I am a Belgian retiree living in Phuket for 10 years. I plan to transfer approximately THB 400,000 to Thailand from a fixed-term savings account, representing funds that I invested three years ago. I would like to use this money to repay a loan that my Thai wife took out four years ago to purchase a car.

How can I ensure that this amount is not included in the calculation of Thai Personal Income Tax ?

When filing my annual tax declaration with the provincial office (Labour / Revenue Office), will they require supporting documents?
Will a simple bank statement be sufficient to prove the origin and the date of these funds?

THanks for your help !

You wire transfer the money directly to your Thai wife bank account as a gift (you can indicate "Gift" as the purpose of transfer). It's tax free if gifts total amount is not over THB20M per calendar year. You have nothing to declare or file if under the THB20M threshold.

You will only need to provide documentation (bank statement showing transfer to your spouse) if you are ever tax audited.

46 minutes ago, Yumthai said:

.... It's tax free if gifts total amount is not over THB20M per calendar year. You have nothing to declare or file if under the THB20M threshold.

You will only need to provide documentation (bank statement showing transfer to your spouse) if you are ever tax audited.

it sounds so easy … but wait, there might be a catch with the gifting option ... 555

if you use the 20 mb gifting rule, there are a lot more things you need to pay attention to ... just saying,!

18 hours ago, steph83 said:

How can I ensure that this amount is not included in the calculation of Thai Personal Income Tax ?

Just don't declare it. This is all part of the self-assessment drill, and from your description this is pre 2024 money and thus not assessable income, per Por 162.

Out of curiosity, just what remitted assessable income do you have that will require you to even file a tax return?

16 hours ago, Yumthai said:

You wire transfer the money directly to your Thai wife bank account as a gift (you can indicate "Gift" as the purpose of transfer). It's tax free if gifts total amount is not over THB20M per calendar year

It's tax free to the RECIPIENT, in this case the wife, up to 20M per year. After exceeding that, then the recipient has to file an income tax return, with 5% taxation rate on the amount over 20M. The 20M is NOT applicable to the donor

The Thai tax rules on gifts, first appearing in 2015, don't address tax free considerations for the donor, as it's assumed the asset being donated is an after-tax asset.

Lot of confusing information out there on this subject, with nothing definitive to be found, at least by me. Expattax, a Thai tax consultancy, has an interesting suggestion for remitted monies -- saying transfer it first to the recipient's bank account in the same foreign country. Then, he or she can remit it to Thailand, saying with assurance that it is most definitely not income, but was a gift. This certainly removes the income flavor from the monies 'laundered' thru another bank in the same foreign country -- thus allowing the donor to not have to declare this money as remitted assessable income (since the purpose of "gift" probably wouldn't fly, since purpose of remittance doesn't affect assessability).

1 hour ago, JimGant said:

It's tax free to the RECIPIENT, in this case the wife, up to 20M per year. After exceeding that, then the recipient has to file an income tax return, with 5% taxation rate on the amount over 20M. The 20M is NOT applicable to the donor

Indeed, gifting is tax free for the recipient.

In case of the donor is audited, gifted money appears nowhere in his/her bank accounts. If you suggest that money sent to any third-party (spouse, family, friends, businesses, Somchai or Pui for extra "services") is a potentially taxable remittance then good luck to TRD to enforce it. In an audit, they will have to check all Thai financial accounts where the audited individual appears as the sender in each foreign sourced inward transfer (however with some financial services like Wise it will be a local transfer and sender name will not appear), and for each "remittance" assess if it's taxable or not.

Maybe I misunderstood, but I have to declare my foreign income. This income comes from my apartment that I rent out in Belgium.

3 hours ago, JimGant said:

Just don't declare it. This is all part of the self-assessment drill, and from your description this is pre 2024 money and thus not assessable income, per Por 162.

Out of curiosity, just what remitted assessable income do you have that will require you to even file a tax return?

2 hours ago, Yumthai said:

If you suggest that money sent to any third-party (spouse, family, friends, businesses, Somchai or Pui for extra "services") is a potentially taxable remittance then good luck to TRD to enforce it.

Bingo. No way in today's world will you be found out. Just like sending assessable income directly to your condo builder. Sadly, however, this is not the same as saying who the recipient is dictates the taxability of the remittance. Whether the purpose is living expenses, a gift, or building a condo -- if that money being remitted qualifies as assessable income, then it's taxable as such. But, having said that, take your chances if the recipient ain't you.

