What are your experiences with the new tax laws?????

[Hummin]

33 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

The bottom line, according to what the TRD has said so far, is to avoid being classified as a resident of Thailand for tax purposes, you must be present in the Kingdom 180 days or more. So 7 months would be over the limit, unless you can dip in an out for a couple of weeks at a time during the 7 months and avoid residencey classification. Basically, we are all waiting to see what happens - it's not clear yet about what is going to be assessible income - just remittances as is the case now, or your global income. The latter is pretty stupid - I'd call it the 'widow maker'.

I'm already coming and going, and for the last two years stayed less than 6 months already, so I have already decided to escape an eventually forced taxation by Thailand. My banks have also been at me the last two years to verify my standing when it comes to where I actually lives, and I had to get verification of my adress in Norway as well. 

 

However I plan to create a new bank account, an safety account if something happens in Europe the next decade. 

 

Constantly reminded of war with Russia, and latest reports we got 5 years to prepare for war. That's why

[oldcpu]

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

I didn't pay previously tax on transfers from savings, but now I want to have a reserve here. 

 

Next question

I transfer this year, stay 5 months. Next year I'm staying 7 months? I'm off the hook then? 

 

Someone must know for Eu countries, efta, Nordic or Norway.

 

Sending money to Thailand, when not  a Thai tax resident, should not be an issue (i.e. only in Thailand for 5-months).

 

However when you are a Thai tax resident (ie in Thailand for 180 days or more),  any money remitted into Thailand ,

-  if not tax exempt by specific words in a DTA (reference Royal-Decree-18), or

- if not tax exempt by an LTR Visa (reference Royal Decree 743), or

- if not tax exempt  by being pre-1-Jan-2024 savings (reference ministerial instructions por-161/162),

then as a Thailand tax resident you are subject to Thailand tax on that assessable income if it meets the tax threshold.

 

If the money you plan to remit is not exempt tax due to what I noted above, then to reduce your Thailand taxation exposure, its best to transfer money to Thailand when you are NOT a Thai Tax resident.

 

That's my understanding, but note I am not a taxation expert.

 

Honestly , some of the videos of those who claim to be tax/advisors/experts, are a bit questionable at certain specific locations in the videos, as efforts are being made to better understand the full implications of por-161/162 in relation to tax residency and DTAs.  Even some local Thai RD taxation offices are challenged here , given there are many different Double Tax Agreements.

 

 

 

[NoDisplayName]

On 2/11/2025 at 12:01 AM, chang50 said:

I only went to get a TIN with a yearly bank statement as they had earlier requested and somehow ended up filing a return!The tax officer started to fill it in without me even realising what was happening

I'm afraid that's on you.

 

Why din't you just say "I'm not ready to file yet, I'm waiting for more bank statements to arrive by post.  I still have until end of March, but thanks so much for the offer to help."

 

Then go home and have your Thai wife submit a joint filing online.

 

You only declare assessable remittances, so you don't need supporting documentation for exempt income or prior savings.  You would  have them available at home in your files in the very, very unlikely event you were asked to provide them.

[NoDisplayName]

On 2/10/2025 at 4:56 PM, jingjai9 said:

How long did it take for the Department of Revenue to process you tax forms and give you a receipt?

 

Filed online.  After I hit the "submit" button, processing took about 30 seconds.  Immediately downloaded a copy of the return, couple days later logged on to check status, saw approved, downloaded receipt.

[NoDisplayName]

10 hours ago, NE1 said:

 

Did you have to provide a Marriage certificate , or is the wife's I.D. card sufficient for proof of marriage ?

 

Filed a joint return online.  Received a text message to upload a copy of marriage certificate.

[oldcpu]

16 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

Filed a joint return online.  Received a text message to upload a copy of marriage certificate.

 

Thanks.

 

Unless one has been following this forum in detail,  it's difficult for others to assess how similar or how different  their tax return filing requirements situation is from yours.

