks for the response Upnotover - the source of the income would be a family loan but I would be repaying it with income from a return on investment. Although I am a UK citizen, I was declaring my tax returns in USA until last year (through owning a single member LLC that has now closed) but this year that will not be the case. I was thinking of registering as a sole proprietor in UK again because I know I have to declare somewhere and although I hoped to register here, it seems completely impractical in my case.

 

With regards to what could happen in 2026, I don't want to simply postpone any issue now to next year. If I transfer the money now, would that probably be the case?

[Eldritch]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

This is a tax question/topic. Will move to that forum.

Just my opinion ignore it and go ahead with your plans.

If in the future you find it an issue then change plans according. 

 

I appreciate the moderation help DrJack54. I would love to just ignore it but if I am taxed on simply bringing money into Thailand rather than based on profits from investment it would be very problematic for me because I am not earning enough to warrant it. It seems to be a bit of a gamble based on limited information and hoping to get some advice about how risky it will be to bring the cash in now.

[bamnutsak]

Assuming you're tax resident in 2025 (180 days), and ALL of the 400,000 is declared (by you) to be "accessible income" I think you might be below the tax-paid threshold, your tax owed would be zero.

 

Would you be remitting other monies?

 

 

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, Eldritch said:

It seems to be a bit of a gamble based on limited information and hoping to get some advice about how risky it will be to bring the cash in now.

If you read the tax threads some run into a hundred pages.

Personally I'm not concerned.

If the tax boggie man comes after me I will deal with that when/if it occurs.

 

All I know is that on  my Superannuation (Oz) stream and my rental incomes ...I pay tax to the AU government every year. 

You mention 400k....why that amount.

How do you plan to live in Thailand.

400k makes it sound like annual extensions based on marriage to Thai national. 

 

[Upnotover]

Chances you have to pay any tax are nil to small, and in any event wouldn't amount to much after allowances are taken. But the chance you will need it for your extension are 100% so seems unless you have an alternative plan you have no option.

[Eldritch]

16 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

Assuming you're tax resident in 2025 (180 days), and ALL of the 400,000 is declared (by you) to be "accessible income" I think you might be below the tax-paid threshold, your tax owed would be zero.

 

Would you be remitting other monies?

 

 

 

I can confirm that ideally I plan to be a tax resident in Thailand in 2025 but that depends on how it could effect me. Thanks for your opinion about what you think my liability would be.

 

Ideally I would like to use the 400,000 to assist in buying a house for me and my wife after its stayed long enough in the bank to fulfil the visa requirements. If so, I would still need to be bringing money into Thailand for the daily expenses though, one way or another.

[Eldritch]

18 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

If you read the tax threads some run into a hundred pages.

Personally I'm not concerned.

If the tax boggie man comes after me I will deal with that when/if it occurs.

 

All I know is that on  my Superannuation (Oz) stream and my rental incomes ...I pay tax to the AU government every year. 

You mention 400k....why that amount.

How do you plan to live in Thailand.

400k makes it sound like annual extensions based on marriage to Thai national. 

 

I've read quite a lot from multiple sources but I have to admit I am still uncertain how it will work out. That is the main reason I am posting now. Not expecting any professional or legal tax advice of course, just hoping to get some opinions from people better informed on the matter than myself.

 

400k is for the annual extension based on marriage to Thai national, correct. 

[Eldritch]

13 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Chances you have to pay any tax are nil to small, and in any event wouldn't amount to much after allowances are taken. But the chance you will need it for your extension are 100% so seems unless you have an alternative plan you have no option.

 

What counts as much is subjective though - even if it was 40,000 baht I would consider that a lot.

 

I do realise I need the money in the bank for my extension but I have other options to consider. Depending on how much the potential taxes are, it might be better for us to travel outside Thailand and become tax residents elsewhere. Not an ideal solution but very fortunately we are in a position where it would be possible. Basically it all comes down to a financial decision over what my taxes would likely be staying here versus the alternative of us travelling and paying elsewhere.

