38 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

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.

James, you can claim back the TAX the BkkBk deducts from your bank account interest.

 

Check what your Thai tax allowance is, and see if you qualify to reclaim the tax.

You don't need a TIN to do this.

 

In December, go to you Bkk Bk and ask for tax invoices for each of your bank accounts.

It's free.

 

Take those to your local Thai tax office and request to claim the tax back.

 

Sign the declaration form.

 

Wait two months and a cheque will be posted to your home.

 

The catch is... you can ONLY cash that cheque at the Krung Thai bank, so you need an account there. I keep 10 baht in mine, and withdraw the cheque amount the same day I cash it.

 

KT bank is the SLOWEST customer service on the planet.

 

So you need great patience with the Staff.

 

But it's worth it NOT to let the Tax man steal your hard-earned (already taxed) pennies. 

 

If you enjoy feeding State tax monsters, just forget I mentioned it, and keep paying them.

 

 

On 8/8/2025 at 9:35 AM, MarkT63 said:

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

 

Looks like they won't be pleased by needlessly increasing their workload.

5 hours ago, ujayujay said:

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!

What are you talking about? Its not just about tax legislation not yet passed.
Thailand has joined the CRS, that is a fact and majority of other countries adhere.
Banks overseas are required to get your declaration of residence and TIN. Several reports of problems.
Banks here are now requiring the TIN. They are suppoosed to get it. Several reports.
You clearly have not read many posts on the forum concerning the subject of why a TIN is becoming necessary,
because you state you dont know anything about them.
If you want to post, then get up to date on the subject matter.
 

3 hours ago, cmjc said:

Check what your Thai tax allowance is, and see if you qualify to reclaim the tax.

You don't need a TIN to do this.

 

Unless I'm misteaken, he needs to file a tax return to claim the refund, and needs a TIN to file a return.

 

3 hours ago, cmjc said:

The catch is... you can ONLY cash that cheque at the Krung Thai bank, so you need an account there.

 

From reports in other recent threads, the refund check can now be cashed/deposited at any bank.

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.

Well not true.

1. If u a tax resident you suppose to file, I'm sure 90%+ do not. 

 

2. Also as most people are stating you may need it to open bank account.  Which was never an issue years ago. 

 

So just to say don't need it is not a great answer.   It's like saying you don't need a drivers license in thailand.

10 hours ago, jojothai said:

Banks overseas are required to get your declaration of residence and TIN.

CRS rules require Financial Institutions to collect tax residence(s) from their customers. TIN is not a mandatory requirement, it's a bank policy.

 

10 hours ago, jojothai said:

Banks here are now requiring the TIN. They are suppoosed to get it.

Some banks policy.  

2 hours ago, thjames007 said:

Well not true.

1. If u a tax resident you suppose to file, I'm sure 90%+ do not. 

 

 

  This is false.  If one has no assessable income, one does not need to file - regardless if one is a tax resident or not.

12 hours ago, jojothai said:

What are you talking about? Its not just about tax legislation not yet passed.
Thailand has joined the CRS, that is a fact and majority of other countries adhere.
Banks overseas are required to get your declaration of residence and TIN. Several reports of problems.
Banks here are now requiring the TIN. They are suppoosed to get it. Several reports.
You clearly have not read many posts on the forum concerning the subject of why a TIN is becoming necessary,
because you state you dont know anything about them.
If you want to post, then get up to date on the subject matter.
 

Don't talk nonsense. I've lived in Thailand for 10 years and have several bank accounts! If you want to post, then get up to date on the subject matter. Banks abroad must obtain your residence permit and your tax number: However, this requires government approval... Banks are not above the law! You seem to be a joker who takes the many chatters in the AN forum about the taxation of foreigners seriously. Everything here is based mainly on assumptions and ignorance! I've never been asked for a TIN for any transaction! So I'm waiting for the Thai tax legislation to be passed...and that will take time!

It's very simple. Just go to your local Tax Office and ask for one. Done in 5 minutes . No charge.

I'm retired, but use mine to claim back the tax on interest on my bank accounts. They send you a cheque after a few weeks which can be deposited into your account (without any restrictions as someone incorrectly said above).

