05 Aug 2025:

 

"The Revenue Department is expediting the introduction of legislation to exempt Thais from income tax on foreign-sourced earnings within this year.

According to Pinsai Suraswadi, director-general of the department, the new law exempts income tax for Thai individuals who bring foreign-sourced income into Thailand within two years from when the income was earned. The details are still being discussed within the Finance Ministry.

Once the law is promulgated this year, it may be applied retroactively, he said."

 

 

From where & when did this announcement come from?

15 minutes ago, JohnnyBD said:

From where & when did this announcement come from?

Bangkok Post today

19 minutes ago, JohnnyBD said:

From where & when did this announcement come from?

 

It's not new, they've been saying the same thing for a couple of months now.

Then the PM was suspended, cabinet reshuffle - if they did restate this today then it is significant.

I first read about it in the Bangkok Post a while back, many things have changed since then - for now.

Edit - link to todays article : https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3081357/law-exempting-tax-on-foreign-income-in-the-offing

 

 

It does appear to be a mere regurgitation of the older article from a few months back. Same plan, same people but in the civil service, not at government level - which was the same as before.

I wouldn't hold my breath but this would be useful, especially if it's a rolling 2 year period going forward instead of a one off - that's the crux of the matter.

 

Yes, it appears to be a repub from earlier this year. At least they are keeping the issue alive. Hopefully, it will come to pass. It states "Thai individuals", but further in the article it states individuals who reside in Thailand for 180 days or more as being affected.

 

"According to Pinsai Suraswadi, director-general of the department, the new law exempts income tax for Thai individuals who bring foreign-sourced income into Thailand within two years from when the income was earned. The details are still being discussed within the Finance Ministry." 

"Once the law is promulgated this year, it may be applied retroactively, he said." 

I recall reading something some time ago. It included farang as well if memory serves. Bring money in within two years - no tax.

 

See above post*

 

So, Thai free - farang pay. If true, what an insult. That's worth possibly leaving over.

 

Thai Examiner has done some good reporting on this issue 

4 minutes ago, JohnnyBD said:

applied retroactively,

 

Yeah, we're slow out of the gate, don't really know what we are doing, constantly change our minds, politics corrupts the effort, but when the dust settles your on the hook for back taxes.

 

I really wish I could afford to take my wife and leave. 

This looks very likely to happen, and don't be surprised if it is applied retroactively even to 2024...........then the 1% of fearful expats who managed to pay Thai tax on their foreign income remitted in 2024, will get the tax back. 

 

What they won't get back, is the $$ they paid to 'expat' tax specialists to file their returns, the type of companies that prey upon fear to create a business model. 

 

For the vast majority of foreigners in Thailand, this rule change will simply keep the status quo, that is:  "if you don't work in Thailand, or run a business in Thailand, you have nothing to do with the TRD, and you don't pay Thai tax."

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3081357/law-exempting-tax-on-foreign-income-in-the-offing

 

(Sorry, didn't see UKs post)

46 minutes ago, JohnnyBD said:

"Once the law is promulgated this year, it may be applied retroactively, he said." 

IMO this means "to any [foreign] income earned in 2025. But I'd love to see "onwards" somewhere...

50 minutes ago, anrcaccount said:

This looks very likely to happen, and don't be surprised if it is applied retroactively even to 2024...........then the 1% of fearful expats who managed to pay Thai tax on their foreign income remitted in 2024, will get the tax back.

It's possible, but I wouldn't bet on it. I would be very surprised if Thailand gave money back for tax year 2024.

20 minutes ago, JohnnyBD said:

It's possible, but I wouldn't bet on it. I would be very surprised if Thailand gave money back for tax year 2024.

 

Yup, fair opinion.

 

The overall amount of tax paid on foreign income remitted is 2024 is likely to be a paltry amount anyway, as with even a small amount of planning this could be avoided, or ignored entirely, as there have been no practical changes on enforcement, i.e. no enforcement.

 

Refunding anyone who actually paid it would be a smart move to encourage those individuals to remit freely in the future, however, as it is the smart move........ it's probably unlikely to happen!

 

 

4 hours ago, PHJones said:

05 Aug 2025:

 

"The Revenue Department is expediting the introduction of legislation to exempt Thais from income tax on foreign-sourced earnings within this year.

According to Pinsai Suraswadi, director-general of the department, the new law exempts income tax for Thai individuals who bring foreign-sourced income into Thailand within two years from when the income was earned. The details are still being discussed within the Finance Ministry.

Once the law is promulgated this year, it may be applied retroactively, he said."

 

 

I find that last line to be a joke...what year will the bill pass?

 

I wish I knew how many foreigners actually paid taxes on their remittances for tax year 2024. I bet it was a pretty low percentage. I didn't make any assessable remittances in 2024, just used what I had in the bank here, then received my LTR-WP visa, and started remitting money freely again this year.

More confusion we can only hope this applies to expats as well as Thais.