[DrJack54]

11 minutes ago, Eldritch said:

Ideally I would like to use the 400,000 to assist in buying a house for me and my wife after its stayed long enough in the bank to fulfil the visa requirements. If so, I would still need to be bringing money into Thailand for the daily expenses though, one way or another.

That's why I asked about the 400k.

Putting taxation aside for the moment.....after you obtain the 12 month extension those funds can be spent. 

House purchase aside 400k is not a lot of money to support both of you for a year.

Keep in mind the 400k will need to go back into bank account 2 months prior to next extension.

 

Back to taxation issue.....it's not clear where your income comes from and where you are paying taxes and also amount of income. 

4 minutes ago, Eldritch said:

What counts as much is subjective though - even if it was 40,000 baht I would consider that a lot.

I dont find it subjective.

Some think you can live in Thailand with a Thai partner on very little.

In your posts so far you have indicated ".,I would consider that a lot" (400k) 

You also mention a house.

If Thai wife has land (family) then perhaps 400k could be reasonable however very modest. 

 

[Eldritch]

14 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

That's why I asked about the 400k.

Putting taxation aside for the moment.....after you obtain the 12 month extension those funds can be spent. 

House purchase aside 400k is not a lot of money to support both of you for a year.

Keep in mind the 400k will need to go back into bank account 2 months prior to next extension.

 

Back to taxation issue.....it's not clear where your income comes from and where you are paying taxes and also amount of income. 

I dont find it subjective.

Some think you can live in Thailand with a Thai partner on very little.

In your posts so far you have indicated ".,I would consider that a lot" (400k) 

You also mention a house.

If Thai wife has land (family) then perhaps 400k could be reasonable however very modest. 

 

 

I understand you and agree 400k is on the low side for a year's expenditure for living costs but my wife earns around 20k per month to supplement that. I do realise I will need the 400k next time around too.

 

My income comes from digital stocks I am holding and selling when I need to. It isn't worth a great deal and I am trying to make it last as long as possible. I have several other investments but they are not going well and not looking to extract cash from them for the foreseeable future. Moreover, I don't have any employment or regular income from any investment to rely upon.

[DrJack54]

25 minutes ago, Eldritch said:

 

My income comes from digital stocks I am holding and selling when I need to. It isn't worth a great deal and I am trying to make it last as long as possible. I have several other investments but they are not going well and not looking to extract cash from them for the foreseeable future. Moreover, I don't have any employment or regular income from any investment to rely upon

I have zero qualifications to advise.

Sounds though you are not paying taxes in any particular country.

With respect, your income does not seem to be strong. 

Taxation on income you indicate may be little. That would not be my main concern.

 

Off topic: however you could possibly be eligible for a DTV in category of online work.

Check it out and see if it's useful.

Again unrelated (directly) I suggest you defer the house build till such time as your income is more clear. 

[DrJack54]

Some off topic posts removed along with replies

[Srikcir]

22 hours ago, Eldritch said:

I would be repaying it with income from a return on investment.

If you're paying income tax in the UK then the Double Taxation Treaty will likely shelter you from any Thai income tax, apart from possible being below Thai taxable income levels and not breaching the 180 days residence requirement.

[Presnock]

21 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

That's why I asked about the 400k.

Putting taxation aside for the moment.....after you obtain the 12 month extension those funds can be spent. 

House purchase aside 400k is not a lot of money to support both of you for a year.

Keep in mind the 400k will need to go back into bank account 2 months prior to next extension.

 

Back to taxation issue.....it's not clear where your income comes from and where you are paying taxes and also amount of income. 

I dont find it subjective.

Some think you can live in Thailand with a Thai partner on very little.

In your posts so far you have indicated ".,I would consider that a lot" (400k) 

You also mention a house.

If Thai wife has land (family) then perhaps 400k could be reasonable however very modest. 

