Report Foreign Earnings Taxed Under New Thai Rules - But With Exceptions

[Yumthai]

1 hour ago, The Cyclist said:

Don't be shocked or surprised if Thailand implements global taxation for tax year 2027.

You're lacking vision. Thailand can't afford global taxation without opportune tax exemptions that would be not too complicated to implement for those who do not want to pay tax.

[ukrules]

1 hour ago, The Cyclist said:

 

It hasn't you know.

 

Don't be shocked or surprised if Thailand implements global taxation for tax year 2027.

 

A new Prime Minister was appointed just before that article was written. Things can change quickly with someone new in the hot seat.

[The Cyclist]

2 minutes ago, ukrules said:

 

A new Prime Minister was appointed just before that article was written. Things can change quickly with someone new in the hot seat.

 

Yes , it can.

 

What does not change is Governments desperation to raise even more revenues.

 

Not forgetting

 

Quote

OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann publicly launched the process of Thailand's accession to the OECD in Bangkok today, formally handing over the Roadmap for accession by the second largest economy in Southeast Asia. 

 

https://www.oecd.org/en/about/news/press-releases/2024/10/oecd-kicks-off-accession-process-with-thailand.html

 

When that formal accession process is halted, by Thailand, then I think things will return to normal regarding taxation, until then, you know what these organisations are like.

 

The EU is a good recent example.

[JohnnyBD]

1 hour ago, The Cyclist said:

 

It hasn't you know.

 

Don't be shocked or surprised if Thailand implements global taxation for tax year 2027.

If you would, please let us know as soon as global taxation becomes law in Thailand. Until then, it's just a waste of my time discussing something that may never happen. Life is just too short.

[The Cyclist]

3 minutes ago, JohnnyBD said:

Until then, I don't see any reason to waste anymore time discussing it until something new comes out. Life is just too short.

 

Yet, here you are. On a thread about a proposal, that may or may not happen.

 

I think you might miss the irony.

[JohnnyBD]

3 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

Yet, here you are. On a thread about a proposal, that may or may not happen.

 

I think you might miss the irony.

Why cut my post short. I told you:

If you would, please let us know as soon as global taxation becomes law in Thailand. Until then, it's just a waste of my time discussing something that may never happen. Life is just too short.

 

What part of that don't you understand. I do not want to discuss this with you any longer as it is a waste of my time. Please let me know if it ever becomes law, otherwise you were wrong about it becoming law...

[The Cyclist]

1 minute ago, JohnnyBD said:

Why cut my post short. I told you:

 

You told me, did you ?
 

Have a read of this.

 

https://www.oecd.org/en/about/news/press-releases/2024/10/oecd-kicks-off-accession-process-with-thailand.html

 

Take note of these in particular.

 

Quote

Thailand has been actively engaged with the OECD, increasingly participating in OECD bodies, selected databases and adhering to a number of OECD legal instruments

 

That means taking rules from the OECD.

 

Quote

As a result of these technical reviews, committees may recommend changes to Thailand’s legislation, policy and practices to bring them further into line with OECD standards and best practices,

 

Has the magnitude of the above sunk in ?

[JB300]

4 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

So you're a tax evader. Probably one of the few?  

I live on passive income (Rent, Dividends & Capital Gains), my accountant files my return & I have no tax pay by UK rules… 

   1. (net) Rental income, below the £12,570 personal allowance, no tax to pay.  
   2. Dividends, reported as “Disregarded” Income so no additional tax to pay over the tax already withheld. 
  3. Capital Gains, I’ve been an expat for 17 years so any  (Non Property)) capital gains are not taxable. 
 

Not evading anything, just following the rules…

 

Have filed returns since I was 19 (this year will be my 40th return) before becoming an Expat, as a higher rate tax payer, there there was always some extra tax to be paid on dividends & benefits in kind (Conpany car, Private Health insurance etc)… but apart from property sales, the Uk is very generous to Non-UK Tax residents. 

[redwood1]

15 minutes ago, JohnnyBD said:

Why cut my post short. I told you:

If you would, please let us know as soon as global taxation becomes law in Thailand. Until then, it's just a waste of my time discussing something that may never happen. Life is just too short.

 

What part of that don't you understand. I do not want to discuss this with you any longer as it is a waste of my time. Please let me know if it ever becomes law, otherwise you were wrong about it becoming law...

 

Trust me this is a repeat of whether expats are required to file or not ....Its only a new subject matter....Look through old threads..

[Captor]

7 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

 

Yes. In fact they make it explicitly clear that the intention of the change is to force repatriation of income to Thailand asap. Delay a year and it’s taxed.

