Am I Required To File A Thai Tax Return

[shortstop2]

American expat, stayed more than 180 days in Thailand in 2024.

 

Only remittances to Thailand are direct deposit Social Security payments to Bangkok Bank. This is excluded from accessible income due to a bilateral treaty.

 

Earned Thai interest approx 30K.  2K baht withheld.  Not a big deal to lose this money.

 

I have a TIN and filed to receive a refund on withheld interest in the past but not for about 4 years.

 

Am I correct that I don't need to file a Thai tax return because the Social Security is non-accessible and tax was already withheld by my Thai banks?

[Mutt Daeng]

If you have NO assessable income remitted to Thailand, then no need to file.

Just my opinion and not advice.

Good idea to keep  records as well IMHO.

[brewsterbudgen]

If you think you're due a refund then file.  If not, don't!

[Yumthai]

1 hour ago, brewsterbudgen said:

If you think you're due a refund then file.  If not, don't!

Small change refund is not worth the tax filing trouble and the potential consequences being recorded in the tax system.

[petermik]

In one word NO.....

[bamnutsak]

27 minutes ago, Yumthai said:

Small change refund is not worth the tax filing trouble and the potential consequences being recorded in the tax system.

 

 

The OP is already in the system...

 

9 hours ago, shortstop2 said:

I have a TIN and filed to receive a refund on withheld interest in the past but not for about 4 years.

 

 

...and...

 

9 hours ago, shortstop2 said:

Earned Thai interest approx 30K.  2K baht withheld.  Not a big deal to lose this money.

 

 

 

...so maybe no real downside to filing to get 2,000?

 

 

[motdaeng]

58 minutes ago, Yumthai said:

Small change refund is not worth the tax filing trouble and the potential consequences being recorded in the tax system.

 

i see this differently. if you file your taxes (although it may not be necessary and 2k not financially worth it), you will receive a receipt for your tax declaration, it can help also with any inquiries from banks in your home country ... in my case, it was very helpfull to have a tax receipt from the TRD!

 

the tax office isn't aware that the money you send to thailand is for social security and is covered by a DTA. when filling out the tax form, you do clarify (as good as  possible) this from your side ...

 

i'd say that's being proactive... but that's just my personal opinion and how i do things ... 

[Yumthai]

4 hours ago, motdaeng said:

i'd say that's being proactive... but that's just my personal opinion and how i do things ... 

From real-life experience being proactive in Thailand increases the chance to get into unexpected troubles, being reactive is the Thai way.

 

[Lacessit]

6 minutes ago, Yumthai said:

From real-life experience being proactive in Thailand increases the chance to get into unexpected troubles, being reactive is the Thai way.

 

When an Immigration Officer requires me to have a TIN and/or tax return to extend my visa, I will get one.

 

Until then, the tax office can come to me.

[BritManToo]

18 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

When an Immigration Officer requires me to have a TIN and/or tax return to extend my visa, I will get one.

Until then, the tax office can come to me.

I hate having to agree with you.

[BritManToo]

27 minutes ago, Yumthai said:

From real-life experience being proactive in Thailand increases the chance to get into unexpected troubles, being reactive is the Thai way.

No Thai obeys any law until forced.

My misses doesn't even have a driving licence.

[Presnock]

15 hours ago, shortstop2 said:

American expat, stayed more than 180 days in Thailand in 2024.

 

Only remittances to Thailand are direct deposit Social Security payments to Bangkok Bank. This is excluded from accessible income due to a bilateral treaty.

 

Earned Thai interest approx 30K.  2K baht withheld.  Not a big deal to lose this money.

 

I have a TIN and filed to receive a refund on withheld interest in the past but not for about 4 years.

 

Am I correct that I don't need to file a Thai tax return because the Social Security is non-accessible and tax was already withheld by my Thai banks?

IMHO you do not have to file as the tax forms have no line for exempted by DTA (USA SS payments) but I am aforeigner so can't advise you what to do.  Ifyou doubt this, got to your local rd office and ask.

[Lacessit]

13 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I hate having to agree with you.

Coming from you, the ultimate accolade.

[Upnotover]

15 hours ago, shortstop2 said:

American expat, stayed more than 180 days in Thailand in 2024.

 

Only remittances to Thailand are direct deposit Social Security payments to Bangkok Bank. This is excluded from accessible income due to a bilateral treaty.

