Marriage Visa - Thai Wife's Income From Overseas

[Taggart]

Hi,

I'm not sure what our future plans are in regards to Thailand. My Thai wife and I are both in our fifties, and we married well over twenty years ago, outside Thailand. We never registered our marriage within Thailand. She'll have a pension from overseas, and so will I. Combined this will more than cover the Thai marriage visa requirements. She'll have no income source within Thailand. I believe I won't be taxed on my income from outside Thailand, but my wife, being a Thai citizen even though she's lived out of the country for years, will she be taxed on her overseas pension income?

Thanks in advance.

[samran]

Hi,

I'm not sure what our future plans are in regards to Thailand. My Thai wife and I are both in our fifties, and we married well over twenty years ago, outside Thailand. We never registered our marriage within Thailand. She'll have a pension from overseas, and so will I. Combined this will more than cover the Thai marriage visa requirements. She'll have no income source within Thailand. I believe I won't be taxed on my income from outside Thailand, but my wife, being a Thai citizen even though she's lived out of the country for years, will she be taxed on her overseas pension income?

Thanks in advance.

Your wifes nationality will have nothing to do with her liability to pay tax in Thailand. As such, it will be the same as yours, and whether you are in Thailand for more than 183 days per year. If you are, then you will be subject to Thai tax laws as they apply to tax residents.

Havings said that, pensions as far as I can tell aren't taxable, as they are considered savings, which you are now living off. Only income, which is earned offshore and then repatriated into Thailand in the year that it is earned is subject to Thai taxes. So for instance, earn $100 off shore for work, and then bring in $40 of that, then that $40 will be taxed at your marginal rate of taxation.

As for your marriage not being registered in Thailand, not a problem. Your foreign marriage certificate is recognised in Thailand.

[astral]

You do not say where your wife's pension comes from.

Thailand has dual tax agreements with many countries.

If the pension was taxed at source, it will not be taxed again in Thailand.

[Taggart]

Hi,

I'm not sure what our future plans are in regards to Thailand. My Thai wife and I are both in our fifties, and we married well over twenty years ago, outside Thailand. We never registered our marriage within Thailand. She'll have a pension from overseas, and so will I. Combined this will more than cover the Thai marriage visa requirements. She'll have no income source within Thailand. I believe I won't be taxed on my income from outside Thailand, but my wife, being a Thai citizen even though she's lived out of the country for years, will she be taxed on her overseas pension income?

Thanks in advance.

Your wifes nationality will have nothing to do with her liability to pay tax in Thailand. As such, it will be the same as yours, and whether you are in Thailand for more than 183 days per year. If you are, then you will be subject to Thai tax laws as they apply to tax residents.

Havings said that, pensions as far as I can tell aren't taxable, as they are considered savings, which you are now living off. Only income, which is earned offshore and then repatriated into Thailand in the year that it is earned is subject to Thai taxes. So for instance, earn $100 off shore for work, and then bring in $40 of that, then that $40 will be taxed at your marginal rate of taxation.

As for your marriage not being registered in Thailand, not a problem. Your foreign marriage certificate is recognised in Thailand.

Hi Samran,

Some good information you've given here. Thanks. It will be all pension income we receive, so we should be OK.

[Taggart]

You do not say where your wife's pension comes from.

Thailand has dual tax agreements with many countries.

If the pension was taxed at source, it will not be taxed again in Thailand.

Hi Astral,

Our pensions will be coming directly from Canada. It will already be taxed by the Canadian Government. Good to know it may not be taxed twice. Thanks.