2 hours ago, steph83 said:

Maybe I misunderstood, but I have to declare my foreign income. This income comes from my apartment that I rent out in Belgium

The Thai-Belgium DTA follows the OECD Model treaty, whereby rental income from properties in Belgium is primarily taxed by Belgium, but which gives Thailand secondary taxation rights (if remitted to Thailand). But Thailand, as secondary taxation authority, has to give you credit for the taxes paid on same income to Belgium. But Thailand's tax forms don't have a column for tax credits...... Now what? Well, do a spreadsheet showing what Thai taxation would be on this income pre credit. Is it more than what the Belgium taxation was? Then the taxable amount for Thai tax purposes is what remains after you subtract Belgium taxation from the spreadsheet where you arrived at Thai taxation.

I don't know Belgium tax rates, but I imagine there would be very little surplus available for Thai taxation -- and probably a negative number, meaning no reason to include any Belgium remitted rental income in any Thai tax return. Obviously, this is completely kosher -- just keep your spreadsheet for any (unlikely) chat at the RD.

On 1/15/2026 at 9:00 AM, steph83 said:

How can I ensure that this amount is not included in the calculation of Thai Personal Income Tax ?

Nobody knows because there is nowhere on the Thai tax forms to make such a declaration. If you feel inclined to submit a tax return you would just disregard it, and be prepared to justify why in the unlikely event you were to be audited.

17 hours ago, JimGant said:

The Thai-Belgium DTA follows the OECD Model treaty, whereby rental income from properties in Belgium is primarily taxed by Belgium, but which gives Thailand secondary taxation rights (if remitted to Thailand). But Thailand, as secondary taxation authority, has to give you credit for the taxes paid on same income to Belgium. But Thailand's tax forms don't have a column for tax credits...... Now what? Well, do a spreadsheet showing what Thai taxation would be on this income pre credit. Is it more than what the Belgium taxation was? Then the taxable amount for Thai tax purposes is what remains after you subtract Belgium taxation from the spreadsheet where you arrived at Thai taxation.

I don't know Belgium tax rates, but I imagine there would be very little surplus available for Thai taxation -- and probably a negative number, meaning no reason to include any Belgium remitted rental income in any Thai tax return. Obviously, this is completely kosher -- just keep your spreadsheet for any (unlikely) chat at the RD.

Thank you for this information, I am very surprised. In that case, no one will pay taxes anymore, since for employment income, pensions, etc., the tax rate in Europe is higher than in Thailand. In the PND 90 form, is there a line to indicate the amount of tax paid in Belgium?

39 minutes ago, steph83 said:

In the PND 90 form, is there a line to indicate the amount of tax paid in Belgium?

No. As said, there is nowhere on the Thai tax form to show a credit, which would be the tax paid in Belgium. All figures are done offline -- only if there's anything left over, after subtracting out the Belgium tax, would you then have a figure of taxable income to enter on your Thai tax form.

10 minutes ago, JimGant said:

No. As said, there is nowhere on the Thai tax form to show a credit, which would be the tax paid in Belgium. All figures are done offline -- only if there's anything left over, after subtracting out the Belgium tax, would you then have a figure of taxable income to enter on your Thai tax form.

yes, i answered you too fast, thanks again ! I got another information now that according to the treaty the rental income from Belgium is only taxable in Belgium. So i could be exempt of taxes in Thailand.

1 hour ago, steph83 said:

I got another information now that according to the treaty the rental income from Belgium is only taxable in Belgium.

If that's a reliable source, then go for it.

The Thai-Belgium tax treaty, in Article 6, says: "Income from immovable property including income from agriculture or forestry may be taxed in the Contracting State in which such property is situated." This is almost word for word what is said in the Thai-US tax treaty: "Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from immovable (real) property (including

income from agriculture or forestry) situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State."

The may be taxed (my emphasis) is OECD Model tax treaty speak for: Both countries can tax it, but one country is designated the primary, while the other is the secondary -- and thus must absorb a credit for the taxes imposed by the primary country. If only one country can tax it, OECD speak would say: may ONLY be taxed -- and then only one country has taxation rights.

The Thai-US tax treaty has a technical explanation, and here's what is says about Article 6, which applies to rental income: "The first paragraph of Article 6 states the general rule that income of a resident of a Contracting State derived from real property situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in the Contracting State ..... [but] This Article does not grant an exclusive taxing right to the situs State; the situs State is merely given the primary right to tax." Hence, the explanation of the may be taxed language.

Anyway, the Thai-Belgium tax treaty's language in Article 6 says Belgium has primary taxation rights and Thailand has secondary taxation rights -- but as such, must absorb a tax credit for taxes paid to Belgium.

Here's a link to that Technical Explanation of the Thai-US tax treaty -- and much of this explanation can be used in interpretations of other tax treaties, as most follow the OECD Model tax treaty guidance:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-trty/thaitech.pdf

20 hours ago, JimGant said:

But Thailand's tax forms don't have a column for tax credits.....

Tax credit deduction was added in the 2025 tax form.

