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How does Thailand enforce taxation on expats and remittances?
Thailand taxationexpat tax rulesremittance incomeDTV visatax enforcementThai bank regulationsforeign income tax
Oct 13, 2025
7 months ago
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERSince TAX and DTV keep coming up and we keep seeing headlines that thai authorities want to get stricter with enforcing the tax
.....Are there any countries currently which successfully enforce tax on money brought into their country (and how do they do it?)?
....Will the thai tax authorities go straight to Thai banks (if you have one) and request they share information on how much money is being brought in?
....With people without a thai bank it seem almost impossible for them to enforce tax on remittance income
....I'm probably gonna go back to working in thailand because I don't suddenly want to be lumped with a 200,000 k baht tax bill etc...
.....Are there any countries currently which successfully enforce tax on money brought into their country (and how do they do it?)?
....Will the thai tax authorities go straight to Thai banks (if you have one) and request they share information on how much money is being brought in?
....With people without a thai bank it seem almost impossible for them to enforce tax on remittance income
....I'm probably gonna go back to working in thailand because I don't suddenly want to be lumped with a 200,000 k baht tax bill etc...
TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion centers around concerns regarding the enforcement of tax on remittance income by Thai authorities, particularly for expats holding various visa types like the DTV visa. Commenters share insights on taxation practices, emphasizing that the focus seems to be on high-value remittances (over 20 million Baht), rather than smaller amounts. Many believe that without a Thai bank account, it would be challenging for authorities to track and enforce taxes on those earning income outside Thailand. Furthermore, there is a legal perspective on being taxed on income already taxed in the expat's home country, like the USA. Overall, while there is anxiety about future tax enforcement, many commenters suggest that the actual risks may be overblown and that most expats are unlikely to be targeted unless they handle substantial sums.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
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- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Siggi *******
It's crazy how stupid people are here in the group, and they know nothing about Thailand how it works in Thailand. They take themselves to important and thinking they become a target 😁
1. 85% of all Thais never became income tax.
2. If they want to tax you they have to give you rights like access to social security, health insurance aso. and they will never do this
3. They not have any possibility to know what your income is. Bank transfers are not income, in 1 day in Thailand there are about 1 billion+ transfers,
There is no chance to track card payments or withdrawals, also about 1 billion every day in Thailand.
4. For any tracking you would need a court order by Thailand for a single person.
5. Revenue office not have the staff or resources for to manage foreign documents, statements or similar.
7. And more important they are to lazy, corrupt and incompetent even to start an effort 😁😜
1. 85% of all Thais never became income tax.
2. If they want to tax you they have to give you rights like access to social security, health insurance aso. and they will never do this
3. They not have any possibility to know what your income is. Bank transfers are not income, in 1 day in Thailand there are about 1 billion+ transfers,
There is no chance to track card payments or withdrawals, also about 1 billion every day in Thailand.
4. For any tracking you would need a court order by Thailand for a single person.
5. Revenue office not have the staff or resources for to manage foreign documents, statements or similar.
7. And more important they are to lazy, corrupt and incompetent even to start an effort 😁😜
J **************
Siggi *******
@J *************
never in our life time, they can link up whenever but there is no legal ground for income taxes, as you then would have access to social security as people who have a work permit. DTV is a tourist visa and no country in the world charge income taxes on tourists. But people in this group don't have any accounting and legal background they just repeat and believe whatever the morons posting onlineReply to
Siggi *******
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Zarko *******
My confusion with this matter is - if I am already paying taxes on my income in my country (USA), then how can Thailand tax me on already taxed income? Does anyone know legalities of this?
Christer *****
@Zarko ******
on the other hand US taxes you on income earned in other countries?Zarko *******
@Christer ****
I don't earn income in other countries so I don't know the answer to your question. You can ask ChatGptChrister *****
@Zarko ******
Ok, let me put it another way: the US does the same. Tax you on foreign income. "U.S. citizens and resident aliens are taxed on their worldwide income. You must report your wages and other earned income, both domestic and foreign-sourced, on the correct lines of your Form 1040."
