I have a specific question, and I'd be grateful if those could keep on point on it please:

 

As a non working, retired expat on a retirement visa, who and how have you been able to be issued with a Tax Identification Number?

TL;DR Key Takeaways – Applying for a Thailand Expat Tax Identification Number (TIN)

• TIN Requirement for Expats:
  From January 1, 2024, expatriates in Thailand will need a Tax Identification Number (TIN) due to new tax regulations on foreign-sourced income.
• TIN Role and Global Context:
  TINs are unique identifiers for tax purposes, aligning with global standards like the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard to facilitate transparent financial information exchange.

I am in your exact same situation  A year ago my UK  broker asked for  a TIN

also my bank who I could not afford to 

upset. The local tax office (Jomtien ) was empty ,got a   TIM in 5 mins .Cost 20 baht ..  for the photocopy. 

 

I got a TIN in CM in 2021.  I knew I would probably never owe Thai tax so I wasn't worried about the TRD 'knowing' about me.

 

I took my passport, certificate of residency and a bank book showing tax being withheld from my interest to the Chiang Mai Area Revenue Branch Office 1-2:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/STtj8AuitbeZJFGV8

it took about 20 minutes from start to end.

I went to the local TRD. I said I needed a TIN for opening a bank account in a foreign country. I don't remember which foreign country I used as an excuse. Twenty minutes later I left with my Thai TIN in my pocket.

I downloaded and filed in form LP.10.1 , took it to my local tax office and presented it with my passport, pink ID card and yellow tabbien ban. Fifteen minutes later I was given a TIN. 

Download form from https://rd.go.th/62346.html

When opening a new bank account in Thailand, are you automatically issued a TIN?

1 minute ago, EVENKEEL said:

When opening a new bank account in Thailand, are you automatically issued a TIN?

No, its nothing to do with the bank.

On 8/6/2025 at 8:48 PM, John Smith 777 said:

who and how have you been able to be issued with a Tax Identification Number?

I went to the local tax office and asked for one.

I went into a local accountant, her staff organised and sorted it out in an hour, while I drank coffee. 😀

12 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

No, its nothing to do with the bank.

My reason for asking, I went to get a second account and paperwork for TIN was given. I declined to proceed with account. Guess it's possible it was for the US paperwork. But, this happened awhile back when the tax scare for foreigners was raging.

On 8/6/2025 at 8:48 PM, John Smith 777 said:

I have a specific question, and I'd be grateful if those could keep on point on it please:

 

As a non working, retired expat on a retirement visa, who and how have you been able to be issued with a Tax Identification Number?

TL;DR Key Takeaways – Applying for a Thailand Expat Tax Identification Number (TIN)

• TIN Requirement for Expats:
  From January 1, 2024, expatriates in Thailand will need a Tax Identification Number (TIN) due to new tax regulations on foreign-sourced income.
• TIN Role and Global Context:
  TINs are unique identifiers for tax purposes, aligning with global standards like the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard to facilitate transparent financial information exchange.

Just go in to the office, hand over your passport, and after 10-15 min you will have a TIN.

Not needed if not generating income in th unless it’s a personal novelty item or forcing an unnecessary obligation.

At the Chalong office on Phuket they point blank refused to give me a TIN unless I submitted a tax return.

In Sattahip they told me it was not needed, but they would give me a tin no. if I insisted, but then I would have to fill in an annual tax return. 

Decided not to bother I have enough problems with HMRC as it is.

About 3 years ago tax office issued me a TIN for tax from bank fixed accounts. I don't even bother to apply anymore since last year. 

21 minutes ago, OneManShow said:

About 3 years ago tax office issued me a TIN for tax from bank fixed accounts. I don't even bother to apply anymore since last year. 

Ditto before Covid. But got it more as a personal challenge but never used it.

It should be easy to get a Thai TIN.

 

Don't do what i did (where i let my Thai wife handle all the discussions with the Revenue Department). 

 

I needed a Thai TIN as (1) all the talk about Thai taxing expats had me a bit concerned and (2) I needed the Thai TIN to unfreeze a Canadian trading account and also to open a new Canadian trading account.  

 

My Thai wife disagreed. Her view was i did not need a Thai tax ID.  ... but she failed to understand the issues I had with Canada with my Canadian trading accounts.

 

So she eventually applied on line for a Thai tax ID for me.  That application on line went to Bangkok, and they forwarded it to Phuket.  The Phuket RD official phoned my wife (as she put her phone# and not my # on the TIN application form) and asked her, why did i need a Tax ID?  How did I pay for my expenses in Thailand and was I bringing any money into Thailand?  My wife answered I brought a bunch of money into Thailand when i was a non-tax resident to Thailand, and I have been living off such ever since. And I was bringing no money into Thailand. So the RD official noted if i was bringing no money into Thailand, i did NOT have to file a tax ID and he would not issue one.

 

Further my wife (possibly to prove to me I did not need a Thai tax ID) asked the Phuket RD official, was not my yellow-book/pink-ID number a tax ID?  The RD official replied, yes, my yellow-book/pink-ID # could be my tax ID #, if he activated it to be such. However since i was bringing no money into Thailand, he saw no need to activate it.

 

And that was 'end of story' (almost) and I only found out later about the discussion with the RD official and my wife. But ... but ... i still had an issue with Canada.

 

What I ended up doing was giving the Canadian financial institutions my yellow-boot/Pink-ID #, with a written/signed caveat that this would be my Thai tax ID after being activated, but that it was not yet active.  The Canadian financial institutions accepted that. My frozen account was unfrozen, and I was able to open a new account with a different financial institution, using that approach.