Right, that is my impression as well of the whole new thing when reading the articles. Not much gain for us with pension or salary from the home country at all. And NOT back to how it was in previous years before 2024 and earlier. So not much to celibrate.

[George FmplesdaCosteedback]

"The Revenue Department of Thailand is gearing up to draft new legislation..."

 

Here we go again, back on the roundabout of ifs, whens and buts.

 

 

 

 

[Presnock]

15 hours ago, The Cyclist said:

 

Trump is the President of Thailand ? Who knew ?
 

Trump is the head of the OECD ? Who knew ?
 

There is something really ironic about Americans being upset about Thailand possibly implementing global taxation.

global taxation is only a portion of the OECD taxation possibilities, and besides the tax situation, Thailand and any other country wishing to join the OECD as a full member has to meet many requirements and many of those will be difficult to find fruition in this country IMHO but the current leaders do seem to be highly interested in just that!

[sandyf]

21 hours ago, Captor said:

So if I want to remitt income earned in this year (2025) for example 5 years later then I must pay tax?

The rule about remitted within the same year or the following year will not apply and I need to pay tax on that. 

That is a way of forcing the foreign income into Thailand faster. If waiting more than following year of the earning we must still pay tax and we are still screwed. But later on...

Why start bringing up issues on something that hasn't happened.

If the changes do happen to materialise, the majority of expats living on their monthly income will be in a much better position than they are now.

It is up to each of us to manage our affairs as best as possible under what circumstances prevail.

[The Cyclist]

1 hour ago, Presnock said:

global taxation is only a portion of the OECD taxation possibilities, and besides the tax situation, Thailand and any other country wishing to join the OECD as a full member has to meet many requirements and many of those will be difficult to find fruition in this country IMHO but the current leaders do seem to be highly interested in just that!

 

As I posted yesterday, Thailand wishing to join the OECD is past tense.

 

The Accession process has already begun.

 

https://www.oecd.org/en/about/news/press-releases/2024/10/oecd-kicks-off-accession-process-with-thailand.html

 

The next thing will be a welfare state, a National Pension Scheme and all manner of other expensive gambits.

 

Guess what is needed to fund these ?
 

So unless Thailand halts the accession process, the direction of travel is only one way.

 

Benjamin Hart had a very ranty video on this very subject, it he did not appear to understand / know that the process was already underway.

 

 

[wensiensheng]

14 hours ago, Captor said:

Right, that is my impression as well of the whole new thing when reading the articles. Not much gain for us with pension or salary from the home country at all. And NOT back to how it was in previous years before 2024 and earlier. So not much to celibrate.

Not sure I follow you tbh. If your pension or salary from back home is immediately remitted to Thailand, it would be tax free. If you did that now, it would be taxed. How is that not a win.

 

Of course, if you don’t bring all your salary or pension into Thailand in the year it’s received, it would be taxed. Just as it would be now. So no loss there.

 

Quite a bit to celebrate I think.

[Ricardo]

45 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

The next thing will be a welfare state, a National Pension Scheme and all manner of other expensive gambits.

 

 

Just to point out that Thailand already has a pension-system, IIRC it pays about B600 per-month, to Over-60s ?

[Presnock]

43 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

As I posted yesterday, Thailand wishing to join the OECD is past tense.

 

The Accession process has already begun.

 

https://www.oecd.org/en/about/news/press-releases/2024/10/oecd-kicks-off-accession-process-with-thailand.html

 

The next thing will be a welfare state, a National Pension Scheme and all manner of other expensive gambits.

 

Guess what is needed to fund these ?
 

So unless Thailand halts the accession process, the direction of travel is only one way.

 

Benjamin Hart had a very ranty video on this very subject, it he did not appear to understand / know that the process was already underway.

 

 

yes one really important OECD concerns the country's tax situation i.e. consumption, income, and any other source of income - to comply with the mandate, Thailand needs to broaden their income tax base which right now is about 13% of workers actually pay taxes when the OECD members is around 34%.  Yes, Thailand wants Thais with foreign income to bring pay taxes and not keep their monies overseas and also, expats who are also Thai tax residents as the finance people say that ALL tax residents will be treated equally under the law.  What that means and what will eventually fall out of trees in the form of a Royal Decree IMHO not one person on this forum KNOWS what that will be but there are a bunch of us experts providing our opinion since as you know we all have our own opinion.  IMHO I will not be affected as I am from the US and taxed by the US forever using the DTA or LTR but I am concerned as who knows what changes might affect everyone!