[paddypower]

9 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

From the various threads running on this topic, the consensus seems to be don't make waves and whatever you do, don't visit your local tax office!

aka ''keep your head down''

[topt]

2 hours ago, Hummin said:

Quick hypothetical question

 

I want to transfer 1,2 million in to my bank account tomorow from my savings, and I am going to stay 7 months this year.

 

I am obligated to pay tax this year?

Simple answer is no because if you transfer this year you do not do the return until next year - 2026.........

 

More detail - Depends - if this is "savings" (cash in the bank) from pre Dec 31st 2023 and you can prove that then under the 162 or whatever it was they added after the main change then that is considered exempt or non assessable so no tax.

However it is unclear if money in other types of accounts (brokerage etc) are also included as their is currently a difference of opinion over this.

[DaRoadrunner]

5 hours ago, CK1980 said:

As for the DTA, there seems to be a bit of confusion. As far as I can work out, you are legally required to pay tax in your tax resident country, if you stay in Thailand over 180 days you are considered a tax resident and it is here that you must pay tax. The DTA will stop you from paying tax in the country that you are not in (or at least not in for 180 days per year). So, if you are getting paid by a UK company but stay in Thailand for over 180 days then you pay tax in Thailand and the DTA will avoid paying tax in the UK. I may be wrong.

 

This document seems to support this:

https://iao.bangkok.go.th/storage/files/Personal Income Tax.pdf

 

This document is also useful for working out deductions:

file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/TAX/Thailand%20-%20Individual%20-%20Deductions.html

 

Fine if we only have to pay tax in Thailand and NOT in our country of origin. Never gonna happen

[ukrules]

6 hours ago, topt said:

However it is unclear if money in other types of accounts (brokerage etc) are also included as their is currently a difference of opinion over this.

 

Is it unclear?

 

If you sell shares into cash in a brokerage account that is a taxable event even if you never withdraw the resulting funds.

The taxable event is selling the shares, it's then currency - the type of account the currency is sitting in is mere window dressing.....

Lets say you did this in the US, you're getting taxed every time you sell those shares if there's any profit, same everywhere. Except Thailand ironically as they don't appear to tax SET trades...

[UKresonant]

12 hours ago, Hummin said:

Quick hypothetical question

 

I want to transfer 1,2 million in to my bank account tomorow from my savings, and I am going to stay 7 months this year.

 

I am obligated to pay tax this year?

Your savings were not generated (from  assessable) whilst Thai Tax resident? Or are from before 1st Jan 2024 (POR 162)

Savings are capital only not comingled with interest payment (particularly interest paid whilst Thai Tax resident)? 

 

Hypothetically you should not need to file in 2026 Q1 for these savings remitted, but would need to keep the paper trail.

[wimpy]

17 hours ago, Presnock said:

Now the US is changing some tax laws so that those Americans being tax resident in foreign  countries can opt out of US taxes and just pay Thailand or whatever country they are there as a tax resident.

Do you have a source for this? Have not heard about it.

[chang50]

14 hours ago, nauseus said:

Did you get a receipt?

Yes.

[Presnock]

34 minutes ago, wimpy said:

Do you have a source for this? Have not heard about it.

You can write to American Citizens Abroad for some info or to the Inernal Revenue Service (IRS) of the US about taxing of US citizens living abroad.

https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/get-help/international/tax-response-of-citizen-resident-aliens-living-abroad/ I am a member of the ACA so get regular emails about any issues Congress is working on.  anyone can join.

[1happykamper]

New tax law? I never knew 😎✌️

[henryford1958]

16 hours ago, CK1980 said:

As for the DTA, there seems to be a bit of confusion. As far as I can work out, you are legally required to pay tax in your tax resident country, if you stay in Thailand over 180 days you are considered a tax resident and it is here that you must pay tax. The DTA will stop you from paying tax in the country that you are not in (or at least not in for 180 days per year). So, if you are getting paid by a UK company but stay in Thailand for over 180 days then you pay tax in Thailand and the DTA will avoid paying tax in the UK. I may be wrong.

