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Do parents of international school students in Thailand need to pay taxes while living here?

Mar 15, 2025
a day ago
Yeah, I know that the law requiring taxes for staying over 180 days has been in effect since last year. But honestly, I've never seen anyone around me actually paying taxes while staying here all year. Have you guys ever seen anyone who paid? 😂😂

So, do parents of international school students also have to pay taxes while living here? If that’s the case, who would even send their kids to school here? 🤣🤣
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the confusion regarding tax obligations for expatriates in Thailand, particularly those staying over 180 days. It mentions a misunderstanding surrounding a recent tax law change and highlights that although parents of international school students may be living in Thailand, their tax responsibilities depend on their residency status and income sources. Comments clarify that many foreigners do not pay Thai taxes due to double tax agreements. However, if they are tax residents, they must report any income brought into Thailand.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I earned $200,000 through savings and transferred $50,000 of that to Thailand, and now they say I have to pay taxes on that $50,000? That's crazy...
Steve ********
Anonymous participant Who are "they"?
John **********
Paying tax is nothing to do with whether you have a kid attending school or not. The starting point is spending 180 days or more inside Thailand which makes you a tax resident, visa is immaterial. Then you have to look at whether you bring assessable income into Thailand in that year and if so you need to file a tax return if it amounts to more than 120k baht. If you pay tax elsewhere and that country has a DTA with Thailand you can claim a credit on the assessable income you bring in for tax you have already paid on that income
Expat **********
@John *********
It’s pretty simple but lots on here trying to “muddy the water”. As I’ve mentioned, submit your thai tax return with credits and allowances as per your own DT agreement.
Steve ********
@Expat *********
Where on the tax return form do you show DTA exemptions? You do realise it's self assessment?
Greg ******
Yes, I do, as I’m working here. It is also a requirement for renewing my Non-B visa. I’ll need to show PND 1, PND 91, and a paid tax receipt. Many people ignore the fact that there is an existing system linking visas (and immigration) to the tax system. For me, it is no tax paid, no visa.
Paul *******
@Greg *****
Of course you're on a work visa. Different situation for everyone else.
Greg ********
@Greg *****
Interesting. In my case the company creates us like babies. I certainly never provided and documents to anyone when renewing. The admin staff just out a pile of papers down with sticky notes to where our signatures were needed. I am sure they misr have had records of tax paid though.
Greg ******
@Greg *******
It is indeed handled by your employer who usually pays for your income taxes.
Sweet *****
@Greg *****
correct the Non-B extension is the only one that requires to show tax paid, has been for decades, no other visa requires this including the DTV (yet). If the revenue department do decide to up the tempo and tax other visa types naturally it will be DTV holders next. Some experts believe the DTV was designed to be a tax trap, which would make sense.
John **********
@Sweet ****
The Non-B makes sense as that is for working inside Thailand. I can't see other visas being tied to immigration as there are just too many variables for immigration to get their heads round.
Paul *******
@John *********
Correct and apparently immigration has already stated that they won't be coming after other visa holders for tax. Not their jurisdiction anyway. Only applicable to the non B.
Sweet *****
@John *********
I also can’t see it, not gunna happen, immigration got too much on their plates already, but on the 1% chance of it happening the people/visa they will go after first will be DTV. There are less variables for them to deal with, whereas Non O for example there are many (marriage, retirement, dependent etc), add to this the 2 types of Non O (O and OA), whereas DTV is DTV.
Steve ********
@John *********
I agree. I can't see the immigration offices wanting to take on such an arduous task which has nothing to do with them. They're even advising DTV holders to do a border bounce as they can't be bothered with the extreme variables
Greg ******
@John *********
Yeah, everything is possible indeed. They could also for example make a declaration compulsory to maintain your visa, whether you have to pay or not. They would not have to deal with variables.
Steve ********
@Greg *****
That's more likely. Just another form which requires a signature.
Steve ********
Actually the 180 day law has been in place since about 1978, it's only a slight adjustment which has sent expats into a frenzy. I don't know why. Basically it works like this for MOST people. If you've already paid tax in another country it's highly unlikely you'll pay in Thailand. In theory you *might* have to pay the small difference, but the tax office won't be spending thousands of baht chasing a few hundred (Stepping over dollars to pick up dimes). For retirees, most pensions can only be taxed in the country in which they're paid, so are exempt in Thailand. For those with dual tax residency, the country in which they have a permanent home and where most of their economic activities are carried out has sole taxation rights, so Thailand misses out. These are the conditions of Double Tax Agreements which ensure people won't have the sh*t taxed out of them. So to answer your question, most foreigners won't be paying any tax
Sweet *****
@Steve *******
easy does it, the tax advisor scammers who have been informing expats otherwise won’t like you saying the truth 🤣
Steve ********
@Sweet ****
Haha! I've already been blocked by one of the regular advertisers on the internet! But I'll still keep pushing the truth. Looks like
@Expat *********
is one of his bots! 😆
Sweet *****
@Steve *******
haha, blocked, that’s so immature of them but funny, it’s like something your bitter ex girlfriend would do 🤣 Keep on pushing it buddy.
Expat **********
@Steve *******
lot of incorrect statements there. Fact of matter is you’re here for over 180 days in a calendar year, you become tax resident and if you bring in over 120,000 baht it’s assessable for thai tax . Thai tax personal allowances are generally much less than the west so the likelihood is that you’ll be paying some (albeit pretty insignificant in a lot of cases) thai tax .
Steve ********
@Expat *********
All my statements are correct. Most pensions are only taxable in the country in which they're paid if the DTA states this. If a person has dual tax residency, the DTA provides a tie-break process to determine which country has the taxation rights. If neither of these applies the expat can use the tax credits formula, but very unlikely the tax office would pursue this recovery. The expat merely has to state he is bringing in savings from before 1 January 2024 to avoid paying tax. Being a "Thai Tax Resident" does not mean tax is payable
Expat **********
@Steve *******
If you’re here for 180 days plus in a tax year, just submit a tax return then as is required by law. Include all your exemptions and credits. Sure it will be fine.
Rick *********
@Expat *********
you need to read the law and understand it.
Expat **********
@Steve *******
Most expats here are living on pensions so the “before Jan 1 2024” rule is irrelevant to many. Additionally, many western pensions are NOT COVERED in DT agreements (USA is). This dual taxation residency argument is also irrelevant under thai tax law and only applies to a very few countries anyway.
Steve ********
@Expat *********
The "dual tax residency" is part of the DTA agreement of most countries. It's totally relevant. The only western pension I'm aware of which is not covered by the DTA is the UK (but who cares about the UK anyway! 😆). I'm not required to submit a tax return as my Australian Tax Residency overrides the Thai Tax Residency by virtue of the DTA. I'm sure there are many others in the same position
Expat **********
@Steve *******
As I said, 180 plus days in thailand, fill in your thai tax return (as is required by law) and submit it. See what happens.
Steve ********
@Expat *********
I'm not required to submit a tax return. I have zero assessable income. It's only required by law if a taxpayer has assessable income
John **********
@Expat *********
SS is covered for a US person but that doesn't mean all pensions are. Most of the DTAs do cover pensions earned in government service so civil service, military etc
Steve ********
@John *********
Australia, NZ, Canada and Germany all pensions only taxable in the country in which they are paid. I think you'll find the vast majority of pensions are not taxable in Thailand.
Expat **********
@Steve *******
Load of nonsense.