3 hours ago, DarkBrandon said:

 

Yeah, we're slow out of the gate, don't really know what we are doing, constantly change our minds, politics corrupts the effort, but when the dust settles your on the hook for back taxes.

 

I really wish I could afford to take my wife and leave. 

The exemption would apply retroactively.

But don't let that affect your flounce.

3 hours ago, anrcaccount said:

This looks very likely to happen, and don't be surprised if it is applied retroactively even to 2024...........then the 1% of fearful expats who managed to pay Thai tax on their foreign income remitted in 2024, will get the tax back. 

 

What they won't get back, is the $$ they paid to 'expat' tax specialists to file their returns, the type of companies that prey upon fear to create a business model. 

 

For the vast majority of foreigners in Thailand, this rule change will simply keep the status quo, that is:  "if you don't work in Thailand, or run a business in Thailand, you have nothing to do with the TRD, and you don't pay Thai tax."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yep, the correct thing to do was absolutely nothing. Just sitting on a bar stool was more useful than indulging in all the hysteria. 

Tax Break Bonanza: Thais to Benefit from New Foreign Income Rule

 

File photo courtesy of Expatica

 

Thais are set to enjoy a tax-free advantage on foreign income. The Revenue Department is fast-tracking new legislation that will exempt Thai individuals from income tax on foreign-sourced earnings, which is expected to take effect this year. Once introduced, the law will allow Thai individuals to import foreign-earned income into Thailand tax-free within a two-year period.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1368822-tax-break-bonanza-thais-to-benefit-from-new-foreign-income-rule/

Just as the 2023/2024 changes impacted everyone, both Thai and Expat, so will this change once gazetted. 

 

https://www.chiangraitimes.com/finance/tax-on-foreign-income/

On 8/5/2025 at 12:37 PM, Everyman said:

Yep, the correct thing to do was absolutely nothing. Just sitting on a bar stool was more useful than indulging in all the hysteria. 

I was forced by my Oz bank to get a Thai tax number. They froze my accounts in Oz until I did.

 

Having gotten the TIN and a little card to go with it, and having supplied the details to my Oz bank, I have done nothing since. The above 'news' confirms that that has been the correct thing to do (ie nothing).

As I know, we (foreigners) are not tax-free for foreign income in 2024. I filed my tax form for 2024 in the Jomtien Revenue Department. I had to go 3 times to give them more information and documents about my source of income(retirement), with monthly specifications (electronic signature accepted). I had to provide them with all my bank accounts and remittances from abroad in 2024.I had to provide them with doc. that I pay taxes in my home country! I had to fill out a form in which they asked me many tax-related questions. Now I am still waiting for my tax return (if any). I paid taxes on dividend income in 2024.

On 8/5/2025 at 8:34 AM, DarkBrandon said:

So, Thai free - farang pay. If true, what an insult. That's worth possibly leaving over.

Not at all! If you read the post in aseannow 5th Aug, you will see that is so not the case! It clearly states that anyone here for more than 180 days is a tax resident and the ruling will be applicable to them. 

On 8/5/2025 at 9:20 AM, Peter Crow said:

On 8/5/2025 at 8:32 AM, JohnnyBD said:

 

IMO this means "to any [foreign] income earned in 2025. But I'd love to see "onwards" somewhere.

It has been stated that this should all be passed late this year and means money remitted from earnings in 2024 can be  sent into 2025 tax free. Then again for 2025 into 2026. That will be the 2 year allowance then after that, who knows.

36 minutes ago, vukovar77 said:

As I know, we (foreigners) are not tax-free for foreign income in 2024. 

2024 foreign income is only taxable for what may have been remitted to Thailand.
Unless and until they implement plans for foreign income worldwide to be taxable. 

On 8/5/2025 at 8:34 AM, DarkBrandon said:

I recall reading something some time ago. It included farang as well if memory serves. Bring money in within two years - no tax.

 

See above post*

 

So, Thai free - farang pay. If true, what an insult. That's worth possibly leaving over.

 

Thai Examiner has done some good reporting on this issue 

Thailand seems to forget that foreigners bringing currency into the country is good for the country. You cant trade easily using Thai Baht.

18 minutes ago, worrab said:

It has been stated that this should all be passed late this year and means money remitted from earnings in 2024 can be  sent into 2025 tax free. Then again for 2025 into 2026. That will be the 2 year allowance then after that, who knows.

Not so, [remitted] Income earned from Jan 1, 2025 will be tax exempt if remitted within two years of earning will be tax exempt. 2024 income will be unaffected. And as a said we don't know how long the new rule will last.

 

Some people here are dreaming they'll get a refund of tax paid this year but this will never happen. The rule might be "retroactive" in that some of the income earned, in 2025, prior to the date of effect of the amendment will be exempt. But the big winners will be those who have transferred their savings made prior to Jan 1, 2024 and kept their 2024/2025 earnings overseas.

Never take notice of rumours until it is in Royal Gazette