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Can someone on a DTV visa in Thailand be questioned about taxes?

DTV VisaTaxes in ThailandTax ResidencyTax ObligationsExpats in Thailand
Dec 11, 2025
a day ago
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Posting anonymously because I don’t want to deal with trolls.

My buddy from Denmark just called me in a panic. He said that in a European DTV Visa group, some Norwegians claimed they were actually taken in by police and questioned about taxes in Thailand while on the DTV visa.

I told him there must have been something more serious going on (maybe some kind of tax evasion issue), but now he’s stressing because he’s spent about 3M baht on motorcycles and other things, and thinks he’ll owe taxes on all the money he brought into Thailand.

From my understanding, if someone is spending over 180 days a year in Thailand, they should expect tax obligations under Thai regulations. And even if you’re not on the Workation track, you’re still required to pay taxes on any money you bring into the country—Thai authorities can check ATM withdrawals and transfers regardless of whether your DTV is Workation or not.

For context, my friend is on the DTV Soft Power program but doing Thai Language, which he got approved for through the embassy in his home country.

Has anyone here actually had experience being questioned by police or tax authorities while on a DTV visa?

Or is this just another round of panic rumors?

Would appreciate real experiences, not fear-mongering.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user expressed concern regarding their friend's fears about potential tax issues while on a DTV visa in Thailand, prompted by rumors of police inquiries into tax matters for visa holders. The community provided various opinions, suggesting that the fears might be unfounded. Key points discussed include the tax residency rules for individuals spending over 180 days in Thailand, the current lack of enforcement concerning DTV visa holders' tax obligations, and the timeline for tax filings, noting that it may not be necessary to worry about taxes until 2026 for those newly on the DTV visa.
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Anonymous ******************
Utter nonsense, shut up with the fear mongering
16 hours ago
Reply
Mark *********
How do you pay tax on a tourist visa?
20 hours ago
Reply
Christer *****
If the friend brought that money in in cash without declaring it....
a day ago
Reply
Pete *******
Utter nonsense, nobody on a DTV would currently be required to pay any taxes (excluding those who may have transferred onto the visa). The earliest tax filing requirement is in 2026.
a day ago
Reply
Luit *****************
@Pete ******
 What do you mean with transferred? When I look in this group most of them were in Thailand and decided to go as visa tourist to a neighbour country to get DTV, so highly likely over 180 days, so tax resident. I think most of them were already tax resident on visa exempt before DTV existed, so your remark "Utter nonsense, nobody on a DTV would currently be required to pay any taxes" just is complete BS.
a day ago
Reply
Pete *******
@Luit ****************
 by transferred I mean already in Thailand. Anyone applying who did not become tax resident in 2024 would not be paying any taxes until they file in 2026.
a day ago
Reply
Luit *****************
@Pete ******
 OK, so most people who got DTV in 2024 might be already tax resident in 2024, which means filing in 2025. We have no figures, but just looking at the very high numbers of visa tourist who did apply near Thailand makes me think most of them already lived legal or illegal in Thailand and now try to use DTV to continue this practice. And even people who got DTV in 2025 might have been tax resident in 2024
a day ago
Reply
Nick *******
@Luit ****************
 you don’t know that. Pete is most likely correct in that the majority of DTV holders would not already have been tax residents. You clearly just like trying to pick peoples posts apart.
a day ago
Reply
Luit *****************
@Nick ******
 I already said we don't have complete figures, but just count the number of people that apply in SE Asean countries and not in their home country. Those visa tourists most likely already live in Thailand and will already be tax resident. Compare this to the people who apply in their home country and you see a minority, from which a part only stays just a few weeks in their home country before going BACK to Thailand as they say themselves. Everything just is a sign that the majority of DTV holders are (far) over 180 days a year in Thailand, and did the same before DTV, just without or with another visa. And yes, peoples posts give a lot of information.
a day ago
Reply
Nick *******
@Luit ****************
 that's nothing but speculation. I would bet most are not already tax residents but its ok we can disagree.
a day ago
Reply
Luit *****************
@Nick ******
 then just look at the questions asked here, most of them indicate they lived before in Thailand and stay over 180 days, but obviously you missed all those. The only thing is people posting here might be not representative for the complete group, but that really is speculation. My opinion is based on what is posted here.
a day ago
Reply
Nick *******
strange man.....think you need more than new glasses mate. have a lovely evening
a day ago
Reply
Luit *****************
@Nick ******
 Don't worry about me, I don't need anything, there is no need to agree, but when you resort to personal attacks like you do that tells me enough, only loosers do so.