Very few pensions are exempt.
Steve ********
@Expat *********
I can speak only of US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Germany. That's a fair few of western expats living in Thailand!
John **********
@Steve *******
that's 4 out of 60 odd DTAs, I'm not going to check any of them specifically but I know many of them only give a pass to civil service pensions. Even the state pension is taxable under the UK DTA. Sweeping statements are the biggest issue, everyone needs to check their own situation
Steve ********
@John *********
I know the UK pension is taxable in Thailand, but the other countries mentioned make up a large percentage of western expats living in Thailand. My original statement said "most" not all. But people simply need to read their own DTA to ascertain if they need to pay tax.
Greg ********
Most parents who are not working here but choose to come for education are doing it for themselves and not their kids. They are using the guardianship visa for a long term stay.
Steve ********
@Greg *******
Exactly! Who would subject their kids to a Thai education? 😆
Dnatjugweme ************
@Steve *******
Sorry, but it's a uninformed comment. People on guardian visas enroll their kids in international schools which are quite good and expensive. We're talking about 7K-15K USD tuition per year for one kid.
Steve ********
@Dnatjugweme ***********
I don't know which country you're from and perhaps Thai education standards are higher than in your country. However, I personally would never attempt to educate my children in Thailand. Unfortunately, price paid has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of education.
Dnatjugweme ************
There is half a dozen international schools which are accredited by my country in Thailand. They're all considered as good schools with a high standard of education.
Dnatjugweme ************
@Steve *******
We're not talking about Thai education standards. International schools deliver education following the standards of the country which gave them full accreditation.

PS: I come from a "1st world" country.
Greg ********
@Steve *******
There are some good schools but you pay for it ie NIST. I know a few ex colleagues who went there and then to Uni overseas. In the main though the Thais are paying for connections there. At my last company it was the school all Expats kids went to. Company paid the fees but the extras paid personally were expensive. We once had a Japanese Finance Director crying in his beer on a night out how much it cost for extra curricula activities, travel and presents it cost for his 2 daughters there. Kids going to parties and 30 kids getting an IPad is the goody bag leaving from rich Thais.
Greg ********
The law of being tax resident after 180 days is much older than last year. What did change last year was that all monies remitted to Thailand are now assessable if you are tax resident. Previously if they were kept offshore for a tax year they were neither assessable or taxable. Rules changed November 2023 for tax year 2024. I know plenty of people who have paid tax here for years. Every single one was earning money in Thailand though. Employees, business owners or investors.
Rick *********
@Greg *******
you need to read the complete Thai tax law.
Greg ********
@Rick ********
Why do you not tell me about it. Fill in any gaps I have missed. We are all ears.
Rick *********
@Greg *******
read the law, then read the dual tax agreement for your country. It will fill in the “gaps”.
Greg ********
@Rick ********
When was the last time you submitted a tax return in Thailand or consulted international tax advisors here? What did I say factually incorrect in my post above. Despite your bluster you have posted zilch. PS: The DTA of my country might not be relevant is my remitted income is from a different country than my own. Still all ears. You have never actually submitted a tax return in Thailand have you?
Rick *********
@Greg *******
biggest one, “what did change last year was that all monies remitted to Thailand are now accessible”. Not all monies brought in is accessible depending on your DTA! You were correct about the new rule about hiding money for a year if it falls under accessible. The Thai tax website is great and it explains it clearly in easy to understand English. Also has a link to DTA’s.
Toni *******
Most countries have double tax agreements with Thailand, thats why you dont hear people paying I guess, however, you do need to make the report. Im going to do the report just to avoid any trouble that might follow, I dont want to get in a situation where Im asked to do it "now"
Expat **********
@Toni ******
Double taxation agreements don’t make you exempt from thai tax if the thai marginal rate is higher than your “home” country.
Toni *******
@Expat *********
and thats also the reason you have to make the report, to see how it is. Sorry, I thought that was clear
Toni *******
@Expat *********
yes but like i said, thats one reason you dont often hear people paying, i didnt say dta makes you exempt.