 

In any case, who knows what the tax situation might be  for this current year.  The Thai revenue dept has not even done all it could for 2024 let alone advise folks about what MIGHT be around next yeat.  Many folks have been making guesses about 2024 tax situations but anyway, you should plan according to what your own financial system needs versus about opinions of this forums users though Drjack54 can accurately steer you about some situations here

[sirhowie]

With the greatest respect you don't appear to be solvent enough to move to Thailand your tax Burdon I think is the least of your worries .

even a modest house with land would cost 1 million baht . So I would look for a plan B

[DrJack54]

25 minutes ago, sirhowie said:

With the greatest respect you don't appear to be solvent enough to move to Thailand your tax Burdon I think is the least of your worries .

Thinking you expressed that very succinctly. 

The OP seems to be underestimating ongoing costs of living in Thailand.

There are always the curve balls such as unexpected medical etc

 

 

 

 

[Chongalulu]

On 2/10/2025 at 7:47 AM, DrJack54 said:

This is a tax question/topic. Will move to that forum.

Just my opinion..... ignore tax considerations and go ahead with your plans.

If in the future you find it an issue then change plans according. 

You mean get divorced...? 😉 

[DrJack54]

3 hours ago, Chongalulu said:

You mean get divorced...? 😉 

Actually the opposite. 

 

Having a Thai wife often means  having a Thai family. The wife's parents. Siblings etc.

Mine field.

 

The curve ball I referred to was based on own experience. 

Never been ill. Never stayed in a hospital then Wham hip replacement 400k +.

Things go wrong. 

The OP seems almost skint.

[Eldritch]

 

On 2/10/2025 at 10:31 AM, DrJack54 said:

I have zero qualifications to advise.

Sounds though you are not paying taxes in any particular country.

With respect, your income does not seem to be strong. 

Taxation on income you indicate may be little. That would not be my main concern.

 

Off topic: however you could possibly be eligible for a DTV in category of online work.

Check it out and see if it's useful.

Again unrelated (directly) I suggest you defer the house build till such time as your income is more clear. 

 

I was paying taxes up until and including 2024. For this year I need to pay them here or elsewhere - ideally it would here but doing so in UK might be more sensible.

 

I appreciate the advice about the DTV but not an option I want to pursue because I want to live with my wife here.

 

I prefer not to engage on the other points but appreciate the advice all the same.

[Eldritch]

8 hours ago, Srikcir said:

If you're paying income tax in the UK then the Double Taxation Treaty will likely shelter you from any Thai income tax, apart from possible being below Thai taxable income levels and not breaching the 180 days residence requirement.

 

Assuming I am declaring my tax returns in UK, can you explain more about how that would work with regards to being below the Thai taxable incomes levels? I assume you mean I will not be staying here for 180 days or more a year but I do plan to.

[Eldritch]

6 hours ago, sirhowie said:

With the greatest respect you don't appear to be solvent enough to move to Thailand your tax Burdon I think is the least of your worries .

even a modest house with land would cost 1 million baht . So I would look for a plan B

 

I can understand how it would appear like that and appreciate the advice based on that.

[khunPer]

On 2/9/2025 at 10:25 PM, Eldritch said:

I am prepared to transfer money into Thailand for my marriage visa renewal but I am aware there could be new potential tax issues with bringing that much money into Thailand (400,000 baht). Is that the case or will it be no issue?

If you stay less than 180 days combined in Thailand during 2025, it's not a problem. Nor if you can prove the funds are savings from before 2024.

If you stay 180 days or longer, you shall check the DTA beyween your home country and Thailand. If the funds are earned after 1st January 2024 and already taxed, it might be covered by a DTA.

 

If the fund are taxable in Thailand, it will be a minor abount, as you have a personal deduction of 60,000 baht and the first 150,000 baht income is not taxable. Income tax of 400,000 baht will be 17,500 baht (i.e., 7,500 baht of the first 300,000 baht and 10% of the remaining part).