 

Earned Thai interest approx 30K.  2K baht withheld.  Not a big deal to lose this money.

 

I have a TIN and filed to receive a refund on withheld interest in the past but not for about 4 years.

 

Am I correct that I don't need to file a Thai tax return because the Social Security is non-accessible and tax was already withheld by my Thai banks?

If you're been here for years on a similar basis did you ever file taxes before? Sounds like nothing has changed for you, if you didn't file before why do so now?

[Lacessit]

6 minutes ago, Presnock said:

  Ifyou doubt this, got to your local rd office and ask.

He is not Daniel, sticking his head into the lions' den is not a good idea.

[NoDisplayName]

15 hours ago, shortstop2 said:

Earned Thai interest approx 30K.  2K baht withheld.  Not a big deal to lose this money.

 

I have a TIN and filed to receive a refund on withheld interest in the past but not for about 4 years.

 

30K interest should result in 4500 baht withholding tax at 15%.  (I think there may be a limit to tax free interest of 20K baht.)

 

The following forms of interest income may, at the taxpayer’s selection, be excluded from the computation of PIT provided that a tax of 15 per cent is withheld at source:

 

interest on saving deposits in commercial banks if the aggregate amount of interest received is not more than 20,000 baht during a taxable year

 

Don't know if that means you can't get withholding refunded for amounts over 20K, only that it must be shown on the tax return.

 

***********

 

You haven't filed for 4 years, I assume you earned similar interest in the past.

 

Why not stop by your bank and get withholding statements for the past three years, free of charge.

 

Then file 2022, 2023, 2024 returns online, only needing to upload the bank withholding statements, not claiming any remittances.

 

Your cost will be an hour at the bank, 200 baht late filing fee (only charged once), and an hour at the computer filing returns.

 

For that, you get ~12,000 baht refunded.  (If the tax-free limit for interest is 20K, then your refund would only be 9,000.)

[shortstop2]

4 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

For that, you get ~12,000 baht refunded.  (If the tax-free limit for interest is 20K, then your refund would only be 9,000.)

I stopped filing once I got things set up at all my banks to stop withholding.  But in December of 2014 my banks started withholding again.  Before Dec 2024, 20K was the treshhold per account where there would be no withholding.   

 

Although in the past,my concern was filing to get a refund, this year my concern is about opening a can of worms if I file this year; the flip side is opening a can of worms by not filing.

 

I am leaning towards not filing unless I hear from the Revenue Dept or if Immigration forms begin to ask if Ifiled.  I'm thinking it's not a big deal if I have to file later than March 31st, just the 200 baht fee.  No tax should be due since Social Security is non-accessible supposedly and my interest income minus allowances puts me in the 0% bracket. 

 

I just wanted to get some opinions here.  Thanks for all the input! The Revenue Dept is quite close to where I live but won't be going there to get verbal guidance 

[shortstop2]

4 hours ago, shortstop2 said:

But in December of 2014 my banks started withholding again. 

Can't seem to edit my post.  This should read December of 2024.

[Njoku]

On 2/16/2025 at 5:45 AM, Mutt Daeng said:

If you have NO assessable income remitted to Thailand, then no need to file.

Just my opinion and not advice.

Good idea to keep  records as well IMHO.

That might be the case depending on your local revenue department, certainly its not correct at Chon Buri/Pattaya, popped in This morning to pick up my TIN number after registering and lodging last Friday, took a moment to ask the head did I who is not liable to pay any tax did I still needed to lodge, he said any funds that are remitted into the country you must lodge a tax form, which was me, so it doesn't matter what or where the remitted funds come from, they work it out with you at lodgement so keep good records.

[yardrunner]

On 2/16/2025 at 4:07 PM, Presnock said:

IMHO you do not have to file as the tax forms have no line for exempted by DTA (USA SS payments) but I am aforeigner so can't advise you what to do.  Ifyou doubt this, got to your local rd office and ask.

went to my local revenue office in Khonkaen with all relevant documents showing tax paid in the UK, they did not understand double tax treaty and said that the computers had crashed and I could not file a tax return and not to worry as they would ring me when the computers were working, so now I am not worrying and will go back to the revenue office if and when they ring me

[newbee2022]

On 2/16/2025 at 12:51 AM, shortstop2 said:

American expat, stayed more than 180 days in Thailand in 2024.

 

Only remittances to Thailand are direct deposit Social Security payments to Bangkok Bank. This is excluded from accessible income due to a bilateral treaty.

