Do foreigners staying in Thailand over 180 days have to pay taxes, even on tourist visas?

Tony Morganbut 1.1 million thai's live/work abroad, and 4 million foreign expats live/work in Thailand, and the same rule applied.

Additionally, the 1.1 million that do, majority are still earning peanuts, under £12,000 per annum, which is about the minimum that an foreign expat will bring into Thailand to live on or top up their income earned in Thailand. So you really think the recent change was 'aimed at thai's using foreign income methods' ?

@Dan *******

yes, its not those working abroad, but rather those that were investing abroad, leaving their earnings until a new financial year, and then transfering it into Thailand as excluded from tax income, many if not most not paying tax in the investment country as they weren't tax residents.

@Tony *******

interesting to know some figures there, to compare to the 4 million expats. I guess most of those thais working abroad should pay tax in the country they are working in, if there for 180+ days ?

Anyways, so why not formerly exclude expats overseas earnings in this rule change, if sincerely going after wealthy thais overseas earnings ? As this current new rule will only force those into leaving money out there until opportunity to bring it back under the radar, or will increase use of crypto to bring it back in as virtual cash. If they are avoiding paying tax, or tax 'planning' already, they will look for other ways to do so.

In the meanwhile, nonstop promotion of tourism, and "come to live in Thailand, (and tax free for some)', new visas, relaxed entry requirements and extended durations, and then kicking a load of us in the teeth with this and talk of more changes to hit us where it hurts. Plus the current persecution of foreigner's, although many deservedly so, others have just about poked a toe over the line, to allow themselves to continue to be more reasonable foreign citizens on thai soil, but could get dragged down with those with moody companies, moody visas, moody work permits, all while taking work from thais, and not paying tax too.

I only got my Elite Visa sticker in my passport 2 months ago, after paying in September 2023, as I had nowhere else to turn really. And I'm far from Elite. Had I know what lay immediately ahead, I would have made different choices. Maybe the Elite Visa handlers had some foresight which made them pull their recent price increase / membership applications stunt

@Dan *******

they dont want to exclude foreigners from the rule change, as there are many who try and avoid due tax in the same manner. Thailand has never been a tax haven, just lax.

The UK is pretty tight at taxing money, with a lot always being at source, so the recent changes shouldn't impact you that much apart from extra paperwork if you have already paid more tax in UK than you calculate you would owe on the money you brought in. And the proposed changes to looking at global income may actually benefit us, as it becomes easier to opt of some source based taxation in the UK and pay in Thailand at a reduced rate.

@Michael ******

thanks for your info. I guess after living here 17 years, I don't want the hassles of getting a tax id and filing a second set of taxes, even if my social security and 2 pensions are exempt. Just extra headaches. Thanks again.

@Ken ******

understand, many of us feel the same, one of the attractions for us retiring here was the tax situation , vis a vis our other options, unfortunately that door is closing, at least nothing to pay in most cases as US , UK, AU tax rates are higher………good luck

@John *********

thank you. I did not know this! Do you happen to have a link to the revenue dept?

@กะลาสี ****

@John *********

thanks again!

@กะลาสี ****

Well this is easily answered:

1.: Yes, as a tax resident in TL you need to have a tax ID if you live here

2.: Yes you will have to file tax forms in TL to prove everything.

@Sue *********

if you are correct for pensioners like myself, all I can say is TL better get busy issuing tax ID numbers and promulgating instructions & forms for me to report the taxes I've already paid in the US.

@กะลาสี ****

In TL you have to make the first move, so you have to go to your revenue office and ask for tax ID, and next year you will have to go to the revenue office again and ask for the tax filing forms. The revenue office will not inform you personally or send any letters. TIT

@Sue *********

thank you for the info. I know absolutely nothing about this matter. I've been here on a retirement visa for nearly 7 years and of course I'm not permitted nor do I have the desire to work on a retirement visa. That being said, I can't help but wonder if the revenue office forms don't have requirements / boxes for information such as work permit numbers and employer information. I think I will just wait and see how this all plays out. Who knows, maybe the revenue gawds will implement new procedures / forms for old goats like me.

@กะลาสี ****

hopefully this will remain true. I moved here in 2006 and if these tax laws were being debated as they are now, I wouldn't move to Thailand until the specifics were clear.

@Ken ******

I'm curious, knowing what you know now, where would you have moved? I was considering the Phils (mostly because of their ability to speak English) but TL doesn't have the typhoons, volcanos, or nearly as powerful of earthquakes. Also, the infrastructure (especially the power grid) and healthcare is much better in TL, IMHO.

@กะลาสี ****

not totally sure but I would consider Cebu or Bagio PH, Da Nang Vietnam, Ubud Indonesia or Malaysia

@กะลาสี ****

exactly 💯 👏

@Dan *******

100% correct Dan my thoughts exactly just trying to fleece the falangs who have worked hard all there life and already paid tax on there earnings now just trying to retire hassle free

@Peter ********

aw bless 🙌 💖

@Peter ********

I suspect 12 month renewal of your Visa will be dependant on showing you have submitted a tax return. So good luck with that 5555 🙄

@Tim ********

that’s the risk retirees take, a tax clearance cert may become one of the requirements for renewal of retirement visas, and other long stay permits….

Tim Douglas I submitted a tax return in the UK to HMRC's satisfaction for over 20 years now. That doesn't mean to say that it is 100% of my worldwide income. And 75% of the tax returns filed by the 25% of work age thai citizens that do file returns, are under the tax threshold. However, most of my 'wealth' was 'earned and taxed' pre-covid, certainly pre-1st Jan 2024. So Tim, whats your take on what would happen if I spent 182 days in UK and 183 days in Thailand ? Or visa versa ? What happens to funds if I were to sell a UK property, both the initial capital, and the capital gains ? Asking for a friend .....😜

@Dan *******

It sould like you know the answer. You just don't want to contribute to public spending so prefer tax fraud, maybe?

@Tim ********

well the rich call it 'tax planning'. My last tax return 2022, was nearly £200,000, that's the fraud right there. And I've paid 600,000 baht for my Elite Visa just last September, rather than go down a more questionable, even illegal route. I consider that 600k to be a tax of sorts, and probably more than you'll pay tax this year, and maybe 2-3 years but thank you for judging me based on a single comment. Now get off your self righteous high horse, and go f#ck yourself 😘

@Tim ********

when have you ever known them to ever do anything on time lol 😆

@Tim ********

not a chance that would be to easy for them lol 😆