Very recently there was even a post asking how many days everybody did stay on DTV and almost everyone stayed over 180 days, a very clear sign how DTV is used, but I am a strange man when I say so....
a day ago
Reply
Nick *******
@Luit ****************
 well I am a little bit worried about you! This discussion started around the point of whether DTV applicants were already tax residents and I said it was ok to disagree….you are now referring to a recent post saying how many days they stay now. That’s a completely different point and of course most DTV holders stay more than 180 days - it doesn’t mean they did before they applied. You also completely made up what other comments on this thread were saying. Bit weird when everyone can read them. Anyway, this is just boring know. Talking to you is like trying to play chess with a pigeon. Bye bye
19 hours ago
Reply
Luit *****************
@Nick ******
 How many days staying is not a different point, staying 180 days means tax residence. And applying for a visa in a country nearby nd asking how long they need to stay there before they can return to Thailand because they live there also is a clear sing they stay there over 180 days.

When I look at how difficult it is for you to understand this very simple basics, I think playing chess for you is not an option, not even with a pigeon.

Why is it you want to insult others, does that make you feel better?
19 hours ago
Reply
Nick *******
@Luit ****************
 no my stubborn little friend with the big ego. I said right at the beginning of this discussion that it’s ok we can disagree but you want to keep moving the goal posts. You are totally speculating and you know it. That’s the problem here and you simply cannot accept it. You should, it will make you feel better. But again it’s ok for us to disagree. Have a great day picking apart peoples comments on FB.
19 hours ago
Reply
Luit *****************
@Nick ******
 I only discuss about facts, I am glad it makes you happy insulting others, keep doing this in case you like, but I will not join you at that extremely low level of humanity and personal attacks.
16 hours ago
Reply
Nick *******
blah blah blah....I am only replying because you are clearly someone that wants the last word on everything, especially when you know you are wrong, and I know this thread is giving you some purpose for today. We can go back to the beginning and agree to disagree as I suggested and like normal people do if you want?
16 hours ago
Reply
Nick *******
@Luit ****************
 blah blah blah
16 hours ago
Reply
Luit *****************
@Nick ******
 Congratulations on the perfect summary of your previous contributions. Everything useful is still there, and it takes much less time to read. There are now only three superfluous words.
16 hours ago
Reply
Nick *******
@Luit ****************
 wow. are you ok? are you reading different comments? most of them just point out 'IF' you stay more than 180 you become a TR. They don't talk about themselves. And even if they did they don't say 2024 do they? The point Pete made was 2025 would mean they file end of March 2026. Buy some new glasses..
a day ago
Reply
Luit *****************
@Nick ******
 Just count the posts asking what to do after staying 180 days in Thailand, extend or do borderrun, I almost never see the option of spending the rest of the year somewhere else. And also I see a very clear majority applying in SE Asia and asking how many days they should calculate before RETURNING to Thailand, which is a clear sign they are already here. Most of them don"t even realize they are already tax resident, because they think that on visa exempt or ED visa you are not tax resident. But oviously you only look at questions about tax residency and not at all posts here. I don't need new glasses, I can perfectly see ALL postings, but your glasses are a bit limited I think. If you want to replace them you have to decide for yourself, sometimes it is pleasant ypu don't see everything.
a day ago
Reply
Reply to
Luit *****************
Reply
Anonymous ******************
If he’s paying taxes somewhere, he should be fine.

