ask
Search
Ask
Answered2 years ago

How will Thailand's new tax law on foreign-sourced income affect foreigners living in the country?

Ron ********
asked Jul 25, 2024
2.5k
views
16
replies
1
likes
Hello so I've been kind of living under a rock for a while and I heard televised late last year. So I'd like to know how is this affected you personally if at all. And how are you dealing with this if you're staying in Thailand for more than 180 days? This update was from February of this year that I just kind of read and summarized. Or in general what are your thoughts and opinions on this?

Starting January 1, 2024, Thailand has changed its tax laws concerning foreign-sourced income. Previously, Thai residents were taxed on foreign income only if it was brought into Thailand in the same calendar year. Now, under Departmental Instruction No. Paw 161/2566, any income earned overseas from employment, business, or property must be declared and taxed in Thailand, regardless of when it enters the country. This new rule applies to anyone residing in Thailand for 180 days or more in a calendar year.

### Impact on Foreigners in Thailand

For foreigners living in Thailand for more than 180 days in a calendar year:

1. Tax Obligations: They will be required to pay Thai income tax on any foreign-sourced income earned from employment, business, or property.

2. Income Declaration: All such income must be declared in the year it is earned, not when it is brought into Thailand.

3. Tax Rates: The tax rates range from 5% to 35%, depending on the amount of income earned.

4. Tax Filing: Income tax forms must be submitted by March of the following year.

This change ensures that foreigners with significant stays in Thailand are subject to the same tax rules as Thai citizens and residents, thereby promoting a fairer tax system.

This summary was according to the article that I read. Fairer. 😂
Answer summary
Starting January 1, 2024, Thailand has implemented new tax regulations stating that any foreign-sourced income must be declared and taxed for residents living in Thailand for more than 180 days in a calendar year. The changes, captured under Departmental Instruction No. Paw 161/2566, require these individuals to pay Thai taxes on all overseas earnings regardless of when they are brought to Thailand. The tax rates vary between 5% to 35%, and all income declarations must be made annually. This reform aims to equalize tax responsibilities among foreigners and Thai nationals. The discussion draws opinions from readers about the motivations behind these changes and clarifications on existing tax obligations.
16 repliesnewest first
6

Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.

Tony ********
Tony ********
Ron, the statements in your post have all been in place for many years, and the important missing statement is 'on remitted funds'. Thailand currently only looks at funds you remit and declare for tax purposes. The rule change you mentioned means that where as funds earned internationally in one year and remited in another year are no longer tax exempt, except if they were earned prior to
*****
/23. All other rules remained unchanged.
Jo **********
Jo **********
The point is not about making sure that foreigners pay taxes. That’s very misleading. It’s making sure that mainly Thai nationals who have large investments outside of Thailand and get dividends on that pay taxes. It’s also aimed at all people who are bringing in foreign income that is not taxed elsewhere to pay tax. This has always been the case and the whole thing is not a major change but a clear mandate with perhaps stricter enforcement. You always need to pay taxes unless you live in one of those 0% tax countries
Ron ********
Ron ********
OP
Thanks guys. Your insight has given me a clearer idea of what this is all about.
Jo **********
Jo **********
@Ron *******
thanks for being open minded
Ron ********
Ron ********
OP
@Jo *********
I heard a bunch of panic about it late last year. Didn't really pay attention because things change rapidly here. Thanks for clearing that up. The above was just a summary of the article I read. I only included the parts that focused on the foreigners. I'll have to look into this more. Cheers.
Jo **********
Jo **********
@Ron *******
this of course is how I understand my thoughts are not perfect. I am sure they are not chasing cheap charlie on a retirement visa
Tony ********
Tony ********
@Ron *******
that would be the same in any country where an employee is off books and payed cash. Thailand operates a PAYE system and legit companies have to fulfil their obligations and apply a witholding tax along with the obligatory social security contribution.
Jeffrey ************
Jeffrey ************
@Ron *******
If they require a Thai tax return as part of visa extension it's easy
Colin *******
Colin *******
@Ron *******
CRS data feed. First one into Thailand in late 2023. Too easy, they already have the data feeds from over 120 countries.
John **********
John **********
@Ron *******
it's actually pretty organised, in a Thai sort of way
Ron ********
Ron ********
OP
@John *********
I should have been in a little clearer it's just that they don't have the tax system organized for their own people how are they going to organize it internationally
John **********
John **********
@Ron *******
most of the average thai people don't earn enough to pay tax
Jo **********
Jo **********
@Ron *******
exactly. What irritates me is all the people panicking about this.
Ron ********
Ron ********
OP
This was the original article BTW
Ron ********
Ron ********
OP
*************************************************************************************************************
%20new%20tax%20treatment%20has,such%20assessable%20income%20to%20Thailand.
Ron ********
Ron ********
OP
@Jo *********
most of the average Thai people that I know, don't pay taxes on their wages. I thought it would be an absolute task to tax foreigners when they can't even do it on their on soil. 🙂

Activity

6 joined
Ron ********
Ron ********
Ron ********
Ron ********
Ron ********
Ron ********
6
people
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
...members60% approval
Member 1
Member 2
Member 3
Member 4
Member 5
Member 6
Member 7
Member 8

Related

25
Will immigration in Chaeng Wattana be open tomorrow for visa extension?
9.6k442071mo
Do I need to re-file TM30 every time I leave and return to Thailand?
3k26275mo
Is there a limit on the number of visits to Thailand for short stays?
1.5k14107mo
Can you enter Thailand with a one-way ticket, or do you need a confirmed return flight?
19.4k1891597mo
Is Thailand experiencing a trend of increased immigration scrutiny on foreigners similar to Vietnam?
5k39647mo
Can I leave Thailand on a non-O visa after transferring 800k baht and return for a one-year extension?
2.4k18241y
What is the new immigration process for E Visa holders at BKK?
4.6k28741y
Can I do my 90-day reporting in a different province than where I'm staying in Thailand?
897322y
What should I know about submitting a 90-day report in Thailand, especially for the first time?
4.5k35472y
What should I know about using an agent for a border run from Kanchanaburi, Thailand?
7.4k51982y
Are Thai authorities strict about the 30-day validity of a resident certificate for obtaining a driver's license?
866523y
Is a bus ticket acceptable as proof of onward travel when flying out of Thailand?
6.9k51413y
Is it normal to get questioned at Thai immigration after multiple tourist visa entries?
28.6k2243713y
What documents are needed for 90-day reporting at immigration in Thailand?
2k16104y
What are the minimum stay requirements for the Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa in Thailand?
75944y
Do I need to book more than 1 night for the Test & Go program in Thailand?
781515y
Can I get my eVISA re-stamped in Chiang Mai after losing my UK passport in Thailand?
9434105y
Does it matter which Thai embassy I apply for the Certificate of Entry (COE) from if I'm a UK citizen currently in Greece?
1.3k1065y
Why are so many people waiting until the last minute for visa processing in Thailand?
4.6k26756y
How can foreigners bypass the COE restrictions and entry limitations in Thailand?
8.2k421566y
What is the estimated number of expats likely to run out of visa on July 31, 2020?
12.5k1131206y
What happens if I forget to file my 90-day report for two times in Thailand?
2.9k26186y
How many border crossings can I do on a 2 month tourist visa in Thailand?
4.8k50206y
What are my options for a visa run from Bangkok to Myanmar with my family?
1.9k8308y
What should I expect when doing a border run to Tachileik with a history of back-to-back SETVs in Thailand?
2.3k20129y

Resources

Need help with your Thai visa?