 

This document seems to support this:

https://iao.bangkok.go.th/storage/files/Personal Income Tax.pdf

 

This document is also useful for working out deductions:

file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/TAX/Thailand%20-%20Individual%20-%20Deductions.html

 

 

Try telling that to HMRC in the UK. Good luck.

[parallelman]

On 2/11/2025 at 9:44 PM, Jingthing said:

Nobody is being taxed on money you already have in the bank in Thailand.

Tax may be triggered by income in Thailand or remittances into Thailand. 

Thailand doesn't have a global assets tax like some countries do. 

In my bank accounts the interest is listed and then a tax deductuon. So it would seem that the bank does it automatically. Not quite sure if that's the same thing though.

[newbee2022]

On 2/10/2025 at 4:56 PM, jingjai9 said:

Any stories from people who have already filed their Thai taxes?

 

Any warnings we should know about?

 

Any useful information to pass on?

I  read numerous lists of what is being taxed, but all that I have read and videos I have watched here on ASEAN Now seem to be laced with uncertainty.

 

I want to know if anyone has been taxed on the money they keep in their bank account that is mandated by Thai law for their visa, e.g. marriage or retirement.

Has anyone been surprised at what was or was not taxed?

 

Do employees at the tax office appear to be comfortable, knowledgeable and certain about what they are doing?

 

How long did it take for the Department of Revenue to process you tax forms and give you a receipt?

 

Did you have to retrieve documents you didn't bring with you which you had no idea you needed?
 

The more you ask the more different answers you get.

If you do your report online just wait if there will come a response and further questions by the revenue department 

[newbee2022]

In my case it works perfect at an office in CM (#tax Files).

Probably I met a competent experienced officer.

[jippytum]

My experience with the new tax ls ziltch and will remain so until it is officially authorised in the Royal Gazette .Not by the outporings from tax consultants giving lectures at expat clubs touting for customers using scaremongering tactics.

[Drumbuie]

17 hours ago, Hummin said:

Quick hypothetical question

 

I want to transfer 1,2 million in to my bank account tomorow from my savings, and I am going to stay 7 months this year.

 

I am obligated to pay tax this year?

You will be obligated to pay tax on this year's income next year before the end of March. The allowances are generous, the taxation bands are gradual, and I'm checking my calculations with a Thai accountant (friend of a friend) tonight but I'm expecting to pay around half what I'd pay back home. 

In three instalments, with no penalty. 

 

I don't understand the mindset where you live in a country, you expect all the infrastructure and services in that country that are paid for by taxes - and you complain about them frequently -  but you don't want to contribute. 

[Yumthai]

15 hours ago, oldcpu said:

However when you are a Thai tax resident (ie in Thailand for 180 days or more),  any money remitted into Thailand ,

-  if not tax exempt by specific words in a DTA (reference Royal-Decree-18), or

- if not tax exempt by an LTR Visa (reference Royal Decree 743), or

- if not tax exempt  by being pre-1-Jan-2024 savings (reference ministerial instructions por-161/162),

then as a Thailand tax resident you are subject to Thailand tax on that assessable income if it meets the tax threshold.

I would add:

- if not tax exempt by being earned in a year you are not Thai tax resident (ex: non tax resident in 2025 can remit 2025 income tax-free in 2025 and at any time in the future).

[TheAppletons]

3 minutes ago, Drumbuie said:

You will be obligated to pay tax on this year's income next year before the end of March. The allowances are generous, the taxation bands are gradual, and I'm checking my calculations with a Thai accountant (friend of a friend) tonight but I'm expecting to pay around half what I'd pay back home. 

In three instalments, with no penalty. 

