Thailand Yet to Finalise Policy on Taxing Expats’ Overseas Income

[webfact]

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As the deadline for 2024 personal income tax registration approaches, confusion remains about Thailand’s stance on taxing overseas remittances for expats. Some say international credit card use and transfers could be taxed, yet others find the situation less clear-cut.

 

There's debate around whether anyone in Thailand for over 180 days last year must file a return, but this depends on if they transferred "assessable" income.

 

Benjamin Hart, a notable figure in Thai legal circles, has criticised alarmist advice for expats, particularly concerning those relying on pre-taxed foreign pensions. He suggests consulting Thai tax experts due to no changes in the law, only a fresh interpretation by the Thai Revenue Department (TRD).

 

Some experts believe potential legal actions might arise against these interpretations, though none have surfaced yet.

 

New TRD director general Pinsai Suraswadi emphasised that tax payments hinge on individual income specifics and international treaties. His comments suggest the policy primarily stems from economic pressures, including rising public debt and an ageing populace.

 

Feedback from various provinces highlights inconsistency in TRD office approaches, with assessments differing vastly and discretion seemingly prevailing over standardised rules.

 

Some offices even suggest expats declare income based on the 800,000 baht needed annually for retirement extensions, adjusting tax dues accordingly.

 

Despite ongoing debates, a significant number of expats remain reluctant to engage with the system, banking on double taxation treaties for protection.

 

It's evident the Thai government must urgently revisit and clarify its policies to avert further confusion and ensure fair treatment for all tax residents, reported Pattaya Mail.

 

-- 2025-03-17

 

 

[Gsxrnz]

If I had a choice of volunteering information to the tax man, or slamming my personal appendage in a car door, I'm choosing the latter. 

[quake]

Well that was very informative.

Must be time for that second cup of coffee. 

[JoePai]

Calm down everyone, after many years in Thailand I understand any new legislation takes many years of to and fro 

 

 

[daveAustin]

Pathetic bunch of third world bs. Shove it. Come after me. WE’VE ALREADY BEEN TAXED TO THE HILT!! Want to earn some coin? Tax your beloved Chinese visitors!

[ikke1959]

Let the netizens all fill in the tax forms first.... Most don't pay any tax but can allow expensive cars, holidays, shopping for luxury goods.. Even the youth drive in BMW's and Mercedes... But nobody knows where the money come from. Some people as we could read in the past year had millions in the bank, several houses, and the Revenue department did not know that.. I think there is much more to gain from the netizens, than from the few foreigners.. There will be less and less year after year..Many already are planning to leave or left already. 

[Emdog]

"Some offices even suggest expats declare income based on the 800,000 baht needed annually for retirement extensions, adjusting tax dues accordingly."

My SCB account already takes taxes out... shows as a line 'tx" in my passbook

[lordgrinz]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

the Thai government must urgently revisit and clarify its policies to avert further confusion and ensure fair treatment for all tax residents

 

They aren't going to clarify anything, and they don't care about fair treatment, especially as it applies to Expats.

[EVENKEEL]

So, nothing worth reporting gets written.  I find it mildly amusing.

 

 

[redwood1]

17 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

They aren't going to clarify anything, and they don't care about fair treatment, especially as it applies to Expats.

 

I agree I think we have had all the clarifying we will ever get........A big half baked half azz mess suites me just fine....Perfect for me....

 

The writer of this article is very wrong .....Nothing needs to change.....Not now not ever....

[StayinThailand2much]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Some say international credit card use and transfers could be taxed, yet others find the situation less clear-cut.

 

It has been my opinion from the beginning that it will work out like this... - Sorry, Thailand, under these circumstances, no transfers, and no retirement in Thailand by yours truly. Also, using international credit cards only when absolutely necessary. The Thai taxman's gains will be wayyy lower than the financial loss for the Thai economy. 😉 

[Tropicalevo]

Dumb, dumber and dumbest.

 

Dumb - the Thai politicians who came up with this idea.

Dumber - those trying to invent the rules.

Dumbest - the Thai developers who will try and write the software to implement it all.

[EVENKEEL]

I truly envy those foreigners who don't read any forum bs and haven't heard squat about this.

[lordgrinz]

14 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

I truly envy those foreigners who don't read any forum bs and haven't heard squat about this.

 

Me too, but I am still holding out as long as possible on remitting anything to Thailand. I want to see the first guinea pigs that go through the tax process, and especially what happens to those who ignore the remittance rules, or play ignorant of them. If I can make it until Jan 1st before needing to remit anything, I should have a clearer picture of things.

[pomchop]

Listen to the age old advice from thai gals:

 

why u worry too mutt?

[redwood1]

1 minute ago, lordgrinz said:

 

Me too, but I am still holding out as long as possible on remitting anything to Thailand. I want to see the first guinea pigs that go through the tax process, and especially what happens to those who ignore the remittance rules, or play ignorant of them. If I can make it until Jan 1st before needing to remit anything, I should have a clearer picture of things.

 

I honestly think the only people who have invested more than 5 minutes of their life looking into this rotting corpse of a so called tax... Are tiny number of posters in the endless and pointless and strictly for entertainment tax threads here....

 

Everyone else like the Chinese,Russians, Indians etc.....Have not given this tax rubbish 2 thoughts.... 

[spidermike007]

According to an attorney that I've spoken with there is no tax law in effect yet, and there are no taxing requirements on foreigners as of now. This law has not even passed legislation and it could possibly be a big nothing burger. 

