Can you keep a Thai retirement visa valid while staying less than 180 days per year?

Yes, you can, and there are no tax implications.

Amazing how many people cannot answer a simple question. Yes you can stay under 180 days, it doesn’t matter 1 day or 365 days. Each entry you are stamped upto the end of your visa.

Retirement visa (multi)

I think the taxation of foreigners in Thailand is not realated to visas, per-se, but income and residency status, defined by Thailand Revenue Dept. Of course there are the regulation we must follow on work and ed type visas and the no-work restrictions on the retirement visas. However, if you are in-country for 180 days or more in a calandar year (a tax resident), you are legally required to submit a tax return, through which your foreign income brought to Thai;and and any domestic income (eg. bank interest) will be assessed and tax amount calculated for your payment. It used to be income sourced in Thailand or paid by and Thailand branch of an overseas company - I expect this is still within the regulation, with the 180-days definition added to it. Remember also, Thailand has tax treaty/double taxation agreements with several countries globally, which comes into play for income tax paid monies from such places as Australia and UK. If you have a registration on a residence, you might (as I did) also get a local government bill for a land/residence tax.

It is always a benefit to stay over 180 days and pay your taxes to 2 countries and use the DTA (if your country have) i saved 170 000 NOK ( USD) in less total paid tax every year on using the DTA between Norway and Thailand.

My understanding is that you become a tax resident once you have been in country 180 days in a calendar year. They do not have to be 180 consecutive days. Just a total of 180 days in country in any calander year. Once you have attained that status, even if you do not stay 180 days the next year, the status continues, I was told. Have not confirmed this. I realize you have said you understand and are in compliance with taxes here. Just adding this in case it will help someone. I talked with the government when I had a retirement visa I obtained when I was in country and they explained this clearly. They said I could come and go as I wanted on a multiple entry retirement visa during the time it was valid. Still have to do the only reentry card each time when returning. I have transitioned to an LTR visa which is also multiple entry. That visa mitigates the income tax issue nicely but I still have to file. It does not impact VAT or property tax (I own a house on land belonging to my wife and we are filing a superfices), if that is an issue.

Yes

Yes

The tax implications are not big. That’s social media misrepresentation and fear mongering

If you already have the retirement visa is it possible to add the multi entry permit to it

There are no tax implications unless you plan to work in Thailand, which you cannot do under a retirement visa.

Edit: or, you remit salary from the current year to Thailand.

I live off investments and investment income accrued pre 2024.

The people who tell you there are tax implications are largely foreign tax stamp pimps who are trying to make money off you so they can afford to stay in Thailand.

FYI giving tax advice is also a prohibited profession for foreigners in Thailand.

I have a non O Thai wife Visa, multiple reentry stamp…come and go to US and other Asian countries, no issues…

I wonder what tax implications? I've lived here 16 years, never paid a single baht here. I bring in around 85-100k each month. You are aware it's 180 days in a calendar year which can deem you a tax resident (although depending on your own situation, you may still not need to pay tax).

You haven't said what you ACTUALLY have, so I'll list what you COULD have.

If you have a 1-year non-OA visa from a Thai embassy, you can come and go as you please. Every time you enter until the expiration date on the visa, you'll be stamped in for 1-year, or until the expiration of your mandatory insurance policy. If your 1-year entry stamp goes beyond the validity of the visa, you'll need a re-entry permit if you want to leave and return again. After that you'll need to go home and purchase a new non-OA visa to repeat the process.

If you're on a 1-year extension of stay based on your original 90-day non-O visa, then you need to purchase a re-entry permit to be able to leave and not cancel your extension. You'll need to be back in Thailand before your extension expires in order to apply for the next annual extension.

Your list what tax implications???been here 16 years never paid tax ??? And just for your knowledge it’s 180 in a year not at a time

Sure. You can come and go as you please. The only requirement is if you are on an extension of stay that you are in the country to renew it