On 8/8/2025 at 8:31 AM, Mutt Daeng said:

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

 

Just be aware, though, that form LP.10.1 is only available in Thai, so, based on my experience of obtaining a TIN at my local tax office, you will need to be accompanied by a native Thai speaker in order to complete this form on your behalf...

 

On 8/9/2025 at 2:35 PM, oldcpu said:

Do NOT let my wife handle it.  Lol ! 

 ... even if said native Thai speaker happens to be your wife, as it was in my case! 😇

 

20 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

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.

I meant claiming back the Tax on the Interest; sorry for confusion.

18 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

Just be aware, though, that form LP.10.1 is only available in Thai, so, based on my experience of obtaining a TIN at my local tax office, you will need to be accompanied by a native Thai speaker in order to complete this form on your behalf...

 

 ... even if said native Thai speaker happens to be your wife, as it was in my case! 😇

 

I filled in LP.10.1 myself (quite easily) at home even though I can't read Thai. I took photos of the form pages and used Google Lens to do the translations, so I could see what to enter in the relevant boxes. My wife did accompany me to the local RD office just in case any issues arose, but none did. 

On 8/9/2025 at 7:04 PM, 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.

 

 

One possible note on caution in this regard - in trying to claim back tax on interest on money kept in Thai Bank account (where my understanding is that there is nominally a 15% withholding tax by the Thai bank).

 

I think my caution not applicable to you - but it may be to others.

 

I believe applying for such refund, does give the local RD a chance to scrutinize, or re-scrutinize one's Thailand tax situation. And given there are many different DTA with Thailand, the local RD likely do NOT know the ins and outs of each DTA and whether Thailand can assess and tax some foreign remitted income, but can not (due to specific DTA) assess and tax other foreign income.

 

Hence if one does remit foreign income from outside of Thailand that was either pre-1-Jan-2024 savings, or not taxable due to one being on an LTR visa, or is simply not taxable as the specific source of that income may not be taxable by Thailand (due to specific DTA wording in the DTA with the income source country) ... there is STILL a risk in this case, that the local RD may not know all the ins and outs, and they may treat this non-taxable (by Thailand) and non-assessable income, as assessable, and mistakenly tax one on that income.  Then to object to the local RD tax assessment one is then into appeal territory.  Good luck on that.

 

For those with minimal income - probably no concern. But for those with large remitted (but not taxable by Thailand) income this could be an expensive annoyance.

 

A further note, income that is taxed at 15% with a withholding tax from one's Thailand bank account, is not to be considered in the assessment of one's Thailand tax threshold for filing a tax return, according to what i read in the Thailand tax law (unless, of course, one chooses to include it as assessable income to obtain the tax back). By paying 15% withholding tax on the associated Thailand bank interest, one has met their liability/obligation for that income, and it need not be reported further (although one can report such if one wants to try and obtain a refund).  ....

 

I see this going for a refund risks opening a pandora's box of local RD mistakes.  In summary,  one pays their money and one takes their chances.

 

I have posted before my research into Thai tax law (on this 15% withholding tax not to be included in a Thai tax return if one does not want a refund) and I can post such again if any are curious. 

On 8/10/2025 at 11:39 AM, ujayujay said:

Don't talk nonsense. I've lived in Thailand for 10 years and have several bank accounts! If you want to post, then get up to date on the subject matter. Banks abroad must obtain your residence permit and your tax number: However, this requires government approval... Banks are not above the law! You seem to be a joker who takes the many chatters in the AN forum about the taxation of foreigners seriously. Everything here is based mainly on assumptions and ignorance! I've never been asked for a TIN for any transaction! So I'm waiting for the Thai tax legislation to be passed...and that will take time!

I do not want to waste my time with people who do not know what they are talking about.
I only post to help with what I know. Not chatter. But it seems that its a waste of time if people just want to ignore it.
I know what i am talking about but you clearly do not if you do not regularly read the posts concerning the subject. Its nothing to do with new tax legislation, I remind you again.
Dont talk nonesense about government approval for overseas bank CSR regulations, Its self certification that you are clearly not aware of. And I have never had to get a residence permit for several institutions.
Its no joking matter now .You are the joker if you do not want to start to take it seriously.
I trust your banks ask for the TIN and tell you its necessary. Then you may start to find out what is happening.

On 8/10/2025 at 9:53 AM, Yumthai said:

CRS rules require Financial Institutions to collect tax residence(s) from their customers. TIN is not a mandatory requirement, it's a bank policy.

