Thai Tax on UK pensions

[Humpy]

Anybody else completed their Tax forms ?  I did mine at the local Ampur tax office. Bank book, Thai ID, Yellow book and Passport.....It took about 20 minutes.... Phone call next day to say all complete. Went to the Ampur to pick up my forms... nothing to pay !!

[jwest10]

1 hour ago, Humpy said:

Anybody else completed their Tax forms ?  I did mine at the local Ampur tax office. Bank book, Thai ID, Yellow book and Passport.....It took about 20 minutes.... Phone call next day to say all complete. Went to the Ampur to pick up my forms... nothing to pay !!

Told many times by my local Revenue I simply do not file as my personal allowances are more than my income and do you have employment in Thailand?
No need and no tax to pay.

[IvorBiggun2]

2 hours ago, Humpy said:

Anybody else completed their Tax forms ?  I did mine at the local Ampur tax office.

 

Who told you to do it?

[Humpy]

From Press reports I understood that expats recieving income abroad were to be taxed.... yes or no ?

[IvorBiggun2]

17 hours ago, Humpy said:

From Press reports I understood that expats recieving income abroad were to be taxed.... yes or no ?

 UK or Thai press?

[leonard beaven]

Decided wasn't worth sitting and worry over this,nothing positive showing online so went and filed,little longer in Wang Chao,but no problems.as above nothing to pay,allowances more than pension. But I can sit back and relax for another year.

Was it worth the effort,I think so.

 

[jwest10]

10 minutes ago, leonard beaven said:

Decided wasn't worth sitting and worry over this,nothing positive showing online so went and filed,little longer in Wang Chao,but no problems.as above nothing to pay,allowances more than pension. But I can sit back and relax for another year.

Was it worth the effort,I think so.

 

Been told you no need to file full stop and several times by my local Revenue Office and as per your circumstances.

[Jaxxper]

I had a BKK firm file for me, as I have multiple sources of UK income that is assessable. At the end of the day, the Thai allowances, tax thresholds and the offset from my UK tax paid to HRMC yielded nothing to pay here in Thailand. Worth the peace of mind in case they decide to quiz you on tax status at your next visa renewal/extension, or upon trying to leave the Kingdom.

[Tazmo]

My Thai Partner completes a form for me every year and I get a refund of nearly 2K baht (1,577.44 THB) from my 800K fixed savings account, for my Renewal/ Extension Visa.

 

It probably isn’t the same form as declaring Income, but that’s my only communication with my local tax Office.

 

My pension is small and used for living expenses, subsidised by my partner’s income!

 

 

[Sheryl]

18 hours ago, Humpy said:

From Press reports I understood that expats recieving income abroad were to be taxed.... yes or no ?

Not in any way  specific to expats. 

Anyone, regardless of nationality, is a Thai tax resident if in Thailand 180 days or more in a calendar year.  But only assessable income can be taxed, and tax will be owed  then only if the total minus all  allowed exemptions  deductions and allowances exceeds 150k.  A single person aged 65 and over gets 350k in exemptions/deductions. So would have to remit over 500k to owe anything (more if married or have dependents  or eligible for certain other deductions). . 

 

What income is assessable varies depending on terms of the applicable Dual Taxation Agreement.  For UK,   government pensions are non-assessable in Thailand  but state pensions are assessable.  In practice will usually not owe tax if the only remitted income is the UK state OAP.

 

Technically it is required to file if you remitted over 60k in assessable income. In practice many RD offices are telling people not to bother filing if no tax owed.

[trainman34014]

19 hours ago, Humpy said:

From Press reports I understood that expats recieving income abroad were to be taxed.... yes or no ?

Seems every Tax Office in Thailand has its own idea's but mine told me no Law has been passed through Parliament and therefore nothing has changed until further notice.   I just recieved a Cheque for my Tax Refund today so all is well as far as i am concerned.

 

I have been told that we Expats have a Tax allowance of 520,000 Baht before any 'assessable Income' is applied.

[Andycoops]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

Not in any way  specific to expats. 

Anyone, regardless of nationality, is a Thai tax resident if in Thailand 180 days or more in a calendar year.  But only assessable income can be taxed, and tax will be owed  then only if the total minus all  allowed exemptions  deductions and allowances exceeds 150k.  A single person aged 65 and over gets 350k in exemptions/deductions. So would have to remit over 500k to owe anything (more if married or have dependents  or eligible for certain other deductions). . 

 

What income is assessable varies depending on terms of the applicable Dual Taxation Agreement.  For UK,   government pensions are non-assessable in Thailand  but state pensions are assessable.  In practice will usually not owe tax if the only remitted income is the UK state OAP.

 

Technically it is required to file if you remitted over 60k in assessable income. In practice many RD offices are telling people not to bother filing if no tax owed.

 

[Andycoops]

Then why was my friend who went to his local tax office in Yasothon and explained he had transferred 1.1M baht last year to his Thai bank accounts from his Company and State pension, told he owed 40,000 baht?

 

He's on a 1 year extension.

 

I await you response with considerable interest.

There is a total lack of understanding from, in this case local officials who haven't a clue about what's coming out of TRD in Bangkok.

[ujayujay]

What Tax?

[quake]

2 hours ago, Jaxxper said:

I had a BKK firm file for me, as I have multiple sources of UK income that is assessable. At the end of the day, the Thai allowances, tax thresholds and the offset from my UK tax paid to HRMC yielded nothing to pay here in Thailand. Worth the peace of mind in case they decide to quiz you on tax status at your next visa renewal/extension, or upon trying to leave the Kingdom.

 

Can I ask how much they charged you for the service ?