So, naturally all countries can do that.
Zarko *******
@Christer ****
How does this relate to my question? Go do something useful with your lifeChrister *****
@Zarko ******
Cheezes. It relates to your question about the legality. It's common practice. All over the f**ing world.Reply to
Christer *****
Reply
Warren *********
@Zarko ******
it’s complicated but if your home country tax rate is lower than the Thai tax rate they might say you owe them the differenceThere are accountants for this stuff
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Zarko ******
they can’t you are fineZarko *******
Thank you, that makes sense
Anonymous ******************
@Zarko ******
lol, of course they can. Read about double taxation agreements between countriesReply to
Anonymous ******************
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SoftLy******
I went to a lawyer once and asked about Taxation and i explained that im dtv holder and how i make my money which is completely outside of Thailand with offshore accounts, however before I finished my question he said I don’t understand why Farang wants to be taxed so bad , your Visa group is not a tax target even if you stay im Thailand you are not a tax Target, the tax target is someone who remits 20m Baht a year and up , he told me go home and don’t believe any nonsense you read in the internet and come see me when you bring big sum of Baht into a thai bank account 1-2 millions baht is not a tax target. So I said ok then I went to the local revenue Tax department and asked them for a TIN , the employee their asked me how much money do you remit to Thailand i said under one million using ATM with my Foreign debit cards the employee asked me do you work in Thailand I said im self employed earn my money outside of Thailand then asked me do you have a thai Bank account? I answered they won’t allow me to open one since im on DTV , then she said sorry we can’t issue a TIN for you. 🤷♀️
Dany ********
SoftLynx3365 100%
Reply to
Dany ********
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Ade ********
I think people are over thinking this. If’s and but’s. If you’re going to be working in Thailand yes. Pay tax. Holidays nope.
Marc ********
@Ade *******
if you stay more than 179 days better pay tax regardless if you work or notAde ********
@Marc *******
why ?Marc ********
@Ade *******
because it could bite you in the a... in the future if you don't register at tax office. It's the law you have to sign up if you spend more than 179 days in a calender yearAde ********
@Marc *******
I’ll look into it. Ask my legal advisorMarc ********
@Ade *******
I think if you have the Elite Visa you don't need to do anything. But DTV you are obligated to registerReply to
Marc ********
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Jarek ************
Bank accounts are one thing and can be easily accessed by the government. Atm withdrawals and Credit Cards can also be tracked. Money exchanged is also tracked. Will they enforce the taxation, sooner or later? Yes, NWO wants to make people's life miserable everywhere.
Mark ********
What everybody overlooks or ignores is the source of the money remitted into Thailand and whether it's deemed as "assessable income" which is the only income which is taxable. For those with no bank accounts, do consider that credit card purchases and ATM withdrawals are deemed as "remittances" under Thai taxation. Also any cash brought into the country is also considered a "remittance"
Andrew ********
@Mark *******
I dont know anyone who declares cash coming into ThailandMark ********
@Andrew *******
There's no requirement to declare cash. Tax in Thailand is self assessment. The only place it would be picked up is at cash exchanges. The way around that is to get a Thai friend to do it for you. Then it wouldn't be recorded against your name.Reply to
Mark ********
Reply
Dany ********
@Mark *******
no one cares in reality. they wont even give you a TIN in most cases on your dtv 🤣Mark ********
@Dany *******
Not just DTV. Most retirees also pay zero income tax in Thailand. I was merely pointing out what is a "remittance" as far as Thai taxation goes, and that only "assessable income" is liable for taxationReply to
Mark ********
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Ade ********
@Mark *******
even if leaving the country every 3 months. ?Mark ********
@Ade *******
The "tax residency" is more than 180 days in the calendar yearReply to
Mark ********
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Ade ********
On a DTV. You can’t open a Thai bank account so how are they going to take money off you. 🤷🏻♂️
Anonymous ******************
@Ade *******
One doesn't need an bank account to pay taxes. Every bank worldwide has a payment slip option.Ade ********
@Karl ******