13. Deduct income tax credits from foreign countries (not exceeding the tax payable under Thai law).

https://www.rd.go.th/fileadmin/tax_pdf/pit/2568/241268PIT90.pdf

2 hours ago, Porthos said:

Tax credit deduction was added in the 2025 tax form.

Thanks for bringing us up to date.

3 hours ago, JimGant said:

If that's a reliable source, then go for it.

The Thai-Belgium tax treaty, in Article 6, says: "Income from immovable property including income from agriculture or forestry may be taxed in the Contracting State in which such property is situated." This is almost word for word what is said in the Thai-US tax treaty: "Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from immovable (real) property (including

income from agriculture or forestry) situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State."

The may be taxed (my emphasis) is OECD Model tax treaty speak for: Both countries can tax it, but one country is designated the primary, while the other is the secondary -- and thus must absorb a credit for the taxes imposed by the primary country. If only one country can tax it, OECD speak would say: may ONLY be taxed -- and then only one country has taxation rights.

The Thai-US tax treaty has a technical explanation, and here's what is says about Article 6, which applies to rental income: "The first paragraph of Article 6 states the general rule that income of a resident of a Contracting State derived from real property situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in the Contracting State ..... [but] This Article does not grant an exclusive taxing right to the situs State; the situs State is merely given the primary right to tax." Hence, the explanation of the may be taxed language.

Anyway, the Thai-Belgium tax treaty's language in Article 6 says Belgium has primary taxation rights and Thailand has secondary taxation rights -- but as such, must absorb a tax credit for taxes paid to Belgium.

Here's a link to that Technical Explanation of the Thai-US tax treaty -- and much of this explanation can be used in interpretations of other tax treaties, as most follow the OECD Model tax treaty guidance:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-trty/thaitech.pdf

thanks again mate !

On 1/15/2026 at 10:00 AM, steph83 said:

I am a Belgian retiree living in Phuket for 10 years. I plan to transfer approximately THB 400,000 to Thailand from a fixed-term savings account, representing funds that I invested three years ago. I would like to use this money to repay a loan that my Thai wife took out four years ago to purchase a car.

How can I ensure that this amount is not included in the calculation of Thai Personal Income Tax ?

When filing my annual tax declaration with the provincial office (Labour / Revenue Office), will they require supporting documents?
Will a simple bank statement be sufficient to prove the origin and the date of these funds?

THanks for your help !

You will need documentation for that the fund were in your savings deposit by 31st December 2023. When filing you next tax return, just include that proof and a note of when the fund were transferred, preferably with a copy of the bank transfer slip; write in the text field that it is savings from before January 1st 2024, and keep a Thai bank statement, where the fund transfer from abroad is shown.

That method worked for me; I've even recently been called to meet at the Thai revenue office to show proof of that tax has been paid on all my foreign 2024-transfers, either in my home country or Thailand, savings from before 1st Januar 2024 excluded from Thai taxation.

I will not advise you to send the funds directly to your wife's bang account, as the tax free gifts might be intended for funds already taxed in Thailand; not foreign fund that might not have been taxed.

24 minutes ago, khunPer said:

When filing you next tax return, just include that proof and a note of when the fund were transferred, preferably with a copy of the bank transfer slip; write in the text field that it is savings from before January 1st 2024, and keep a Thai bank statement, where the fund transfer from abroad is shown.

If that remittance, as pre 2024 savings, is not assessable income -- and thus not includable on your tax return -- why would you want to alert the RD to its existence?

49 minutes ago, khunPer said:

I've even recently been called to meet at the Thai revenue office to show proof of that tax has been paid on all my foreign 2024-transfers, either in my home country or Thailand, savings from before 1st Januar 2024 excluded from Thai taxation.

You're the 1st person I've heard of who's been audited, I know it's a very personal question but did you send a significant amount of money over in 2024 and was it over 1.2Million (Which is the figure I've seen for when you're more likely to get audited).

On 1/15/2026 at 7:06 PM, Yumthai said:

You wire transfer the money directly to your Thai wife bank account as a gift (you can indicate "Gift" as the purpose of transfer). It's tax free if gifts total amount is not over THB20M per calendar year. You have nothing to declare or file if under the THB20M threshold.

You will only need to provide documentation (bank statement showing transfer to your spouse) if you are ever tax audited.

I understand that cash gifts should not benefit the husband if he gifts to wife in order for it not to be taxable. No idea how you disprove benefit though.

2 hours ago, SamSpade said:

You're the 1st person I've heard of who's been audited, I know it's a very personal question but did you send a significant amount of money over in 2024 and was it over 1.2Million (Which is the figure I've seen for when you're more likely to get audited).

