There has been a lot of discussion across expat groups and forums regarding foreign income taxation in Thailand following the changes that took effect on January 1, 2024 (via Revenue Department Order Por. 161/2566). Many members are asking whether the guides published back in 2024 are still accurate, what rules remain in force, and how they should structure their personal finances moving forward.

Here is a breakdown of where things stand, what has remained unchanged, and how the legal baseline applies today:

1. The Foundation: What Remains 100% Accurate

• The 180-Day Residency Rule: If you reside in Thailand for a total of 180 days or more during a calendar year (Jan 1 – Dec 31), you are classified as a Thai Tax Resident.

• The Remittance Rule Core: Any assessable foreign-sourced income earned and subsequently remitted into Thailand by a tax resident in the same or subsequent tax years is subject to Personal Income Tax (PIT).

• Pre-2024 Wealth Exemption: Savings, capital, and assets accumulated prior to January 1, 2024, remain strictly tax-exempt upon remittance into Thailand. However, you must maintain clear, chronological bank statements proving these funds existed prior to 2024.

• Unremitted Income: Foreign income or gains that remain offshore in foreign bank accounts or investments are not subject to Thai PIT.

2. Current Thai Personal Income Tax (PIT) Brackets

When foreign income is remitted and deemed assessable, net taxable income (after standard allowances) is taxed using Thailand's progressive rates:

Net Taxable Income (THB)	Tax Rate	Tax Payable per Bracket (THB)
0 – 150,000	Exempt (0%)	0
150,001 – 300,000	5%	7,500
300,001 – 500,000	10%	20,000
500,001 – 750,000	15%	37,500
750,001 – 1,000,000	20%	50,000
1,000,001 – 2,000,000	25%	250,000
2,000,001 – 5,000,000	30%	900,000
Over 5,000,000	35%	—

3. Status of Proposed Relief & Amendments

While proposals (such as potential grace periods or relaxed window rules) have been discussed in administrative drafts, the strict baseline rule of Por. 161/2566 remains the enforced legal operational guideline unless an explicit Royal Decree or official Revenue Department directive supersedes it.

Key Takeaway for Expats: Keep strict separation between pre-2024 savings and post-2024 foreign income. Always obtain official tax payment certificates from your home jurisdiction to claim double-tax treaty benefits where eligible.

How do Double Tax Agreements (DTAs) work between Thailand and my home country for remitted pensions or investment income? - click here

22 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Savings, capital, and assets accumulated prior to January 1, 2024, remain strictly tax-exempt upon remittance into Thailand.

... there seems to be many differing interpretations of the tax law on this particular issue (capital and assets) .... 555

1 hour ago, motdaeng said:

... there seems to be many differing interpretations of the tax law on this particular issue (capital and assets) .... 555

Everything I read says it's only Cash held before 1/1/2024 that is exempt which makes sense as you don't remit assets but sell them to remit the resulting cash which would be considered as Income at the moment of sale.

Also everything I read says it's the lifetime gain on the Asset not the gain since 31st December 2023.

And I still have´nt a TIN😨🙄😆

Edited August 5Aug 5 by 241195_1469957797

37 minutes ago, 241195_1469957797 said:

And I still have´nt a TIN😨🙄😆

Don't engage and don't do anything until requested.

25 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Don't engage and don't do anything until requested.

the thai tax law requires you to pay tax on money remitted to thailand, if the transfer includes taxable income under the applicable tax rules ...

2 hours ago, 241195_1469957797 said:

And I still have´nt a TIN😨🙄😆

Me neither.

There are many tax offices in Thailand that will not issue a TIN if you don't owe tax.

It's all about what is defined as "income" and what isn't. Wise tax advisors have mentioned that you need multiple bank accounts that keep the two apart as if you mix them up, then you are toast.

So, gifts and inheritance are not taxable (Thai law is fairly generous on this as it favours the rich here) and most else is, but you have to prove it through having the transactions labelled "Inheritance" or "Estate distribution" plus copies of the death certificate, letter of probate, and letter from the executor of the will regarding transfer and how much etc. to present if asked any questions... depends on how large it is, I guess, to how much attention it attracts.

Pretty much all else is income from salary to dividends to interest from investments, unless the double taxation agreement excempts it, but those differ depending on what country you come from.

Edited August 5Aug 5 by Sir Dude

On 8/4/2026 at 1:01 AM, CharlieH said:

3. Status of Proposed Relief & Amendments

The proposal seems to have changed a bit.