 

I don't understand the mindset where you live in a country, you expect all the infrastructure and services in that country that are paid for by taxes - and you complain about them frequently -  but you don't want to contribute. 

 

  If he's transferring savings that's he's had prior to 1 Jan 2024, he will not be obligated to pay tax on it.

[statman78]

I use a tax accountant to file my US return.  His office now has Thai tax accountants so they also filed my Thai tax return.

 

The money I brought into Thailand was a combination of US Social Security and money from savings.  US Social Security is not taxed in Thailand.  The excess came from savings which I had prior to January 1, 2024 so it is not subject to tax.  Also, I was told that the amount I pay for my Thai insurance is also deductible as long as it is through a Thai company.  
 

In the end I had zero Thai tax liability.

[TheAppletons]

5 minutes ago, statman78 said:

I use a tax accountant to file my US return.  His office now has Thai tax accountants so they also filed my Thai tax return.

 

The money I brought into Thailand was a combination of US Social Security and money from savings.  US Social Security is not taxed in Thailand.  The excess came from savings which I had prior to January 1, 2024 so it is not subject to tax.  Also, I was told that the amount I pay for my Thai insurance is also deductible as long as it is through a Thai company.  
 

In the end I had zero Thai tax liability.

 

  Presumably, then, your accountant filed a Thai tax return showing zero assessable income and thus zero tax owed?  

[sandyf]

17 hours ago, CK1980 said:

I'm no expert but I think you have completely misunderstood what a DTA is. The clue is in the name, DOUBLE tax agreement. It is to avoid paying tax twice, not for 'anti tax heathens' to avoid tax. It is just for specific situations where you are earning money in one place and getting taxed on it, then living in another place where they try and tax it again. 

 

As I said, I think the confusion comes in as the tax should actually be paid in the tax residence country, so the DTA should be used to avoid paying tax in the original country.

 

 

I would agree with your first statement but you can be tax resident in more than one jurisdiction. You have to bear in mind that DTA's also specify income that can only be taxed in the original country. This means for many retired expats they cannot avoid being dual tax resident.

The real problem is that highlighted by the OP that if the tax office concerned understands how the DTA should work, if tax has already been deducted there shouldn't be further liability unless they see an underpayment in the original country. For example someone on just a basic UK state pension will not have paid any tax and would then be subject to Thai thresholds. 

Personal taxation is a complicated and wide ranging scenario but for many of us should be relatively simple providing the RD recognise the circumstances and have done their homework.

[hunkidori]

On 2/12/2025 at 9:14 AM, brewsterbudgen said:

From the various threads running on this topic, the consensus seems to be don't make waves and whatever you do, don't visit your local tax office!

 

But we have a few, actually it seems more than a few "good boys" who insist on trying to pay tax when in fact there is no need to even file a return and so giving the Thais ideas on how they could get more money from the farang.

 

So with all the volunteers visiting tax offices who knows what may come of that

[Yumthai]

3 minutes ago, Drumbuie said:

I don't understand the mindset where you live in a country, you expect all the infrastructure and services in that country that are paid for by taxes - and you complain about them frequently -  but you don't want to contribute. 

As no more than "tourists" on yearly extension with limited rights and extra duties, we contribute 7% VAT on all our spending. Fair and enough.

 

For high spenders (in Thai standards) this is, in absolute, a substantial amount of money than the vast majority of locals would ever contribute in their life into the system.

 

As a foreigner, paying taxes on local income: Yes, on foreign income: No thank you.

 

[topt]

8 hours ago, ukrules said:

Is it unclear?

Well there is definitely a difference of opinion amongst both posters on here and a couple of the "tax"advisory companies. 

ExpatTax believe it to only be savings in the bank for example.

[CharlesHolzhauer]

20 minutes ago, Yumthai said:

As a foreigner, paying taxes on local income: Yes, on foreign income: No thank you.

Currently, individuals in Thailand are taxed only on remittances.