Photo courtesy of Expatica

 

A raft of clarifications on Thailand's tax regulations for expats has been unveiled in a video podcast by Bangkok Post. With the 2024 tax year underway, those spending more than 180 days in Thailand are classified as Thai tax residents, requiring them to pay income tax on funds brought into the country.

 

The podcast, featuring Dave Kendall alongside Carl Turner and Sarawoot Intapanom from Expat Tax Thailand, focuses on what constitutes a remittance, such as if ATM withdrawals and credit card payments are considered taxable. A key point of interest is whether specific income types like government pensions fall under taxable income in Thailand. We also discuss the tax implications of funds saved overseas before 2024 and transferred later, including remittances from joint accounts or family transfers.

 

Experts in the podcast explain how Double Tax Agreements function for expatriates residing in Thailand, aiming to prevent the same income from being taxed twice by different jurisdictions. They also address concerns about whether Thai authorities can access information on overseas bank accounts or investments held by expats. Additionally, the requirements for digital nomads holding the Destination Thailand visa are clarified, including the necessity to file tax returns in Thailand.

 

Looking to future tax filings, expats should stay informed about the ongoing interpretations of these rules, especially as new financial data sharing agreements between countries come into effect. Keeping abreast of updates on tax agreements and residency status changes will be essential for those residing or planning extended stays in Thailand, reported the Bangkok Post.

 

 

Key Takeaways

• Expats in Thailand for over 180 days are liable for income tax on money remitted after 2024.
• ATM withdrawals and credit card purchases may be considered in tax assessments.
• Digital nomads on specific visas may be required to file Thai tax returns.

 

Related stories: 

New Tax Rules for Expats in Thailand Spark Concern

Thailand May Ease Overseas Income Tax Rules Amid Global Changes

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-12-08

 

 

 

Here we go again!! Just when those with twisted nickers from the previous rounds had started breathing again some jerk has added to their anxiety.

Once again just await the knock on the door and go out to smell the roses.

so Thais are exempt from tax on foreign income last I heard lol

6 minutes ago, bdenner said:

Here we go again!! Just when those with twisted nickers from the previous rounds had started breathing again some jerk has added to their anxiety.

Once again just await the knock on the door and go out to smell the roses.

Agreed, just more confusion on upbeat confusion from before. 

I'll believe it when I go to immigration for my annual extension renewal and they demand to see a tax return. Until then, ***yawn***

Is this again the firm that was advising Americans that they could withdraw money from their traditional IRAs and avoid paying US Federal income taxes due to the US-Thai tax treaty?

When I visited my local RD office last year with my wife in tow they seemed to be completely baffled as to why I was there. They were not interested in looking at my statements for the previous year. All they did was ask me if I'd remitted more than one million baht to which I said no and that was that. 

Clearly, not all RD offices got the memo (if there ever was a memo) which pretty much proves that the only people pushing this are businesses trying to sell you a service, the English speaking media and self appointed, often illegally operating online tax "experts".

"ATM withdrawals and credit card purchases may be considered in tax assessments"

 Using words like "may be considered in tax assessments" usually means the person does not know what he or she is talking about.   

Thailand can tax income of foreigners, but if the foreigners pay tax already in their home country, Thailand can't tax again. There is a worldwide agreement that double taxing is not done, so Thailand should negotiate with the every country how they will handle the tax.

 

Besides that I strongly believe that Thailand is unable to process all information in different languages and papers.. Where should they get the qualified people from? I pay tax in Thailand now, but because of a new tax treaty that will start in 2027 or maybe later I don't need to pay tax here anymore, but in my home country.

5 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Thailand can tax income of foreigners, but if the foreigners pay tax already in their home country, Thailand can't tax again. There is a worldwide agreement that double taxing is not done, so Thailand should negotiate with the every country how they will handle the tax.

 

Besides that I strongly believe that Thailand is unable to process all information in different languages and papers.. Where should they get the qualified people from? I pay tax in Thailand now, but because of a new tax treaty that will start in 2027 or maybe later I don't need to pay tax here anymore, but in my home country.

Yes looks like the Netherlands is going this way.

 

 

 

Tax helpers only have only one thing on their mind......And that is how to get your money in their pocket.....

 

Business is slow....So it's time to stir up some fear and confusion.......Its simply shameless.....

 

 

 

I'll believe it when I hear it from experts who don't have ulterior motives. 

17 minutes ago, Ohyesuare said:

I'll believe it when I hear it from experts who don't have ulterior motives. 

 

They make simple statements on their websites.

 

The giant accountants whom you or I would not get an appointment with if we tried as they need letters of introduction from existing clients, etc.