You are welcome to ask. No, and it is actually second time, as the revenue office where I stay checks that foreigners pay tax either here or in their home country. First time I – and around 30 country fellowmen staying same area – was checked is about 5 years ago; i.e. before the new intention of tax return shall be filed foreign transfers. I also did my tax return back then, but the list with names – which the auditor showed me – came from the immigration office. They checked foreigner country-by-country and began with Danmark and Finland – I was told – as it was easy to share tax information with these two states.

The 20 million tax-free gift thing has a big caveat... that it is only tax free if the giver does not benefit from it in any way, and you could possibly have to prove it.

3 hours ago, JimGant said:

If that remittance, as pre 2024 savings, is not assessable income -- and thus not includable on your tax return -- why would you want to alert the RD to its existence?

Because the revenue office might check foreign transfers – which they carefully did in my case – and by giving them my status of my savings in my home country per 31st December 2023, I have a clear line, also for the future. They already had my savings status attached to my tax return form, so they did not ask for it.

With that specification, it is easy to state/show that future transfer of savings is from specific savings account or selling specific bonds or equity. As my home country has a Double Taxation Agreement, the two States – Denmark and Thailand – have agreed to share tax-information, so the Thai revenue office can easily from my home country's revenue department check my savings status five years back. So in principle: I have nothing to hide and won't gain anything from not stating where my savings come from – they can easily check it anyway, if they so wish.

19 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

The 20 million tax-free gift thing has a big caveat... that it is only tax free if the giver does not benefit from it in any way, and you could possibly have to prove it.

Ludicrous. You can't prove that something has not happened.

The only way is TRD brings evidence that gifter has benefited from the gift.

30 minutes ago, khunPer said:

You are welcome to ask. No, and it is actually second time, as the revenue office where I stay checks that foreigners pay tax either here or in their home country.

Could you share which TRD branch you are referring? It will be certainly helpful for readers to be aware of that particularly zealous office.

28 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

The 20 million tax-free gift thing has a big caveat... that it is only tax free if the giver does not benefit from it in any way, and you could possibly have to prove it.

showing that the giver does and will not benefit is effectively not only "proving a negative", but also proving a "potential future negative" ! good luck with that

Personally I suspect anybody attempting to avoid paying tax by "gifting" could well become subject to further scrutiny

I will be saying nothing to the TRD until they initiate the conversation

On 1/17/2026 at 2:24 PM, Porthos said:

Tax credit deduction was added in the 2025 tax form.

13. Deduct income tax credits from foreign countries (not exceeding the tax payable under Thai law).

https://www.rd.go.th/fileadmin/tax_pdf/pit/2568/241268PIT90.pdf

That's interesting to finally see. Thanks for sharing that from the PIT90.

I note thou, best i can find, there is still no place to deduct foreign income that is specifically excluded from Thailand taxation under a Double Tax Agreement with another country (where that 'other country' is the source country of one's income). This can be a different category from a Tax Credit - where nominally tax credits apply where BOTH countries can tax income.

Which IMHO means such income excluded from Thai taxation per a DTA, (if not included under the aspect of a Tax credit), is not to be considered assessable income for Thai taxes, and hence not included in assessing if one needs to file a Thai tax return ... and also not to be included one's Thailand tax submission if one needs to file a Thai tax return for other reasons.

I believe this (not including income excluded Thai taxation under a DTA) is consistent with Thai Royal Decree 18 on DTAs.

https://www.rd.go.th/fileadmin/user_upload/kormor/eng/RD_18.pdf

Of course when it comes to DTAs, the Devil is in the details (of each DTA) as not all DTAs exclude one from paying Thai tax. Some (DTAs) are just the opposite, noting one is subject to Thai tax on one's foreign (remitted) income. In that case, tax credits can come into play. It varies from DTA to DTA.

Still, its interesting to read that PIT.90 update, containing a location for tax credit deductions, for cases where one needs to pay taxes to both Thailand and one's income source country.

21 minutes ago, Yumthai said:

Ludicrous. You can't prove that something has not happened.

The only way is TRD brings evidence that gifter has benefited from the gift.

Yeah okay, but you are applying logic to Thai bureaucracy and law. Since when did much of it make any sense anyhow? If they ask you to prove it, then you have to try to do so. Admittedly, it's a long shot and unlikely to happen, but if you get on their radar too much, then they will come after you and there isn't much lawful due process here. They are reasonably good at tax investigation if they want to be here.

As an aside, I think that what I said is actually correct if you look it up... not that it makes any sense though, even if you are unlikely to get blowback. However, if it was so easy, then everyone would be doing it... so there must be a catch somewhere.

2 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

However, if it was so easy, then everyone would be doing it... so there must be a catch somewhere.

How do you know that not everyone in the situation of being able to gift is not doing it? Do you think people are gonna shout from the rooftops? As you rightly mentioned, keeping low profile is the way in Thailand.