(4) Exemption from tax to bring back Thai money that has been invested abroad, as in the past there was a lot of money going out to invest abroad during a time when the Thai stock market was not doing well.

"Currently, those who have taken money out of the country and made a profit are hesitant to bring it back because of the profit tax they have to declare. There have been discussions about whether, if possible, the government should temporarily waive this tax for a certain period to facilitate the inflow of these funds, in exchange for them investing in the Thai capital market."

http://prachachat.net/finance/news-2033614 (Interesting proposals btw.)

11 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

Pretty much all else is income from salary to dividends to interest from investments, unless the double taxation agreement excempts it, but those differ depending on what country you come from.

I have over 800,000 baht in deductions annually, so I don't see any tax due unless I go over that amount -- and I don't.

10 minutes ago, Ricohoc said:

I have over 800,000 baht in deductions annually, so I don't see any tax due unless I go over that amount -- and I don't.

Well, it's all pretty sketchy really at the moment and I don't think the application of this tax rule is universally uniform, as I don't think they are organised and equipped to do it... at least not yet. I doubt they are able to track down every ATM withdrawal and small SWIFT code/WISE transaction to an account under they limits with the government, for now, relying on the banks to audit it and flag it as the logistics and practicallity is enormous, even with AI, you still need civil servants involved too and they are snowed under with stuff.

I think they are not even slightly as organised as some think. However, for important sums or tax-free lumps of money like inheritance etc., then it's a good idea to cover your backside as best you can.

2 hours ago, Sir Dude said:

Well, it's all pretty sketchy really at the moment . . . I doubt they are able to track down every ATM withdrawal and small SWIFT code/WISE transaction to an account under they limits with the government, for now, relying on the banks to audit it and flag it . . .

Sketchy is an understatement. Therefore, I go by the best information available at the time (and consulting 2 different Thai tax attorneys).

Which is why I haven't made a deposit in any of my bank accounts in over 5 years. I use those accounts ONLY for my visa renewals. Everything I bring into Thailand remains in cash.

Edited August 5Aug 5 by Ricohoc

On 8/5/2026 at 7:09 PM, Ricohoc said:

Everything I bring into Thailand remains in cash.

So it doesn't come here electronically -- how? A suitcase? Sounds pretty inconvenient.

8 hours ago, JimGant said:

So it doesn't come here electronically -- how? A suitcase? Sounds pretty inconvenient.

Whichever way I bring it in, it remains in cash. It has not been deposited in any Thai bank in at least 5 years.

On 8/10/2026 at 9:06 PM, Ricohoc said:

Whichever way I bring it in, it remains in cash. It has not been deposited in any Thai bank in at least 5 years.

no money exchange? do you bring cash in thai baht? how can you manage without using a bank, money exchange, or atm?

thanks for your reply ...

There is nothing secretive or mysterious about how I bring funds into Thailand. I use the same legal transaction methods available to every other person in Thailand. The funds just never see the deposit line in any of my bank accounts, and the funds remain in Thai baht.

I'm simply reducing my banking footprint in Thailand and using the bank accounts ONLY to meet visa requirements. In 2027, when it's time to renew, I plan to go back to a marriage visa and reduce my footprint even more.

6 hours ago, Ricohoc said:

The funds just never see the deposit line in any of my bank accounts, and the funds remain in Thai baht.

So in other words, you're not declaring the exact amount you're bringing into the country.

Good luck with that.

Depending on how strictly they monitor, some people who are tweaking the system might be in for a rude awakening.

This whole tax scheme seems like an absolute mess and another stressor for living here.

I’ve taken the approach of doing <180 days in Thailand this year (Did 89 days out before May & am currently on Day 5 of an 88 day trip to Malaysia which will be followed by another trip to the UK).

Plan is to bring in enough money to cover me for the next 2-3 years but hopefully will get the LTR next year so won’t have to worry about it.

Still no news on the proposed exemption for Current/Previous year’s income? This sounded like a well thought out plan that was all but ready for signing before it disappeared.

I've taken the approach of ignoring this until someone says my visa extension is tied to a tax return.

58 minutes ago, MIke B Bad said:

I've taken the approach of ignoring this until someone says my visa extension is tied to a tax return.

