I can't even open a bank account in Thailand but yet I'm expected to pay Thai tax?

[Puccini]

On 4/25/2025 at 9:30 AM, Rolo89 said:

On the DTV and was planning on paying Thai tax, but since tightening the rules on banking it's impossible to get a bank account until you have a work permit.

 

My DTV allows working for my foreign company remotely in Thailand, but how can they expect me to pay Thai tax if I'm not even allowed to open a bank account?

 

Thailand, respectively the country's Revenue Department, does not "expect" you to pay taxes. It either sends you a tax bill or it doesn't. If it does, ask it to give you a letter addressed to the bank of your choice recommending that the bak open an account for you. Alternatively, you may pay your taxes in cash.

[Puccini]

On 4/25/2025 at 9:30 AM, Rolo89 said:

On the DTV and was planning on paying Thai tax, but since tightening the rules on banking it's impossible to get a bank account until you have a work permit.

 

My DTV allows working for my foreign company remotely in Thailand, but how can they expect me to pay Thai tax if I'm not even allowed to open a bank account?

 

Thailand, respectively the country's Revenue Department, does not "expect" you to pay taxes. It either sends you a tax bill or it doesn't. If it does, ask it to give you a letter addressed to the bank of your choice recommending that the bak open an account for you. Alternatively, you may pay your taxes in cash.

[Puccini]

@Rolo89  A Tip: next time you walk into a bank, don't ask about opening a bank account. Instead, ask about opening a savings account.

 

It may sound strange, but in Thai banking lingo, most times a bank employee hears "bank account" he jumps to the conclusion that you mean a current account.

[Alexjkr]

1 hour ago, Puccini said:

@Rolo89  A Tip: next time you walk into a bank, don't ask about opening a bank account. Instead, ask about opening a savings account.

 

It may sound strange, but in Thai banking lingo, most times a bank employee hears "bank account" he jumps to the conclusion that you mean a current account.

I have have had a Kasikorn account going on for 11 or 12 years. I am only a tourist and use it to send money to Thailand when I am on holiday. I did notice that when ever I log on or use an ATM it says Savings Account but appears to work like a current account. So what exactly is the difference between a current and a savings account?

[AboutThaim]

When I was refused a bank account at Kasikorn I asked to speak to an English speaker.  On the phone I asked how was I supposed to have money in the bank as required by immigration (400,000 baht) if I couldn't open a bank account.  He thought about it and decided I could open a bank account and spoke to the local female that refused me an account.  She lost face and did all she could to make things difficult for me but I eventually got the account and internet banking.

[Upnotover]

7 hours ago, Alexjkr said:

So what exactly is the difference between a current and a savings account?

A Kasikorn Current account has a cheque book and no passbook.  I never met anyone ever who has one, everyone has a Savings account.

[frank83628]

2 friends have DTV, both opened accounts. This was Surat thani province.

[Blueman1]

19 hours ago, flexomike said:

and you have done this three times on  a DTV visa

YES I HAVE !!

[Blueman1]

9 hours ago, Puccini said:

 

Thailand, respectively the country's Revenue Department, does not "expect" you to pay taxes. It either sends you a tax bill or it doesn't. If it does, ask it to give you a letter addressed to the bank of your choice recommending that the bak open an account for you. Alternatively, you may pay your taxes in cash.

Alternatively, you may pay your taxes in cash.....That's IF You have ANY.......CASH !!

[topt]

16 hours ago, Puccini said:

Thailand, respectively the country's Revenue Department, does not "expect" you to pay taxes. It either sends you a tax bill or it doesn't.

Not so normally. The tax system here is more akin to an "honour"system.

Either you file, and if necessary pay, or you don't and wait to see if they may call round and question you at some point............

[Everyman]

On 4/25/2025 at 11:54 PM, Dexxter said:

 

I agree. Imagine having to bend the rules so you can put YOUR money into a bank that can then make life difficult for you, or even keep your money, because you "broke the rules". Not worth the risk.

 

I have never bothered getting a bank account in Thailand although my wife does have one into which I remit funds from overseas. I don't have the urgent need to use QR codes or even my credit card. I just use cash for everything, my wife pays our utilities from her account and I pay the monthly rent using Wise for direct transfers from my overseas account to the landlord. Who needs a bank?

 

Apparentjy your wife needs one. You’re just using her account. 

[Lorry]

21 hours ago, Puccini said:

@Rolo89  A Tip: next time you walk into a bank, don't ask about opening a bank account. Instead, ask about opening a savings account.

 

It may sound strange, but in Thai banking lingo, most times a bank employee hears "bank account" he jumps to the conclusion that you mean a current account.

Quite the opposite. 

If an ordinary looking farang wants "to open an account" or an ordinary looking Thai ต้องการเปิดบัญชี, what they get is a savings account.

Most Thais and farang don't even know what a current account is (nor do they know what a cheque is, sorry, my American friends) - as demonstrated by @Alexjkr

 

Now, what happens if a master like Puccini with his gold plated Fellali drives up and enters the branch with his entourage, I don't know...

[Lorry]

23 hours ago, Rolo89 said:

It is uniquely Thai - a visa that allows you to stay long term and be a tax resident. But also makes it very difficult to get banking.

 

In other countries if you have the visa to live for 5 years then banking is not an issue at all. Like a Thai living in the UK for 5 years would have no issues with walking into just about any bank and getting an account, or use one of the many neobanks to sign up online in 5 mins.

I can tell you quite a few countries in Europe or Asia where it's not easy for foreigners (who aren't working there) to open a bank account. 

Things have changed over the last 20 years. 

And in the US, even many Americans can't get a bank account. 

 

A friend once went to Germany as an exchange student for a year.  Deutsche opened an account for her (necessary for her visa) and at the same time made her sign a building savings agreement (10 years).

The privilege of having a EU bank account cost another friend 4000$.

Thailand is cheap in comparison. 

 

[it is what it is]

 

when you've been here longer you'll realise you don't need a work permit to open a bank account, and if one bank says no simply walk to the one next door. worked for me.

[JoseThailand]

2 hours ago, it is what it is said:

when you've been here longer you'll realise you don't need a work permit to open a bank account, and if one bank says no simply walk to the one next door. worked for me.

 

Genius! Of course you don't need a work permit to open a bank account. In most cases, a non-imm visa is enough