 

Some banks policy.  

FYI, I post information to help people understand what is and has been going on for over 10 years internationally.
The TIN is not a bank policy. It is a requirement from the CRS regulations.
If you read through all the legislation and CRS requirements you will see that.
All the foreign banks and financial institutions I have dealt with over the last 10 years have the TIN as a requirement. And they insist on it.
They often ask for a lot more personal information that I have refused, but in my experience they do not back down on the TIN. They argue that they have to get it under the CRS requirements and threaten to freeze the account if i persist in not complying.
I have had many battles with what banks / financial institutions require, so i have read and checked what is required.
The CRS is implemented to stop the avoidance of tax, and the key principle is that people need to have a tax residence.
There are some allowances for not having a TIN and some instances have been posted on the forum.
Thailand has only just started to implement CRS regulations and there are posts indicating that thai banks are now requesting the TIN.
IMHO, its only a matter of time before the TRD insists that the banks get it and declare information to them.
So anybody who thinks it does not matter may get a rude awakening .
From my experience, the institutions do not start to threaten freezing the account until after a few reminders and at least one year. 

23 minutes ago, jojothai said:

The TIN is not a bank policy. It is a requirement from the CRS regulations.

...

There are some allowances for not having a TIN and some instances have been posted on the forum.

 

Further, i think it important to note that the tax ID required, to meet what I believe are CRS requirements, is to be the tax ID of one's country of tax residency. 

 

So if one has a tax ID from say Canada, Canada, but one is no longer a Canadian resident, but one is a Thai tax resident,  and if one has sums of money in a Canadian financial institution,  then Canadian financial institutions can, and do, ask for the tax ID of the country where one is now resident. The Canadian tax ID is insufficient for a Canadian financial institution for a tax resident of Thailand (who is not a tax resident of Canada).

 

I did read that one of those CRS instances (for allowing not having a TIN) is where some jurisdictions use a "functional equivalent" to a TIN. If a country uses a functional equivalent, that number must be provided.

 

I suspect that in part may be why the Canadian financial institutions accepted my yellow-book/pink-ID # (which RD of Thailand advised could be my tax ID if the Thai RD activated it)  and even thou I advised those institutions it was not yet activated as a Tax-ID,  the Canadian financial institutions still accepted it.  Presumably the Canadian financial institutions decided a legally valid number (that could become a Thai tax ID) qualified as a functional equivalent,  until activated as an active Thailand tax ID.

50 minutes ago, jojothai said:

From my experience, the institutions do not start to threaten freezing the account until after a few reminders and at least one year. 

 

 My experience is a small amount different.

 

For a trading account, once the Canadian bank determined I was no longer a resident of Canada, the money was frozen.  There was no one year notice.  It was frozen immediately and I ended up contacting them to find out why.  They insisted I provide a tax ID to unfreeze.  After I provided the yellow-book/pink-ID # they then advised I could only sell equities and move equities to cash (but not purchase new equities). ... or I could close the account (transferring the money out). That is what i did.  I transferred the money out (albeit it took me a while to find a Canadian institution that would let me transfer money to, with my being a non-resident to Canada - complicating this was my transferring a Canadian Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) - sort of a USA 401k equivalent). 

 

i managed to open a new account with another Canadian financial institution who were ok with me not being a Canadian resident (as long as i was a Canadian citizen), and I transferred my financial equities + cash there. To open the new account they also insisted i provide a Thai tax ID. They too accepted the Thai yellow-book/pink-ID #.  

 

I would have happily provided an active Thai tax ID to the Canadian financial institutions, if the Thai RD would have provided such to me when I applied.

 

Instead the Thai RD turned down my TIN application (with a caveat from the Thai RD that my pink-ID# could be the TIN if and when they activated such).  As I posted, since I had no Thai income and I was not bringing money into Thailand, I did not meet their criteria for requiring a Thai TIN. 

 

For the Phuket RD branch (and this may be true for other RD branches), one REALLY needs to let them know that the Thai TIN is absolutely necessary to unfreeze a foreign account. And emphasize that point to the Phuket RD, else in my experience, they will deny the TIN.