[Cabradelmar]

20 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Not in effect yet and may never be, but IF it does come into effect it would shocking if it didn't apply to Thai tax residents as well (expats).

Yet... May never... If... If... People live suffering in their imagination 😂 

[The Cyclist]

37 minutes ago, Ricardo said:

 

Just to point out that Thailand already has a pension-system, IIRC it pays about B600 per-month, to Over-60s ?

 

That B 600 a month is not a pension, it is a means tested allowance.

 

Quote

At least 180 months (15 years) of contributions are required for monthly pension receipt and the pension benefit is adjusted for a longer contribution period.

 

Probably great swathes of Thai people who do not qualify for a pension and exist on the B600 a month allowance.

 

Unsurprisingly, the OECD are all over it. Any guesses as to why that might be ?

 

https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/pensions-at-a-glance-asia-pacific-2024_d4146d12-en/full-report/thailand_eaeb7aea.html

[TroubleandGrumpy]

On 5/25/2025 at 9:18 AM, sandyf said:

You are out of order to suggest my post was racist but I suspect due to an ignorant interpretation. Many on here(falangs) have nothing but contempt for the Thais, they are the racists.

There is nothing clever in supporting tax evasion and the TRD has every right to minimise tax avoidance.

"The ugly face of falangism" -  is insulting a group of people based on them being generally old white males (racist?).   Some Expats do have contempt for Thais - that is true - but the vast majority are just sometimes extremely annoyed by their ignorance and corruption (not all of the Thais are - but a lot). 

 

Regarding your silly tax avoidance comment above, I am reminded of the Bard - ""The lady doth protest too much, methinks."  And when you commented before "why should those that pay the correct tax subsidise those that don't want to pay" makes me think you panicked and lodged a tax return and paid taxes - so you want us all to do the same - and are annoyed we did not? 

[Presnock]

48 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

That B 600 a month is not a pension, it is a means tested allowance.

 

 

Probably great swathes of Thai people who do not qualify for a pension and exist on the B600 a month allowance.

 

Unsurprisingly, the OECD are all over it. Any guesses as to why that might be ?

 

https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/pensions-at-a-glance-asia-pacific-2024_d4146d12-en/full-report/thailand_eaeb7aea.html

OECD members want countries wishing to join to have a "robust" and inclusive pension plan that provides sustinance for the older crowd - 600 baht a month is stretching to think people can actually survive on that alone.  OECD also helps countries to develop their pension plans, if interested google " OECD and pension plans for membership".

[redwood1]

1 hour ago, Presnock said:

yes one really important OECD concerns the country's tax situation i.e. consumption, income, and any other source of income - to comply with the mandate, Thailand needs to broaden their income tax base which right now is about 13% of workers actually pay taxes when the OECD members is around 34%.  Yes, Thailand wants Thais with foreign income to bring pay taxes and not keep their monies overseas and also, expats who are also Thai tax residents as the finance people say that ALL tax residents will be treated equally under the law.  What that means and what will eventually fall out of trees in the form of a Royal Decree IMHO not one person on this forum KNOWS what that will be but there are a bunch of us experts providing our opinion since as you know we all have our own opinion.  IMHO I will not be affected as I am from the US and taxed by the US forever using the DTA or LTR but I am concerned as who knows what changes might affect everyone!

 

Sir every poster on all tax threads is a tax expert in their own mind....Blessing us all with their expert tax advice....lol

[Jingthing]

A good summary of the new tax news so far.

 

 

[Presnock]

21 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

 

Sir every poster on all tax threads is a tax expert in their own mind....Blessing us all with their expert tax advice....lol

if everyone would realize that this is an opinion forum and just accepts one's opinion without getting hostile then it wouldn't matter but it seems to me that when I express something that I include is my opinion, I get lots of strange replies and not so friendly yet those buttholes just seem to think that their opinion is the only one that is accurate and from what I have seen, what ever does come out from the finance folks seems really weird wording and then the writer of the article throws in some bits from last year or so.  Just like the current "drafting" for Royal decree now - none here really have any accurate idea of what it will say nor if many will be happy or not.  But IMHO the country is broke, wants to do some more freebies, and must find some extra baht from some place and I think they will be looking at expats as tax residents for sure.  That 180 days for this year is rapidly approaching - they may wait until that magic day to provide us with their latest wisdom.

[TroubleandGrumpy]

21 hours ago, The Cyclist said:

The Thai Government ( and most other Governments ) need additional revenues, I would be very surprised if Global Taxation is not implemented in time for 2027 tax year.