But also, the DTV hasn’t been out long enough for people to start filing their tax. That will start next year. So it’s almost certainly lies
a day ago
Reply
Luit *****************
Anonieme deelnemer 173 DTV is not in any way related to tax filing, but just to number of days you stay in Thailand. Somebody with 2 extended visa exempts before he got DTV that year might already be tax resident on day 1 he got DTV.
a day ago
Reply
Anonymous ******************
@Luit ****************
 that is a good point
a day ago
Reply
Reply to
Anonymous ******************
Reply
Winston ************
Nah you're posting anonymously because this story is complete nonsense.
a day ago
Reply
Jonah *****
@Winston ***********
 I think he is posting anonymously to try and avoid comments like yours
a day ago
Reply
Don *******
@Jonah ****
 reverse psychology doesn’t work here. Gives zero credibility when he starts off with “claims”.
a day ago
Reply
Jonah *****
@Don ******
 I disagree, and so do 7 other people.
20 hours ago
Reply
Callum ****************
@Jonah ****
 Yeah well you’re just falling for bait and fear mongering like idiots, be thankful people call out these lies.
19 hours ago
Reply
Jonah *****
@Callum ***************
 Sounded like an honest enquiry to me. Not sure what the issue is where you are concerned.
18 hours ago
Reply
Reply to
Jonah *****
Reply
Craig *******
What nonsense....since when would the police be involved with tax evasion?
a day ago
Reply
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Craig ******
 Ask Martha Stewart
a day ago
Reply
Don *******
Anonymous participant criminally indicted by a grand jury and IRS leading the case. Not a copper at the airport 😂
a day ago
Reply
Reply to
Don *******
Reply
John **********
The law is pretty clear if he doesn't spend 180 days inside Thailand in the year he brings the money in there is nothing to worry about. If he does spend 180 days in a year inside Thailand then assessable income is liable for Thai tax. He would need to look in the DTA between his country and Thailand to determine what constitutes assessable income, and also whether he can claim any tax credit already paid on the assessable income in the same period
a day ago
Reply
Jonas *************
@John *********
 you know the dta's are basically impossible to read even if you're used to legalee writing. I don't know if it's very old or outdated language but the Swedish one both in English and in Swedish is basically unreadable.

And you would have to look at every piece of income because something that is tax free in your country might be taxed here and vice versa.

I really be a tax clarifications for moving money in here is basically meant to catch Thai people investing abroad and bringing it back including the profits. At first they wanted to tax the profit, and now they are happy if the money is just brought back, I'm just saying the same year. But it gets more complicated the more you look into it.

Just such a question bringing some money into Thailand what if I bring in money I earned long time ago but the income of interest which has been taxed stays in the account abroad. Which money are you bringing in? :-D
a day ago
Reply
John **********
@Jonas ************
 yes of course you need to look at every piece of income. If you are confused then I can only suggest you talk to a professional
19 hours ago
Reply
Jonas *************
@John *********
 I'm not confused. I'm saying that probably you too actually cannot read and clearly understand the DTA. Have you actually tried to read it? People have so many ideas about what it is...

The "talking to a professional" it's pretty useless in this case because they cannot really tell you much. In process if you engage one of them you'll be spending an awful lot of money for nothing in the end. In practice people are ignoring the whole problem because it's not a problem yet...

Meanwhile "the professionals" are basically scaremongers...
16 hours ago
Reply
John **********
@Jonas ************
 ah the head in the sand attitude. Of course I've read the DTA that is relevant to me, it's not so complicated. I've also read relevant pieces of Thai tax law and proclamations so I understand my position.
16 hours ago
Reply
Reply to
John **********
Reply
Wannikea *********
Out of the approximately 100,000 or so DTV applications I know of, there was only one approval for a language school. Keeping that in mind the whole story sounds like horse feathers. The Thai police aren't running around saying show me your tax papers. It's also four months till tax filing deadline. Furthermore it doesn't matter what kind of Visa you're on after the 180 days, making you a tax resident, except for LTR. I saw a retiree getting pulled out of his wheelchair and having to show his pittance pension papers.
a day ago
Reply
Derry *********
Wannikea Wanblee have you really monitored 100,000 DTVs? thats immpressive.
15 hours ago
Reply
Wannikea *********
@Derry ********
 I was saying there is at least 100,000 applications approved. Government figures released after the first six or seven months indicated 50,000.
15 hours ago
Reply
Reply to
Wannikea *********
Reply
ZenMa******
I guess the problem is that the rules are exactly as you described but the authorities are handling it very differently. But at the end, sure if they catch him and he staid over 180 days per year, he will have to pay taxes on the money he brought in to the country.
a day ago
Reply
Gianni ********
@ZenMa******
 only if he has not already paid taxes in his own country… Thailand has a double taxation treaty with most European countries… and most of them have higher tax rates than Thailand
a day ago
Reply
ZenMa******
@Gianni *******
 True 🙏
a day ago
Reply
Reply to
ZenMa******
Reply
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