[BritManToo]

42 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

I truly envy those foreigners who don't read any forum bs and haven't heard squat about this.

I am one of those foreigners!

[puck2]

A very lovely family member of my wife called the Tax-offices in BKK and Mae Hong Son.

She asked them, if a falang has to pay taxes of the money he transfers to Thailand and what already has been taxed in Germany. She also added the question, if I had to go to the tax-office in MHS to get a PIN (number).

 

The Bangkok officer told her: no tax in Thailand because of the DTA (Double Tax Agreement), but she should contact the MHS-Office, too.

The MHS-Tax-Officer confirmed: no tax on my money, that has already been taxed in Germany. Therefore:   I should NOT ask for a PIN-number in the MHS-office, because I don't have any income here in Thailand. If only a few THB of bank interest it would woud alteady have been taxed by the Bank.

 

Did some of our AN-members receive the same answer from their tax-offices?

[Ben Zioner]

Reading some of the posts here we have Interesting times ahead, I can tell you...

[Ben Zioner]

12 minutes ago, puck2 said:

A very lovely family member of my wife called the Tax-offices in BKK and Mae Hong Son.

She asked them, if a falang has to pay taxes of the money he transfers to Thailand and what already has been taxed in Germany. She also added the question, if I had to go to the tax-office in MHS to get a PIN (number).

 

The Bangkok officer told her: no tax in Thailand because of the DTA (Double Tax Agreement), but she should contact the MHS-Office, too.

The MHS-Tax-Officer confirmed: no tax on my money, that has already been taxed in Germany. Therefore:   I should NOT ask for a PIN-number in the MHS-office, because I don't have any income here in Thailand. If only a few THB of bank interest it would woud alteady have been taxed by the Bank.

 

Did some of our AN-members receive the same answer from their tax-offices?

There have been all sorts of answers, but none in writing. So those who'll get audited in the forthcoming years and a found liable for undeclared income will have to cough up tax + penalties.

 

My wife inquired about me, and the guy said "UN pensionsnot taxable in Thailand", I had never heard of that before...  On the other hand he had never heard about the LTR visa, so he took note of RD. 743 and said he'd look it up, which is doubtful.

 

 

[lordgrinz]

15 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

Reading some of the posts here we have Interesting times ahead, I can tell you...

 

Yup, I await those future posts, they should be very entertaining.

[Robert_Smith]

..'ere comes the inevitable Thai back-pedal..

 

Has the penny finally dropped that the well healed will just up and leave if they implement this absolutely ridiculous regulation?

 

Looking forward to the 'It was all just a big misunderstanding' article in a few weeks...

 

regards,

bob.

[black tabby12345]

5 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

If I had a choice of volunteering information to the tax man, or slamming my personal appendage in a car door, I'm choosing the latter. 

 

Thai tax law comes with some trap.

Those who lodged tax return last year, will be required to do the same this year and onward.

That's something I have read in recent months(listed in their online "booklet".

[black tabby12345]

5 hours ago, JoePai said:

Calm down everyone, after many years in Thailand I understand any new legislation takes many years of to and fro 

 

 

 

Or not really enforced even if it is enacted; simply having no enough manpower.

 

While prostitution is illegal in this kingdom, Pattaya makes one of the biggest Red Light Districts in the world.

 

 

[black tabby12345]

5 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

If I had a choice of volunteering information to the tax man, or slamming my personal appendage in a car door, I'm choosing the latter. 

 

Very right/smart response indeed.

[4MyEgo]

I have come to the conclusion after reading many posts on this topic that I shall gift a million baht to my wife annually.

 

Once I gift her the money, I shall state, as she will, that I do not eat from the same plate, and if they want to suggest otherwise, then I will tell them to prove it, as the onus will be on them.

 

I do not own a home, I do not own a car, we have separated as husband and wife and I live in the back of the house and remain for the kids, I eat Kellogg's all bran for breakfast, have a tuna sandwich for lunch, and a bowl of spag for dinner and support myself, in other words, Garn Get Fruit Loops.

[Jingthing]

17 minutes ago, Robert_Smith said:

..'ere comes the inevitable Thai back-pedal..

 

Has the penny finally dropped that the well healed will just up and leave if they implement this absolutely ridiculous regulation?

 

Looking forward to the 'It was all just a big misunderstanding' article in a few weeks...

 

regards,

bob.

Well at the very least they should have carve outs for remittances for real estate purchases and large medical expenses.

[black tabby12345]

1 hour ago, EVENKEEL said:

I truly envy those foreigners who don't read any forum bs and haven't heard squat about this.

 

In real term, A Kind of Information You Never Need To Know About...

No actual changes to the existing laws made while one dumbass (tax chief) barks, and greedy accounting firms try to capitalize it for easy money(giving Useless Advice for Hefty "consultation" fee($500-1000/60-90 min).

[JensenZ]

4 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Pathetic bunch of third world bs. Shove it. Come after me. WE’VE ALREADY BEEN TAXED TO THE HILT!! Want to earn some coin? Tax your beloved Chinese visitors!

I agree, don't do it. If one day they pull you up on it, then worry about it - that's probably years down the track, or never. With the frequent changes of government, parties and leaders in Thailand, someone might wake up and decide that they shouldn't hurt the golden goose, and be done with this insanity which provides potential expats around the world incentive to find other places to retire.