Do I need a Thai tax number if I don't have tax liability in Thailand?

Question

Hi,

I have a tax residency question.

As far as I understand, I don’t currently have any tax due in Thailand. The money I’m spending here is not from income earned this year, and I’m leaving Thailand in August. Until then, I can live from previous finances.

For administrative purposes, I wanted to file a tax return in Thailand and obtain a Thai tax number. However, when I went to apply for one, I ended up in a frustrating situation. The officer wanted me to sign documents immediately. I explained that I don’t speak Thai and simply wanted to translate the documents first before signing them. She became quite pushy, and I felt uncomfortable signing something I couldn’t read. Eventually, she found a small issue in the application and refused to issue the tax number.

This made me wonder whether I actually need a Thai tax number at all if I don’t have any tax liability in Thailand.

Am I understanding this correctly, or am I missing something? Does anyone have experience with this?

Thanks in advance!

Ask Thailand · Answer

The user is seeking clarification on whether they need a Thai tax number despite having no tax liability due to not earning income in Thailand and preparing to leave the country. They faced difficulties while trying to obtain a tax number at the Thai revenue office, where language barriers and bureaucratic pushiness complicated the process.

Anonymous ****************** · Answer

Why bother if your on a dtv , it’s long term tourist visa . If you owe tax it’s minimal. There not going after people like you

Anonymous ****************** · Answer

Highly unlikely you're a Thai tax resident if you're here on a tourist visa (DTV)

Christopher *********** · Answer

What can we glean from this post? Yet another worry for DTV holders. 'Power battles' in the income tax office with the result of not knowing whether you wind up on the right or wrong side of the law.

Ian ********** · Answer

[url redacted]

Iliana ******* · Answer

Don’t sign anything unless you have not translated it 😅so well done

Kool ******* · Answer

Don't worry about it.

American ****************************** · Answer

Contact American International Tax Advisers

Robert ******* · Answer

Missing the point that you are in Thailand at the Thai revenue office.

The national language is Thai.

If you have a cell phone, download google translate, make a picture of the document and translate that using the app.

Do I need a Thai tax number if I don't have tax liability in Thailand?

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