 

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, Andycoops said:

Then why was my friend who went to his local tax office in Yasothon and explained he had transferred 1.1M baht last year to his Thai bank accounts from his Company and State pension, told he owed 40,000 baht?

 

He's on a 1 year extension.

 

I await you response with considerable interest.

There is a total lack of understanding from, in this case local officials who haven't a clue about what's coming out of TRD in Bangkok.

Because the income was all assessable, and 1.1 m is considerably more than 500k.

 

The tax computation they made  is correct. Visa status  is irrelevant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sheryl]

2 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

 

I have been told that we Expats have a Tax allowance of 520,000 Baht before any 'assessable Income' is applied.

There are no special allowances or tax rules for expats. 

 

All tax residents get a 60k personal deduction.  All who are over age 65 get an additionsl 190k deduction.  Everyone with income (including pensions)  is allowed to deduct up to  another 100k (non-receipted) as expenses. And the first 150k of the balance is 0 tax. 

[Unamerican]

Thank you, Sheryl, for a succinct, clear and accurate statement.  
 

But note that for higher transfers of taxed income the detailed requirements and allowances of each countries DTA need also to be taken into account. 

[Maybole]

I get all my pensions from UK sources where they all have UK tax deducted before being paid to me, and annually  I receive a P60 type form from UK HMRC to prove it . Confirm I am Not elegible for tax in Thailand.

Additionally, I have not been able to find the Tax Office in Chiang mai, where is it?

[khunPer]

On 4/1/2025 at 2:38 PM, Humpy said:

From Press reports I understood that expats recieving income abroad were to be taxed.... yes or no ?

Yes...

 

 

[BexMan]

7 hours ago, Andycoops said:

Then why was my friend who went to his local tax office in Yasothon and explained he had transferred 1.1M baht last year to his Thai bank accounts from his Company and State pension, told he owed 40,000 baht?

 

He's on a 1 year extension.

 

I await you response with considerable interest.

There is a total lack of understanding from, in this case local officials who haven't a clue about what's coming out of TRD in Bangkok.

So your friend didn’t pay any tax in his home country on that income, or the country doesn’t have a double taxation agreement?

[treetops]

On 4/2/2025 at 7:43 AM, Jaxxper said:

I had a BKK firm file for me, as I have multiple sources of UK income that is assessable. At the end of the day, the Thai allowances, tax thresholds and the offset from my UK tax paid to HRMC yielded nothing to pay here in Thailand. Worth the peace of mind in case they decide to quiz you on tax status at your next visa renewal/extension, or upon trying to leave the Kingdom.

 

What did you get from this firm that you think would be acceptable to immigration as evidence should they ever ask for it?

 

Given there is nowhere in the submittable tax forms to mention/offset UK tax paid, do you think the "BKK firm" might have just made things up to make you feel at ease and pocket a few baht of your cash?

[JimGant]

On 4/2/2025 at 10:31 PM, Maybole said:

Additionally, I have not been able to find the Tax Office in Chiang mai

Por 555 says: No can find local tax office, no have to pay tax.

[gamb00ler]

On 4/2/2025 at 10:31 PM, Maybole said:

Additionally, I have not been able to find the Tax Office in Chiang mai, where is it?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/e4iBEiVPt9Ek3Hbo9

 

[FlorC]

On 4/2/2025 at 5:35 PM, Sheryl said:

There are no special allowances or tax rules for expats. 

 

All tax residents get a 60k personal deduction.  All who are over age 65 get an additionsl 190k deduction.  Everyone with income (including pensions)  is allowed to deduct up to  another 100k (non-receipted) as expenses. And the first 150k of the balance is 0 tax. 

If all tax residents get a 60k personal deduction , the why not up the tax free to 210k (150K + 60k) ?

[Presnock]

On 4/1/2025 at 7:38 PM, Humpy said:

From Press reports I understood that expats recieving income abroad were to be taxed.... yes or no ?

only if you meet the NECESSARY criteria do you have to get a tax ID at all and/or file for earned income from overseas, as has been explained numerous times here

[Surasak]

On 4/1/2025 at 7:38 PM, Humpy said:

From Press reports I understood that expats recieving income abroad were to be taxed.... yes or no ?

You sound like the kind of guy who would walk across a mine as a dare!

[OJAS]

On 4/2/2025 at 5:29 PM, Sheryl said:

Because the income was all assessable, and 1.1 m is considerably more than 500k.

 

The tax computation they made  is correct. Visa status  is irrelevant.

 @Andycoops  Neither UK company occupational pensions nor the State Pension are exempt from being taxable in Thailand as a result of the UK/Thailand Double Taxation Agreement. Only UK government occupational pensions (Civil Service, local authority, military, police, etc) are so exempt.

[crazykopite]

On 4/2/2025 at 1:43 PM, Jaxxper said:

I had a BKK firm file for me, as I have multiple sources of UK income that is assessable. At the end of the day, the Thai allowances, tax thresholds and the offset from my UK tax paid to HRMC yielded nothing to pay here in Thailand. Worth the peace of mind in case they decide to quiz you on tax status at your next visa renewal/extension, or upon trying to leave the Kingdom.

I don’t think it has nothing to do with immigration they are not accountants or tax experts 

[crazykopite]

1 minute ago, OJAS said:

 @Andycoops  Neither UK company occupational pensions nor the State Pension are exempt from being taxed in Thailand as a result of the UK/Thailand Double Taxation Agreement. Only UK government occupational pensions (Civil Service, local authority, military, police, etc) are so exempt.

My OAP is frozen it’s my military pension that I depend on plus that is taxed in the UK so I can go to bed and have a good nights sleep