 

Earned Thai interest approx 30K.  2K baht withheld.  Not a big deal to lose this money.

 

I have a TIN and filed to receive a refund on withheld interest in the past but not for about 4 years.

 

Am I correct that I don't need to file a Thai tax return because the Social Security is non-accessible and tax was already withheld by my Thai banks?

No tax file 

Keep your records 

[Presnock]

On 2/16/2025 at 12:51 AM, shortstop2 said:

American expat, stayed more than 180 days in Thailand in 2024.

 

Only remittances to Thailand are direct deposit Social Security payments to Bangkok Bank. This is excluded from accessible income due to a bilateral treaty.

 

Earned Thai interest approx 30K.  2K baht withheld.  Not a big deal to lose this money.

 

I have a TIN and filed to receive a refund on withheld interest in the past but not for about 4 years.

 

Am I correct that I don't need to file a Thai tax return because the Social Security is non-accessible and tax was already withheld by my Thai banks?

from all that I read and hear about it, sounds like you definitely do not but as a farang, I can't give you advice on filing of taxes.

[Thingamabob]

Give it a rest.

[motdaeng]

if you want to be cautious (both now and for your future in thailand), just file your tax return to reclaim the bank tax that was withheld.

 

some people prefer to follow the laws, rules, and customs as guests and foreigners in thailand. others might call us stupid or idiots for doing so.

i know which kind of people i prefer ... i think the thai people do too ...

[Yumthai]

1 hour ago, motdaeng said:

some people prefer to follow the laws, rules, and customs as guests and foreigners in thailand. others might call us stupid or idiots for doing so.

i know which kind of people i prefer ... i think the thai people do too ...

Do you mean Thai people prefer foreigners to follow the laws they, as locals, barely follow? Interesting mindset.

[motdaeng]

1 hour ago, Yumthai said:

Do you mean Thai people prefer foreigners to follow the laws they, as locals, barely follow? Interesting mindset.

 

i do agree indeed, interesting mindset if you think thai prefer foreigner not following the law ... 

[jwest10]

5 hours ago, yardrunner said:

went to my local revenue office in Khonkaen with all relevant documents showing tax paid in the UK, they did not understand double tax treaty and said that the computers had crashed and I could not file a tax return and not to worry as they would ring me when the computers were working, so now I am not worrying and will go back to the revenue office if and when they ring me

Seriously are they really going to ring you and please let us know if they did??

[kimothai]

On 2/16/2025 at 12:51 AM, shortstop2 said:

American expat, stayed more than 180 days in Thailand in 2024.

 

Only remittances to Thailand are direct deposit Social Security payments to Bangkok Bank. This is excluded from accessible income due to a bilateral treaty.

 

Earned Thai interest approx 30K.  2K baht withheld.  Not a big deal to lose this money.

 

I have a TIN and filed to receive a refund on withheld interest in the past but not for about 4 years.

 

Am I correct that I don't need to file a Thai tax return because the Social Security is non-accessible and tax was already withheld by my Thai banks?

I think this forum is the wrong place to get tax "advice".  If you only want "opinions" then you will get plenty of that.  Seeking professional "advice" from someone who is qualified is probably the best option that will let you sleep easy.

[jwest10]

30 minutes ago, kimothai said:

I think this forum is the wrong place to get tax "advice".  If you only want "opinions" then you will get plenty of that.  Seeking professional "advice" from someone who is qualified is probably the best option that will let you sleep easy.

The so-called professionals are all at odds with each other and frankly went up to my locaL Revenue office several times and "Do you have employment here"?
No so why for you want to file under the thresholds with my income and no need.

I had written figures showing my UK State Pension and they did not need this and basically stated do not worry and will keep my handwritten records just in case.
Yes, No Tin needed and also stated have a pink ID card and again makes no difference and yes been reading so many thousands of differing posts.

[kimothai]

2 minutes ago, jwest10 said:

The so-called professionals are all at odds with each other and frankly went up to my locaL Revenue office several times and "Do you have employment here"?
No so why for you want to file under the thresholds with my income and no need.

I had written figures showing my UK State Pension and they did not need this and basically stated do not worry and will keep my handwritten records just in case.

I tend to agree with you in regard to "professionals".  I think a quote from the movie "Argo" says it best (paraphrasing):  "Of all the bad options, it's the best bad option".  LOL