They could only do that if it was made compulsory to file a tax return whether tax be due or not. At the moment it isn't and I think it's highly unlikely that that ruling will change.

I'm sure the TRD would not want to be burdened with millions of tax returns that will yield nothing!

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

So in other words, you're not declaring the exact amount you're bringing into the country.

Good luck with that.

Depending on how strictly they monitor, some people who are tweaking the system might be in for a rude awakening.

This whole tax scheme seems like an absolute mess and another stressor for living here.

Those are your words. I never said anything about not declaring anything brought into the country. I'm not "tweaking" anything. I just don't deposit the funds in my bank accounts anymore. The funds remain in cash.

I keep a record of everything and the method used.

I have over 800,000 baht in annual tax deductions (so far). I have consulted two separate Thai tax attorneys in BKK. Both have told me that if I do not owe taxes, I am not required to file.

31 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

They could only do that if it was made compulsory to file a tax return whether tax be due or not. At the moment it isn't and I think it's highly unlikely that that ruling will change.

I'm sure the TRD would not want to be burdened with millions of tax returns that will yield nothing!

Nailed it.

There are many local TRD offices across the Kingdom that will not issue a TIN if you don't owe. A couple of acquaintances in two different provinces were adamant in wanting the TIN where they live, and the clerks flat out refused. "You not owe tax. You not need."

2 hours ago, SamSpade said:

Still no news on the proposed exemption for Current/Previous year’s income? This sounded like a well thought out plan that was all but ready for signing before it disappeared.

Yes, it disappeared.

This would be absolutely fantastic.

39 minutes ago, Ricohoc said:

Both have told me that if I do not owe taxes, I am not required to file.

Yeah ok, sorry.

I don't know what you're doing.

And thanks for that heads up. Maybe I don't need to file either.

37 minutes ago, Ricohoc said:

There are many local TRD offices across the Kingdom that will not issue a TIN if you don't owe. A couple of acquaintances in two different provinces were adamant in wanting the TIN where they live, and the clerks flat out refused. "You not owe tax. You not need."

I don't know how it works.

But I am concerned the tax folks back home might flag me down if I don't file here.

I prefer filing here, even if I don't owe anything.

Especially since the bank back home asked me for my TIN, which I presume they will pass on to the tax agency back home.

So if the tax folks back home ever do check, they will see that I filed.

These people at the local tax office may not have a full understanding of how it works with coordinating with tax folks back home.

But maybe I am being overly paranoid.

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

But maybe I am being overly paranoid.

Which I believe is the whole purpose of tax posts on AN.

Oh no it is simply being informative say farang owned and run tax advisor businesses.

3 hours ago, Moonlover said:

They could only do that if it was made compulsory to file a tax return whether tax be due or not. At the moment it isn't and I think it's highly unlikely that that ruling will change.

in my understanding, filling tax return in thailand is already compulsory!

however, the obligation to file a personal income tax return depends mainly on whether you have assessable income and whether you meet the filing thresholds. the revenue department explicitly applies the rules to both thai citizens and foreigners ...

imho, it seems very unlikely that thailand would simply give up this tax revenue. it appears that money remitted by thai nationals to thailand is already being brought into the tax system, so why should foreign tax residents be exempt?

3 hours ago, save the frogs said:

I don't know how it works.

But I am concerned the tax folks back home might flag me down if I don't file here.

I prefer filing here, even if I don't owe anything.

Especially since the bank back home asked me for my TIN, which I presume they will pass on to the tax agency back home.

So if the tax folks back home ever do check, they will see that I filed.

These people at the local tax office may not have a full understanding of how it works with coordinating with tax folks back home.

But maybe I am being overly paranoid.

I never tell people what to do.

Always do what's best for you.

The local tax offices seem to be operating like different bank branches and different immigration offices. They are all doing something different.

6 hours ago, motdaeng said:

10 hours ago, Moonlover said:

They could only do that if it was made compulsory to file a tax return whether tax be due or not. At the moment it isn't and I think it's highly unlikely that that ruling will change.

6 hours ago, motdaeng said:

in my understanding, filling tax return in thailand is already compulsory!

however, the obligation to file a personal income tax return depends mainly on whether you have assessable income and whether you meet the filing thresholds.

Doesn't that mean exactly the same thing?

so regardless of what the details may be, and assuming one owes no thailand tax by however they themselves figured it, is every foreigner required to submit the tax forms, describe what was remitted, what is not taxable etc?