Can I Obtain A Tax Number?

[alan1254]

Hi I have just been reading your info about company formation, I need some advice I would like to move to Thailand , but not work in Thailand I dont think I reqire a company as I would be earning my living on-line from sources outside Thailand but the company's I work with require I have a tax number from my country of residency before my funds can be transfered . So can I obtain a Thai tax number without a company or work permit ? Would I need to be a resident or can I get a number as a non resident? any help would be apreciated , or if you could point me in the right direction thanks very much

[rishi]

Why would those companies pay you, if you're not working? --- Sorry, it sounds as what you're talking about, actually does require a workpermit - so getting a tax-id is the last of the problems you're facing.

[alan1254]

Why would those companies pay you, if you're not working? --- Sorry, it sounds as what you're talking about, actually does require a workpermit - so getting a tax-id is the last of the problems you're facing.

hi I did not say I was not working I said I would not be working in Thailand I would be working online granted I would be typing away in Thailand but my understanding is Thai authoities do not class that as working in Thailand as all the payment comes from oversea's

[rishi]

Well, if you are situated in Thailand and typing away, you are working in Thailand except if that typing was only for your own private affairs. It doesn't matter where your money comes from. It doesn't even matter if you didn't get any money at all. If it's not just personal - its work.... according to Thai laws.

[Maestro]

I did not say I was not working I said I would not be working in Thailand I would be working online granted I would be typing away in Thailand but my understanding is Thai authoities do not class that as working in Thailand as all the payment comes from oversea's

Your understanding is wrong: for the Thai authorities, it is work and the income from it is taxable in Thailand, but it has been said in this forum on several occasions that in the situation you describe and if you keep a low profile you can probably get away without a work permit and without paying income tax in Thailand. Consider, though, that based on recent reports in this forum Immigration seem to question more frequently how a long-term tourist earns his living and some Thai consulates refuse to issue tourist visas after a certain time.

Your problem, however, is entirely different at the moment. Your employer, for whatever reason, wants to make sure that you pay income tax, anywhere in the world, on the compensation he pays you. This means that you need to establish residence somewhere for the purpose of paying income tax. If you don’t want this to be Thailand, you can arrange your tax residence in another country while still living in Thailand (as long as you can get repetitive tourist visas), but why not make it Thailand? Talk to Sunbelt or somebody similar.

An alternative could be to set up a juristic person (company) in a tax haven, your employer pays your salary to that company, and you live in Thailand on money you remit from that account to your account in Thailand or which you withdraw at ATM machines in Thailand from your foreign account.

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Maestro

[astral]

Hi I have just been reading your info about company formation, I need some advice I would like to move to Thailand , but not work in Thailand I dont think I reqire a company as I would be earning my living on-line from sources outside Thailand but the company's I work with require I have a tax number from my country of residency before my funds can be transfered . So can I obtain a Thai tax number without a company or work permit ? Would I need to be a resident or can I get a number as a non resident? any help would be apreciated , or if you could point me in the right direction thanks very much

There is no need to have a company or a work permit to get a tax id.

The local tax office will issue the card.

Anyone who lives in LOS for more than 6 months in one calendar year is liable

for tax on their income, if it has not already been taxed elsewhere.

Check if the country were your income arises has a dual tax agreement with Thailand.

If you are retired, ie over 50, there seems to be a loophole that you can live off savings

ie money earnd in previous years, without paying tax. Most retirees fall in this category

and the Thai's do not pay much attention to them.

For you I would suggest you set up a shell company in a tax haven. The company will have

a tax certificate to satisfy you employers and the tax paid will be low value.

Then you can pay yourself money each month, from your accumulated "savings",

and everyone will be happy.

PM me if you want more info.