 

i am currently on an LTR visa, and given that, and also given POR.161/162 (no tax on pre-1-Jan-2024 savings brought to Thailand) I may never need to file a Thai tax return.  The interest I obtain from Thai banks is very close to the threshold for filing a Thai tax return, however it all has 15% tax withheld by the banks.  And according to Thai tax law, (I can post my research on this if requested)  if the 15% withholding tax is applied, that basically removes that income from being assessed as part of one's assessable income for deciding if a Thai tax return is needed. 

 

Having typed all the above, please take note of JackGat's approach above. That is the way to go about this.

 

Do NOT let my wife handle it.  Lol ! 

 

 

On 8/8/2025 at 9:01 AM, novacova said:

Not needed if not generating income in th unless it’s a personal novelty item or forcing an unnecessary obligation.

I have listened to the Thai revenue lawyer and top guy speaking and they said if one has no taxable income here i.e civil pension exempt by DTA or one with an LTR visa so all foreign income exempt, one does not need to get a TIN and might even have difficulty in trying to obtain one as we have noted on this forum.  I do not have a TIN and filled out the paperwork again at the bank for FATCA reporting (USA) and on the form it has a place for the TIN if one is a tax resident but also has a space to provide why one doesn't have a TIN which I wrote and sent in with my signature.  If the TRD does have a problem since I remit funds regularly to Thailand, I have US govt documentation about my income and the p/p with the LTR so I fear not.

On 8/8/2025 at 3:40 AM, EVENKEEL said:

When opening a new bank account in Thailand, are you automatically issued a TIN?

The bank might ask you for one but it will not provide you with one.

On 8/6/2025 at 3:48 PM, John Smith 777 said:

I have a specific question, and I'd be grateful if those could keep on point on it please:

 

As a non working, retired expat on a retirement visa, who and how have you been able to be issued with a Tax Identification Number?

TL;DR Key Takeaways – Applying for a Thailand Expat Tax Identification Number (TIN)

• TIN Requirement for Expats:
  From January 1, 2024, expatriates in Thailand will need a Tax Identification Number (TIN) due to new tax regulations on foreign-sourced income.
• TIN Role and Global Context:
  TINs are unique identifiers for tax purposes, aligning with global standards like the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard to facilitate transparent financial information exchange.

I got my TIN – registration, as I already had a Thai ID-number from my house book – at the local Customs Department. I needed to show passport with a long-stay visa, including permission to stay – i.e. extension of stay-stamp – and proof of taxable income in Thailand. I got my TIN-registration receipt immediately...

 

This TIN topic hasn't even been passed by the Thai parliament yet, and some people keep making a big deal out of it! Which retired Foreigner here has actually ever needed this TIN? I don't know a single one!

On 8/8/2025 at 9:01 AM, novacova said:

Not needed if not generating income in th unless it’s a personal novelty item or forcing an unnecessary obligation.

The OP may be required to show his home country a Thai tax ID to prove tax residency in another country.

50 minutes ago, ujayujay said:

Which retired Foreigner here has actually ever needed this TIN?

oldcpu... see above.

I've had one for about ten years from Local Tax Ofice.    If you don't get one you can't claim back the interest on the money you keep in Thai Bank Accounts.

 

On 8/6/2025 at 8:48 PM, John Smith 777 said:

I have a specific question, and I'd be grateful if those could keep on point on it please:

 

As a non working, retired expat on a retirement visa, who and how have you been able to be issued with a Tax Identification Number?

TL;DR Key Takeaways – Applying for a Thailand Expat Tax Identification Number (TIN)

• TIN Requirement for Expats:
  From January 1, 2024, expatriates in Thailand will need a Tax Identification Number (TIN) due to new tax regulations on foreign-sourced income.
• TIN Role and Global Context:
  TINs are unique identifiers for tax purposes, aligning with global standards like the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard to facilitate transparent financial information exchange.

I believe it's your pink id card number.

5 hours ago, LittleBear57 said:

In Sattahip they told me it was not needed, but they would give me a tin no. if I insisted, but then I would have to fill in an annual tax return. 

Decided not to bother I have enough problems with HMRC as it is.

 

They be lazy and don't want to spend ten minutes doing paperwork.

 

Having a TIN does not require annual tax returns.  Millions of Thais have TINs and never file.  If you don't meet filing threshold, neither will you.

On 8/6/2025 at 8:48 PM, John Smith 777 said:

As a non working, retired expat on a retirement visa, who and how have you been able to be issued with a Tax Identification Number?

 

2017 Bangkapi/Huamak.

 

Non-O retired.  RC not required.  They asked why, I told 'em refund of interest/dividend withholding tax.  15 minutes and done.  No fee.

 

Couple years ago, I got pink ID and yellow book.  Learned pink ID number is your TIN.  The local office (Korat) activated pink ID number for use in online filing and cancelled my old TIN. 

53 minutes ago, trainman34014 said:

I've had one for about ten years from Local Tax Ofice.    If you don't get one you can't claim back the interest on the money you keep in Thai Bank Accounts.

 

 

What do you mean claim back interest from Thai bank accounts, my interest is paid once a year into the same bank account by Bangkok Bank.

1 hour ago, trainman34014 said:

I've had one for about ten years from Local Tax Ofice.    If you don't get one you can't claim back the interest on the money you keep in Thai Bank Accounts.

 

Actually you not claiming back the interest on your deposit, you can/are claiming back the tax which is deducted automatically from the interest (although in some cases if you register your TIN nbr with the bank, they will not deduct the 15% tax).

On 8/8/2025 at 8:51 AM, Digitalbanana said:

I went to the local tax office and asked for one.

Ditto.