Tax Avoidance/evasion In The Los

[tomyumcha]

Hi,

Not sure if this is the right place to post so please move/delete as necessary.

Do all Thais pay income tax?

I know a Thai national who has not paid a dime of tax in 10 years. He works as a manager for a foreign government represenative office in Bangkok and is on a pretty good salary by Thai standards.

I just don't think that not paying tax is fair at all. I'm sure there must be laws against it.

[h90]

you are the first week in Thailand, or?

Imagine you stay in a country and the premiers name is "tax - in"

You'll learn many more things which can be considered as "not fair".

And yes law, law is a question of money.

I just don't think that not paying tax is fair at all.  I'm sure there must be laws against it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[RDN]

1. Maybe the foreign government has a double taxation agreement with Thailand, and he pays tax to the foreign government.

2. Don't believe all that people say.

[Harmonica]

Hi,

Not sure if this is the right place to post so please move/delete as necessary.

Do all Thais pay income tax? 

I know a Thai national who has not paid a dime of tax in 10 years.  He works as a manager for a foreign government represenative office in Bangkok and is on a pretty good salary by Thai standards.

I just don't think that not paying tax is fair at all.  I'm sure there must be laws against it.

Taxes here are not paid in american money -- I know one Thai national who pays in sugarcane, another in pineapples. The pineapple fella has not paid in over 20 years. Its not fair, but I had a drink with him anyway!

[~G~]

I know a Thai national who has not paid a dime of tax in 10 years.  He works as a manager for a foreign government represenative office in Bangkok and is on a pretty good salary by Thai standards.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If by a pretty good salary you mean 15,000 baht, he doesn't need to pay income tax.

Edited July 13, 2005 by ~G~

[Thetyim]

Not all Thais have to register for tax

Markets traders don't have to .

[Heng]

We don't all pay income tax, but we certainly all pay VAT taxes. It's more than enough for the gov't to misappropriate, if that was your concern. If you feel that any gov't office isn't getting their fair share of the skim and is lacking in funds, then you should forward this information to the various appropriate ministries.

[taxin]

Hi,

Not sure if this is the right place to post so please move/delete as necessary.

Do all Thais pay income tax? 

I know a Thai national who has not paid a dime of tax in 10 years.  He works as a manager for a foreign government represenative office in Bangkok and is on a pretty good salary by Thai standards.

I just don't think that not paying tax is fair at all.  I'm sure there must be laws against it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sounds like your thinking about turning him in ? tut, tut...

[h90]

are you Thailands Premier (your nickname)?

Hi,

Not sure if this is the right place to post so please move/delete as necessary.

Do all Thais pay income tax? 

I know a Thai national who has not paid a dime of tax in 10 years.  He works as a manager for a foreign government represenative office in Bangkok and is on a pretty good salary by Thai standards.

I just don't think that not paying tax is fair at all.  I'm sure there must be laws against it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sounds like your thinking about turning him in ? tut, tut...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[taxin]

are you Thailands Premier (your nickname)?

Hi,

Not sure if this is the right place to post so please move/delete as necessary.

Do all Thais pay income tax? 

I know a Thai national who has not paid a dime of tax in 10 years.  He works as a manager for a foreign government represenative office in Bangkok and is on a pretty good salary by Thai standards.

I just don't think that not paying tax is fair at all.  I'm sure there must be laws against it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sounds like your thinking about turning him in ? tut, tut...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And you thought only Farangs came on here ! Dont you worry, im watching you lot !!!

[RDN]

... Dont you worry, im watching you lot !!! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I didn't realise you spoke such excellent idiomatic English, sir. Much better than what we hear on the telly.

[phuketsiam]

I know a Thai national who has not paid a dime of tax in 10 years.  He works as a manager for a foreign government represenative office in Bangkok and is on a pretty good salary by Thai standards.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If by a pretty good salary you mean 15,000 baht, he doesn't need to pay income tax.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

eh? I think Thai income tax (personal) starts at 50,000 a year, about 5,000 a month at about 5%, Thai's being paid abroad are not subject to local incme tax tho, same for foreigners

[Dakhar]

I know of a co. manager that was caught running a "cash book." Meaning a book that recorded all cash transactions, that were never taxed. Her fine... 200$

You got to love Thailand.

[penelope]

My wife pays tax.

So do I.

Revenue Department

[WhiteShiva]

Hi,

Not sure if this is the right place to post so please move/delete as necessary.

Do all Thais pay income tax? 

I know a Thai national who has not paid a dime of tax in 10 years.  He works as a manager for a foreign government represenative office in Bangkok and is on a pretty good salary by Thai standards.

I just don't think that not paying tax is fair at all.  I'm sure there must be laws against it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Perhaps his company pays his taxes? Not uncommon for foreign (and some local) companies.....