 

 

10 hours ago, jojothai said:

FYI, I post information to help people understand what is and has been going on for over 10 years internationally.
The TIN is not a bank policy. It is a requirement from the CRS regulations.
If you read through all the legislation and CRS requirements you will see that.
All the foreign banks and financial institutions I have dealt with over the last 10 years have the TIN as a requirement. And they insist on it.
They often ask for a lot more personal information that I have refused, but in my experience they do not back down on the TIN. They argue that they have to get it under the CRS requirements and threaten to freeze the account if i persist in not complying.
I have had many battles with what banks / financial institutions require, so i have read and checked what is required.
The CRS is implemented to stop the avoidance of tax, and the key principle is that people need to have a tax residence.
There are some allowances for not having a TIN and some instances have been posted on the forum.
Thailand has only just started to implement CRS regulations and there are posts indicating that thai banks are now requesting the TIN.
IMHO, its only a matter of time before the TRD insists that the banks get it and declare information to them.
So anybody who thinks it does not matter may get a rude awakening .
From my experience, the institutions do not start to threaten freezing the account until after a few reminders and at least one year. 

Again, according to OECD CRS rules a TIN is not a mandatory requirement. Individuals can explain why they are unable to obtain a TIN. 

Not paying tax in your country of tax residence is a perfect valid reason.

 

I hold several offshore accounts in high street international banks, they all have understood that I can't provide a Thai TIN as I don't have taxable income in Thailand.

 

A financial institution may obviously insist to get a TIN, customers have always the choice to move to more reasonable banking if they don't want or can't comply with bank policy.

Since having a Pink ID, I read I have TIN, not that it will ever get used to pay tax on any income generated, or incoming funds.  DTA avoids that, along with they seem to have scrapped the whole idea, if there ever was one, of taxing incoming transfers.

 

If they ever did start that silliness, I'd would just ignore it anyway, until they knock on my door or decline an extension.   More than a few other countries to live in 😎

 

Don't think I'd actually pay a silly amount of money just to live in TH, and why I left the USA, aside from a bit bored with the place.

9 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Since having a Pink ID, I read I have TIN, not that it will ever get used to pay tax on any income generated, or incoming funds.  DTA avoids that, along with they seem to have scrapped the whole idea, if there ever was one, of taxing incoming transfers.

 

If they ever did start that silliness, I'd would just ignore it anyway, until they knock on my door or decline an extension.   More than a few other countries to live in 😎

 

Don't think I'd actually pay a silly amount of money just to live in TH, and why I left the USA, aside from a bit bored with the place.

 

 

Receiving a Pink ID card in Thailand does not automatically allocate you a Tax Identification Number (TIN). (Co-Pilot)

 

No idea if that is true....or just plain wrong?

49 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

Receiving a Pink ID card in Thailand does not automatically allocate you a Tax Identification Number (TIN). (Co-Pilot)

 

No idea if that is true....or just plain wrong?

 

What does one mean by 'allocate' a Tax identification number?  The Pink-ID/Yellow-book (it is the same number) does allocate a unique number, and that number can be a Tax Identification number (TIN) if the Thailand Revenue Department (RD) activates it.  However if they do not activate it, then while it is allocated, it is not (yet) a TIN.

 

This is easy to prove if one has a pink-ID and has not activated the number. Simply attempt to do an online Thai tax return. The pink-ID number will, if it is not activated to be a TIN, will be rejected.  However if the pink-ID is activated as a TIN, then it will be accepted in the online Thai tax return form.  At least that is what a Phuket based RD official told my Thai wife.

1 hour ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

Receiving a Pink ID card in Thailand does not automatically allocate you a Tax Identification Number (TIN). (Co-Pilot)

 

No idea if that is true....or just plain wrong?

Just checked, as someone did post 'false' info, that I 'read', stating  same ID number is used as TIN.  Big surprise 🙄

 

AN ... FOM ... forum of misinformation 

 

 

 

2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Just checked, as someone did post 'false' info, that I 'read', stating  same ID number is used as TIN. 

 

I think both situations have been widely reported on here, ie ID number is TIN and also ID isn't TIN.

 

I don't know if it it's time related or something else, but both cases are possible.

1 hour ago, treetops said:

 

I think both situations have been widely reported on here, ie ID number is TIN and also ID isn't TIN.

 

I don't know if it it's time related or something else, but both cases are possible.