even if not working. ?Luit *****************
@Ade *******
of course, they are interested in the money, not the work.Reply to
Luit *****************
Reply
Anonymous ******************
@Ade *******
They could inform immigration to have your visa suspended pending payment of taxAnonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERAnonymous participant 644 I’ve only heard of one case of it happening on here so and that was denied entry but that was for non b visa and unpaid tax
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant DTV is fairly new. Taxation office will need to work out how to get those liable for tax to cough up, as they're not eligible for bank accounts. I was merely suggesting one way TRO could do this
Reply to
Anonymous ******************
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Elías ********
@Karl ******
not in all cases, only if you remit moneyAnonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ade *******
many people had thai bank accounts before they got DTV including meChrister *****
Anonymous participant And they are being closed down
Jirka ********
@Christer ****
not trueChrister *****
@Jirka *******
From kbanks site. "More information can be obtained at KBank branch.Accounts are not allowed to be opened for holders of tourist visa"
Just wait
Anonymous ******************
Christer *****
Anonymous participant 988 😆
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Christer ****
true depends who you are with though yet - krunsgri and haven't seen anyone on here so far mention problems - Only bangkok bank and Kbank i think so far?Dror *********
משתתפ/ת אנונימי/ת no problem in kbank
Reply to
Dror *********
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Ade ********
Thai are doing 0% tax on crypto. You won’t get taxed if not staying in country over 6 months. DTV visa. So no panic.
Dany ********
@Ade *******
many people stay more than 6 months in a calendar yearAde ********
@Dany *******
no. Go over the border 🤷🏻♂️Dany ********
@Ade *******
what do you mean? tax residency is determined by 180+ days in a calendar year. no matter how often you leave the country….. and plenty of people stay more than 180 days.Ade ********
@Dany *******
are you going to be working in Thailand ?Dany ********
@Ade *******
remote, as the dtv suggests ;)Reply to
Dany ********
Reply
Anonymous ******************
@Ade *******
But I, we want to stay longer with the DTV. Do we have always be on the run 6 months a year to evade Thai Tax laws?Luit *****************
Anonieme deelnemer 968 If you don't want to have to do anything with Thai tax being there less than 180 days is the only solution.
From 180 days on in a calendar year you become tax resident, which means Thai tax laws applies to you.
Depending on what you bring in and about DTA of your country with Thailand, you might have to pay tax in Thailand.
From 180 days on in a calendar year you become tax resident, which means Thai tax laws applies to you.
Depending on what you bring in and about DTA of your country with Thailand, you might have to pay tax in Thailand.
Ade ********
Anonymous participant 968 look up rules on DTV. It explains it all
Reply to
Ade ********
Reply
J **************
They are also going to build hi speed rail to rayong (not),
Monorail in Phuket and Pattaya (not) and train from China (delayed indefinitely)
Monorail in Phuket and Pattaya (not) and train from China (delayed indefinitely)
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@J *************
True but those projects are always normally indefintely delayed due to massive corruption normally and extended EIA where politicans get to line their pockets - if there is a chance to get more money from foreigners - they will definitely try their best. I've seen the same building being built for at least 6 YEARS before COVID- and it was completed at least 3 years ago, but all the workers still work on it everyday when I go by - thats how bad corruption is hereJames ********
Anonymous participant pardon me but as one of my Thai friends often says...
You think too much 🤗
You think too much 🤗
Reply to
James ********
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Anonymous ******************
@J *************
Maybe but Thailand seems to move faster when it comes to taxes CRS, crypto exemption, etc.)Reply to
Anonymous ******************
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Anonymous ******************
Highly unlikely they will be interested in a few hundred thousand baht here and there, most of the new legislation is geared towards those hauling millions on a weekly basis. Pretty much the same situation is with the nominees, mostly those well-to-do bore the brunt while smaller firms remain unscathed
Reply to
Anonymous ******************
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