Working In The West From Thailand?

[astral]

IMO there are two issues here.

1. Income to justify a visa. - Immigration Dept

The OP mentions retirement visa, but there is no indication of how old he is.

If he is over 50 and can show 65K then I don't see a problem.

Even if under 50 but married to a Thai then 40K will suffice.

As long as he has documentation the embassy will provide the letter.

As the income originates from overseas and appears to be taxed at source

there should be no tax issues, provided there is a dual tax agreement in place.

2. Working. - Labour Dept

Now this is a different matter.

Technically a work permit may be needed.

Does the OP plan to put up a board and advertise his services.

I suspect not.

He is simply "playing on his computer" keeping in touch with overseas matters.

Nothing for anyone to worry about. Many of us are in this situation.

[Jingthing]

Astral, I mostly agree with what you say, except for one point. In the case of embassy letters used to show income for retirement extensions, there have been reports of immigration requesting more documentation from applicants, especially from Americans who they know do not need to prove anything to get the letter from their embassy. Assuming that risk, a person doing as you propose could indeed be tripped up. For example, applicant has the letter and then the proof of income shows that the applicant is working in Thailand (as the passport shows the person has stayed in Thailand). That could be dicey.

Maybe this isn't clear enough. Example:

Officer: what is your income from? Is it a pension?

Applicant: No, it is not a pension. It is business/employment income.

Officer: What business? Are you working the business? Where is the proof?

Applicant: PROBLEM TIME, time to tell the truth or lie, not a good idea to lie to cops and the truth is a confession of working in Thailand without a work permit

To avoid the risk of that happening, that is why for the retirement example, I suggested just using the 800K in the bank without an income letter to be the safer option.

[astral]

If you had a 'legal' job in the West that can be completed remotely, by phone and/or internet ........

and all income taxes would be paid to the Western country.

I take that to mean a documented job/income, tax paid as well.

That should be enough for the embassy and Immigration?

"Consultation over the phone or internet from time to time"

would be my answer about the job side.

Companies do pay large sums just to have experts on "standby".

[IMA_FARANG]

If you had a 'legal' job in the West that can be completed remotely, by phone and/or internet could that work be done from Thailand and cover the monthly income requirment for a retirement or a Non0 visa?

The job would for work done in the West. The pay would be to a Westen bank account, and all income taxes would be paid to the Western country. There would be a 'record' of the 50,000Baht or 40,000Bhat per month income required for a Thai Visa.

It does not matter to the Western company where the work is being done from, just that it gets done.

Does it matter to Thai officials that the work is being done for the West from a location in Thailand? oR do they even have to know? It seems legal to me, but they might start 'scratching their heads' and wallets.

The work would be done in the West, just from Thailand.

I would consult a a lawyer who knows Thai tax and business law before I got into that...just in case.

For example, if a person was to get a job writing a weekly article, or a BLOG for a publication in the U.S. The work would be done in Thailand and electronically uploaded to the newspaper in the U.S. The money in the U.S. would be deposited in a bank account, and the 40,000 baht then transferred to a bank account in Thailand for the monthly income requirement.

The WORK...i.e. writing the BLOG or article would be done in Thailand. The money earned would however be transferred from the U.S. Would that be called "foriegn income"? And since the money was generated by work done in Thailand, would it be subject to Thai Tax?

I bet some lawyers could have a field day with those questions.

P.S. I can imagine a weekly article in a local U.S. paper called "A Fat Farang in Thailand"...Hmmm.... I wonder?

Or a series of recipies for Thai food...a "how to cook" with illustrations that was published in the food section of a major city newspaper in the U.S. (A lot of interest in Thai food in the U.S.)

That's an interesting thought.

[Jingthing]

I still think there is some risk to use non-work permit income earned in Thailand for immigration qualification if you encounter an overzealous immigration officer who asks hard questions and followup questions and demands documentation. He could prove you are working in Thailand. Chances of this happening? I have no idea but it is clearly possible especially for those who are bad liars/bs artists. We all have to find our own comfort level. If it was me, I would be comfortable working a western job off the radar in Thailand but I would not be comfortable claiming that income for immigration qualification, especially living on a no work in Thailand retirement extension.

[astral]

The money earned would however be transferred from the U.S. Would that be called "foriegn income"?

And since the money was generated by work done in Thailand, would it be subject to Thai Tax?

As long as the payment is overseas, and there is a record of tax paid,

the dual tax agreement should suffice.

BTW How did the US get in the equation??

The OP is Canadian.

[Jingthing]

I realize the OP is probably Canadian but this is a general discussion, not only about the OP. Regarding the embassy letter, immigration officers know that Americans are not required to prove anything to get the letter so there have been reports that Americans in particular may be questioned about their source of income. Of course, officers are free to demand further documentation from anyone at their discretion, above and beyond the standard requirements.