My TIN is not the same number as my pink ID card/YTB.

6 hours ago, Mutt Daeng said:

My TIN is not the same number as my pink ID card/YTB.

 

Yes there have been many posts on this topic on this forum.

 

Some like you have a TIN that is not the same number as their pink ID card/YTB.

 

Some have a TIN that IS the same as their pink ID card/YTB.

 

My wife was told by a Thai RD official that the pink-ID/YTB can be the same (if activated to be the TIN) ... and it can also be a different number.

 

One forum member even was at a Thai tax office had their TIN from not being the same as their pink ID card/YTB to be changed to be the same as their pink ID card/YTB.  As to why it was changed and who instigated the change, i do not recall what was stated.

 

I think the different possibilities here is just another classic example of This Is Thailand.

.

On 8/10/2025 at 12:19 AM, NoDisplayName said:

 

Unless I'm misteaken, he needs to file a tax return to claim the refund, and needs a TIN to file a return.

 

 

From reports in other recent threads, the refund check can now be cashed/deposited at any bank.

 

I didn't need a TIN to file a return. 

I got one anyway to thrill my UK bank, and have since passed the TIN to my local Thai Tax Office, who are surprisingly good 🙂

 

I will test if Thai Tax refund cheques can now be deposited in any bank next Spring.

Somehow I doubt it will be the case.

 

To keep my KT bank account alive, I have to deposit 10 baht every 3 months, or it is closed automatically. That happened to me and the Manger just shrugged. So I've been keeping the balance at around 20 baht for the last two years. And queing for 30 minutes each time to do so.

 

The tellers now know me on sight, and show sympathetic expressions.

 

Last July 29th I paid in 10 baht, and the Teller said "Now once a year is all.) Meaning, my patience has been rewarded.

 

But we will see.

 

You do know how long it takes to open a bank account at KT?

 

Yes, multiple new docs, and at least 90 minutes.

2 minutes ago, cmjc said:

 

I didn't need a TIN to file a return. 

I got one anyway to thrill my UK bank, and have since passed the TIN to my local Thai Tax Office, who are surprisingly good 🙂

 

I will test if Thai Tax refund cheques can now be deposited in any bank next Spring.

Somehow I doubt it will be the case.

 

To keep my KT bank account alive, I have to deposit 10 baht every 3 months, or it is closed automatically. That happened to me and the Manger just shrugged. So I've been keeping the balance at around 20 baht for the last two years. And queing for 30 minutes each time to do so.

 

The tellers now know me on sight, and show sympathetic expressions.

 

Lat July 29th I paid in 10 baht, and the Teller said "Now once a year is all.) Meaning, my patience has been rewarded.

 

But we will see.

 

You do know how long it takes to open a bank account at KT?

 

Yes, multiple new docs, and at least 90 minutes.

 

The tax refund cheque can definitely be deposited at any bank, I have deposited mine at Bangkok Bank the last two/three years.

 

There was a period where they didn't actually send you a cheque, they just sent you a refund letter with a bar code. That could only be processed internally at Krung Thai Bank.

28 minutes ago, cmjc said:

I didn't need a TIN to file a return. 

 

What did you use as a taxpayer number?  AFAIK, returns without a valid TIN are rejected.

 

30 minutes ago, cmjc said:

You do know how long it takes to open a bank account at KT?

 

Yes, opened one in January to deposit my refund.  Took about half an hour using passport, pinkie and ol' yeller.

 

25 minutes ago, Sophon said:

The tax refund cheque can definitely be deposited at any bank, I have deposited mine at Bangkok Bank the last two/three years.

 

Seems to depend on what version of forms the local tax office is using.  Korat from past two years only sends refund letter, no check, and can only be deposited at KT.  (as of Jan 2025)

4 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

What did you use as a taxpayer number?  AFAIK, returns without a valid TIN are rejected

 

 

A nice chap processed my tax claim, with very few questions, he flew through it as only a civil servant can do.

 

He doubtless wrote "NA" to most questions.

As confirmed by many posters here already a Thai Tax TIN is not obligatory, and I had no record of my UK tax number, just a genuine letter from the UK Tax man saying I owed nothing.

 

I visited my UK tax office before I left to ensure I'd paid all UK tax due, and got them to confirm it in a letter as proof. That was enough for me at this end.