[p_brownstone]

I recall many years ago the Revenue Department started publicising the names of the top 100 Income Tax payers in Thailand – the aim was to encourage people to report their real income and pay the appropriate Tax.

The first year this was published about 95% of the names were Farang, not a trace of most of the usual Thai super-rich family names.

The only concrete result was that at least one of the Farang on the list had his house broken into shortly after it was released.

The idea was abandoned.

Patrick

[Sumitr Man]

I know a Thai national who has not paid a dime of tax in 10 years.  He works as a manager for a foreign government represenative office in Bangkok and is on a pretty good salary by Thai standards.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If by a pretty good salary you mean 15,000 baht, he doesn't need to pay income tax.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

eh? I think Thai income tax (personal) starts at 50,000 a year, about 5,000 a month at about 5%, Thai's being paid abroad are not subject to local incme tax tho, same for foreigners

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Income tax starts at 100,000 @10%. That 100k is post deductibles. Therefore, if you are married, with 2 kids, have a mortgage, pay-in to a provident fund, have some form of insurance (50k p.a.), and possibly have the Long-term Investment (5 year) scheme (300k p.a.) in place, there is every possibilty that you could be earning circa 20-25k a month and not have to pay income tax.

OTH, earn over 1m a year after deductibles (not that much significantly higher), and you are in the 30% tax bracket

Earn over 4m a year (including a good bonus) and you're in the 37% bracket

SM

[~G~]

I know a Thai national who has not paid a dime of tax in 10 years.  He works as a manager for a foreign government represenative office in Bangkok and is on a pretty good salary by Thai standards.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If by a pretty good salary you mean 15,000 baht, he doesn't need to pay income tax.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

eh? I think Thai income tax (personal) starts at 50,000 a year, about 5,000 a month at about 5%, Thai's being paid abroad are not subject to local incme tax tho, same for foreigners

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Income tax starts at 100,000 @10%. That 100k is post deductibles. Therefore, if you are married, with 2 kids, have a mortgage, pay-in to a provident fund, have some form of insurance (50k p.a.), and possibly have the Long-term Investment (5 year) scheme (300k p.a.) in place, there is every possibilty that you could be earning circa 20-25k a month and not have to pay income tax.

OTH, earn over 1m a year after deductibles (not that much significantly higher), and you are in the 30% tax bracket

Earn over 4m a year (including a good bonus) and you're in the 37% bracket

SM

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Right - there are many deductibles.

An employee of mine - not married, no kids, no life insurance, no mortgage - earns 15,000 baht a month - is not required to pay any income tax. However is required to pay social security (about 5%).

[~G~]

I recall many years ago the Revenue Department started publicising the names of the top 100 Income Tax payers in Thailand – the aim was to encourage people to report their real income and pay the appropriate Tax.

The first year this was published about 95% of the names were Farang, not a trace of most of the usual Thai super-rich family names.

The only concrete result was that at least one of the Farang on the list had his house broken into shortly after it was released.

The idea was abandoned.

Patrick

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The richest end up paying the least tax rates. Not only in Thailand. Donald Trump could not develop all these projects and make such a fortune if it wasn't for very significant reductions in tax rates given to him by NYC.

Edited July 14, 2005 by ~G~

[Sumitr Man]

G:

Correct.

Which is why tax planning here can be very important. Also, SS is capped at 750B on 15k a month, so if you earn in excess of 15k a month, you're still only paying 750B a month SS, with potentially no income tax to pay.

SM

[Sumitr Man]

I recall many years ago the Revenue Department started publicising the names of the top 100 Income Tax payers in Thailand – the aim was to encourage people to report their real income and pay the appropriate Tax.

The first year this was published about 95% of the names were Farang, not a trace of most of the usual Thai super-rich family names.

The only concrete result was that at least one of the Farang on the list had his house broken into shortly after it was released.

The idea was abandoned.

Patrick

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The richest end up paying the least tax rates. Not only in Thailand. Donald Trump could not develop all these projects and make such a fortune if it wasn't for very significant reductions in tax rates given to him by NYC.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Provided you are happy to incorporate yourself, there is no reason why you should be any more than say 1-3% tax (on revenue earned).

I mean, why pay 37% personal income tax when corporate tax rate is 30% - doesn't make sense.

SM

[~G~]

G:

Correct. 

Which is why tax planning here can be very important.  Also, SS is capped at 750B on 15k a month, so if you earn in excess of 15k a month, you're still only paying 750B a month SS, with potentially no income tax to pay.

SM 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Right - and this is pretty low compared to other countries. Where I come from, the cap on social security is very very high - most people never reach it - we call social security a "second income tax".