Do I need a work permit for digital work in Thailand if my income is from work done outside the country?

I have been in Thailand for 10 years on various different visas. The whole time I have been a remote employee. The Thai government is not going to spy on you in your home to see which buttons you're pushing on your computer.

My claim has always been "I work for a company in the US", Nobody has ever question where I do that work.

@Trayn ****

that's actually too bad, because if you were American you would have the opportunity for a better business structure to set up under. How have you been getting paid, and where have you been living, while you've been working on the game? You will need to pay your taxes somewhere, and to do that in Thailand you will need a legal business, unless you are in fact working for some company not in Thailand/remote workers. At the very least you will have a tax liability in your passport country, not Thailand, unless you set up a legal business in Thailand. In your case to set up that business you will need at least bt2million in registered capital, and if you can't set up under the BOI, as a skilled worker, you will be required to hire, and pay, at least 4 Thai employees. These requirements are for your type B visa and work permit. At the very least, either way, you must have a licensed Thai accountant. There are no exceptions to this. You could get a DTV, Destination Thailand Visa, if the company you work for is legal, and will write you a letter stating you can work remotely, and most Thai embassies you apply at will want to see your last tax filing, plus bt500,000, or the equivalent, in a bank account in your name only. You can not do any of this as your wife's trailing spouse. There are ways you can do it, but it is not going to be free. It will cost you money.

You can get paid from work done before you moved. But once you move any additional work would need a permit.

Proper way would be to setup a Thai company and get a work permit via that. Not sure what your original country of origin is but if US check out the treaty of amity, it gets rid of a lot of the downsides of having a Thai company as a non-thai.

And yes patching your product would count as work. Good things there are no bugs or issues with your product.

DTV wouldn't let you work in Thailand either. It lets you work remote for a company outside of the country not in country.

You wish you were American

I would contact Thailand immigration or embassy to see what they require. If your wife has a DTV then if I am not wrong it covers you for work also. But as I said best check.

@Brian ********

may be able to offer some advice.

you can open a bank account in switzerland or other countries that allow free flow of income. Eventually put the account in name of a company if needed. You will pay tax in Thailand only on what you transfer in the country.

Divert the funds to ur country of origin..

Which type of Non-O visa will you have? If it's for marriage you could potentially get a work permit via a Thai company. If it's based on being over 50 you can't work inside Thailand. If you will work entirely remotely then get the DTV

I'd talk to a lawyer since a non-o does not give you the right to work .. as you've already been advised, it would be best to twin and open a bank account in your home country and remit funds to Thailand as needed.

Wait for the experts but yes you going to pay tax