Us Taxes Vs. Thai Taxes

[cottonmouth]

I'm a 35 year old US citizen married to a Thai national, with sufficient funds in the bank to qualify for a Type O visa.

My company is allowing me to live and work in Thailand, though I work exclusively from home, I can get a work permit under our corporation and I have a type B visa.

Is there a respectable firm that could give me tax advice on which setup would allow me to pay the least tax? I understand the hypo tax setup and that the US government will try and make it so I will not pay less tax, I am more concerned that without the FSA, IRA, etc. deductions, I may pay more tax if I pay taxes here in Thailand.

thanks,

cottonmouth

[ubonjoe]

I am not sure you can get a work permit. Is the company registered here?

You don't need a B visa to get a work permit you could get an extension of stay based upon marriage and still get a work permit.

[thaihome]

As stated above, your company will have to be registered in Thailand in order for you to get a work permit and visa extension based on it. If you are able to do that, you will pay Thai Income tax on whatever salary that Thai registered company pays you. Regardless, you still have to file a US income tax return and declare that income. As it will be foreign income, you will be eligible for the foreign income exclusion of about $90k and can get a credit on the foreign tax you paid on the amount above the exclusion. You are still eligible to set up IRA’s and such. Even though it is foreign income, it can still be paid into a US bank. Note that in most cases, Thai income tax is a higher rate then the US.

From your brief description it is implied that your employer is a US company and not registered in Thailand. If so, your best plan would be to just get the marriage extension based on money in bank and continue to work at home and receive your pay in the US and not declare the income to Thailand. You would then transfer whatever funds you need to live on to Thailand. In this scenario, technically you would not be eligible for the foreign income exclusion and would just file US tax normally.

TH