The problem here is that I fully expect 2026 to be no different, if not worse than 2025 when it comes to foreign remittances - there was a massive deficit in the first quarter of money flowing into Thailand, I haven't seen any figured for the rest of the year - this will really hit home in January - they promised changes in laws but they did not come - don't expect anything to change for the better, if anything it will get worse next year

 

41 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

"ATM withdrawals and credit card purchases may be considered in tax assessments"

 Using words like "may be considered in tax assessments" usually means the person does not know what he or she is talking about.   

i believe that in this context "may be considered" simply means that it has to be reviewed whether the remitted money, withdrawn by atm, is excluded from taxation because it is covered by the double tax agreement or because the money was saved before 31.12.2023.

 

as i understand the video, atm withdrawals and credit card payments are clearly taxable as remitted money under the current tax rules ... 

 

at the end, everyone has to decide for themselves whether they want to follow the thai tax regulations, submit the tax file, or simply wait and do nothing ... 

 

 

8 minutes ago, motdaeng said:

i believe that in this context "may be considered" simply means that it has to be reviewed whether the remitted money, withdrawn by atm, is excluded from taxation because it is covered by the double tax agreement or because the money was saved before 31.12.2023.

 

as i understand the video, atm withdrawals and credit card payments are clearly taxable as remitted money under the current tax rules ... 

 

at the end, everyone has to decide for themselves whether they want to follow the thai tax regulations, submit the tax file, or simply wait and do nothing ... 

 

 

 

Boy, Where is Mike Lister when we need him...O yea he abandoned the tax threads that explain how it all works.

1 hour ago, Dmaxdan said:

 self appointed, often illegally operating online tax "experts".

 

That's it, lots of them around.  Chancers, looking for an earner

The only people who might have made a problem for themselves are those who panicked when the taxes on remittances were first announced and went to a Thai tax office. Now, they might have put themselves on the radar for observation.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

With the 2024 tax year underway

Are we not in the 2025 tax year now? 

Savings account pre 1st January 2024 are not assessable income. However the interest accrued on these accounts after 1st January 2024 is taxable.

How do they know if you remitted the interest (post 1st January 2024) or the original  principal (pre 1st January 2024)?

A raft of clarifications on Thailand's tax regulations for expats has been unveiled in a video podcast by Bangkok Post. With the 2024 tax year underway, those spending more than 180 days in Thailand are classified as Thai tax residents, requiring them to pay income tax on funds brought into the country... If that income exceeds the tax credits, allowances, and deduction all tax residents are entitled to declared except for those funds explicitly exempted by your home-country's Dual-Tax Agreement.

In reality?  Nothing much has changed. 

 

5 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

I'll believe it when I go to immigration for my annual extension renewal and they demand to see a tax return. Until then, ***yawn***

I will second that

700 new TRD employees just for seeking out foreign taxable remittances, and they are collecting remittance data electronically now?! Yikes! 😬 

 

Some people are in for a serious screwing. Good Gawd!

Wasn't there something previously about non Thais promoting this business and giving tax advice?

17 hours ago, webfact said:

The podcast, featuring Dave Kendall alongside Carl Turner and Sarawoot Intapanom from Expat Tax Thailand,

 

Seriously enough of this garbage already. Thai authorities need to come down hard on foreigners pushing tax advice and the media sources presenting it for them. If you're stupid enough to get your tax advice from random foreigners on the internet then it's your own fault in the end but still this network needs to get shutdown.

7 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Wasn't there something previously about non Thais promoting this business and giving tax advice?

 

Yes...I think Dave Kendall alongside Carl Turner need to spend some time in prison with Tony.....20 years to life should teach them they are not Thai.

16 hours ago, smedly said:

so Thais are exempt from tax on foreign income last I heard lol

Keep it that way... until a knock on the door

I am in the process to ask that kind of tax advisors about the price of getting a TIN

 

it ranges from 4-5000 an hour consultancy on the phone (I already calculated myself, thank you AI and people that replied to my post)

 

to 12.000 baht for just obtaining this FREE TIN that takes 30 min at the revenue office

 

and 25.000 baht for a simple yearly tax input on a website for a few numbers

 

so the thing is to scare foreigners and drive them to their office

 

for things the foreigner could in theory do themselves

 

I am heading to the RD myself in a few days.  

 

Wish me luck, lol

Goes along with the CRS form I recently got from my Thai bank. This will have a big impact on Offshore Oil and Gas workers who live in Thailand - most of them on Thai Elite Visas because they can afford it, and live here more than 6 months of the year.

At least someone has brought up FIFO on transfers from savings prior to 2024, but it makes it sound like all transactions out of that account are considered FIFO, not just what is sent to Thailand. Plus, does this FIFO apply to say an IRA account balance before 2024? Then there is the issue of transferring a balance to another bank, does that negate the whole exempt from taxes scheme? Meaning is it no longer tax exempt?

The tax issue has being going on for awhile,and most people know what may happen.Everything is digital thks to the west and what they want