That is their plan - as stated by a senior TRD Official in a recent youtube video. But will they get it completed and implemented by then - who knows. Clearly their decision in late 2023 to tax 2024 remittances with 3 months notice, was a stupid and (as usual here) ill conceived and thought out.  A huge amount of remittances did not happen last year and earlier this one - so now they are offering a 2 years 'freebie' because they desperately need the money coming into the country.  Jan 1 2027 start of the tax year is their plan for a global system - but that is a long way away time in Thai politics and I doubt they will get it finished in time. 

 

If you have money that you can bring into Thailand this year and next year, then (assuming this applies to all Tax Residents) then make hay while the sun shines IMO (once passed).  It might still be shining in 2027 and beyond - who knows.  Hopefully, they will also recognise that people looking to bring their money back into Thailand, want a far better exchange rate than at present - therefore maybe they will 'encourage' the Baht to drop in value. Who knows what these clowns will do - but I will wait for the Baht to go down before bringing any larger amounts into Thailand in 2025 and 2026 - if/after this new decree is passed. 

[The Cyclist]

56 minutes ago, Presnock said:

OECD members want countries wishing to join to have a "robust" and inclusive pension plan that provides sustinance for the older crowd - 600 baht a month is stretching to think people can actually survive on that alone.  OECD also helps countries to develop their pension plans, if interested google " OECD and pension plans for membership".

 

Sure, that is why I said

 

3 hours ago, The Cyclist said:

The next thing will be a welfare state, a National Pension Scheme and all manner of other expensive gambits.

 

26 minutes ago, Presnock said:

if everyone would realize that this is an opinion forum and just accepts one's opinion without getting hostile then it wouldn't matter

 

Those same people might look into the OECD instead of bumping their gums continuously, and understand that until Thailand withdraws from joining the OECD, the OECD will be steering Thailand in a direction that is acceptable to the OECD.

 

Which in some instances, will not be to the benefit of Thailand ( as we currently know Thailand )

 

 

[The Cyclist]

5 minutes ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

That is their plan - as stated by a senior TRD Official in a recent youtube video. But will they get it completed and implemented by then - who knows.

 

Exactly.

 

Which is why I have just spent 3 months in the Phillipines, getting my head around the SRRV and a feel for the place.

 

Plan B planning, in case global taxation in Thailand takes off.

[NoDisplayName]

8 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

Exactly.

 

Which is why I have just spent 3 months in the Phillipines, getting my head around the SRRV and a feel for the place.

 

Plan B planning, in case global taxation in Thailand takes off.

 

Lucky Philippine forums will benefit from your mighty pearls of wisdom.  Give 'em heck, Harry!

 

Philippines joins OECD framework on tax rules

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has joined an inclusive framework of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that seeks to address gaps and mismatches in the country’s tax rules.

 

https://www.philstar.com/business/2023/11/10/2310192/philippines-joins-oecd-framework-tax-rules

[NoDisplayName]

20 minutes ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

That is their plan - as stated by a senior TRD Official in a recent youtube video. But will they get it completed and implemented by then - who knows. Clearly their decision in late 2023 to tax 2024 remittances with 3 months notice, was a stupid and (as usual here) ill conceived and thought out.  A huge amount of remittances did not happen last year and earlier this one - so now they are offering a 2 years 'freebie' because they desperately need the money coming into the country.  Jan 1 2027 start of the tax year is their plan for a global system - but that is a long way away time in Thai politics and I doubt they will get it finished in time. 

 

If you have money that you can bring into Thailand this year and next year, then (assuming this applies to all Tax Residents) then make hay while the sun shines IMO (once passed).  It might still be shining in 2027 and beyond - who knows.  Hopefully, they will also recognise that people looking to bring their money back into Thailand, want a far better exchange rate than at present - therefore maybe they will 'encourage' the Baht to drop in value. Who knows what these clowns will do - but I will wait for the Baht to go down before bringing any larger amounts into Thailand in 2025 and 2026 - if/after this new decree is passed. 

 

They can want all they want here in the hub of discarded plans.

 

If the last bright idea fell short, then global taxation......that being taxes levied on foreign sourced income regardless of remittance....will be a robust failure.

 

Expats will leave permanently, except for those with families, in which case they'll have to remain out of country for half the year to avoid tax residency.

 

Thailand's wealthy elite will find ways to evade the tax altogether, as they always do.

[The Cyclist]

2 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

Lucky Philippine forums will benefit from your mighty pearls of wisdom.  Give 'em heck, Harry!

 

Well done trigger.

 

It would be absolutely beyond you  to think 175 days in each Country.