This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.

Is income earned remotely while on a DTV visa in Thailand considered Thailand-sourced for tax purposes?

Aug 16, 2025
8 days ago
If I work for my foreign company (let's say Estonian) from Thailand while on DTV visa (staying more than 180 days every year), but not remit the funds to Thailand bank account, is that income considered Thailand sourced? Do I need to pay any taxes?
1,920
views
3
likes
65
all likes
40
replies
5
images
9
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
The question arises whether income generated while working for a foreign company from Thailand on a DTV visa is regarded as Thailand-sourced income for tax purposes. Responses indicate that Thailand does not tax worldwide income, relying on a remittance basis where only foreign-sourced income remitted into Thailand attracts tax liabilities. Various views suggest that as long as the individual did not work for a Thai entity and the work was for a foreign company, the income does not qualify as Thai-sourced income. However, concerns about tax implications due to residency status after staying in Thailand for over 180 days complicate the issue, suggesting the need for proper legal advice to navigate potential tax obligations.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
John **********
Thailand has a remittance based tax system so if you are a Thai tax resident in any tax year (stay 180 days or more) Then any income you remit to Thailand may be liable to tax. It's not necessary to transfer income to a Thai bank to remit it, withdrawing from an ATM, using Western Union or even carrying it in in your pocket all count as remitting. Estonia has a tax agreement with Thailand so you can claim a credit for any tax already paid on that income in Estonia in your thai tax return
James ********
THIS entire question about Thai taxation is so much blah blah blah 😭.

Good Luck with trying to figure out what you think the Thais are, in fact doing. And do whatever you want to do.

The recent Bangkok Post news reports say that this issue of taxation is again being looked at by the Thai government.

Realizing that it's not worth pursuing further vs the lost appeal of Thailand to foreigners who wish to live or retire in Thailand.
James ********
James ********
Harry ********
No but you can be asked questions how you live in thailand without income, some well informed source told me that soon there will be a pro forma tax for all dtv holders that are not resident but have income outside thailand
Pete *******
@Harry *******
complete nonsense.
Greg ********
@Pete ******
It is "Speshial" tax only for DTV'ers on global earnings. 55555555555
**********
*****
*****
5
Greg ********
@Harry *******
Come on then. Who is your well informed source. Walter Mitty drinking Chang is not a valid source.
Pete *******
Thailand doesn’t tax worldwide income. Thailand has a remittance based system. Once you become tax resident any foreign sourced assessable income remitted into Thailand may attract a Thai tax liability.

My question would be how do you intend to live for 5 years in Thailand without remitting funds?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Pete ******
Maybe remit next year when it's not taxable? My main question is: even if i remit or not, is it not thai sourced income if earned while working from Thailand?
Pete *******
Anonymous participant under current tax law even if remitted in future years if you are tax resident your remitted assessable income is taxable
Kool *******
Anonymous participant no, it is not considered income in Thailand, as you did not physically work in Thailand. You only worked remotely, but Thailand does trust you to pay the appropriate income tax in the relevant country.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
What relevant country? If I stay in Thailand more than 180 days per year, am I not a thai tax resident and liable to taxes only in Thailand?
Kool *******
Anonymous participant technically maybe, but being that you are on a tourist visa that does not allow any work in Thailand, Thailand does not expect you to pay taxes in Thailand. You also will have a problem even getting a TIN, tax identification number, you must have to even file taxes, as revenue offices are not issuing them to tourists. Relevant country is your passport country, or the actual country your work is being done in. That is where Thailand expects you to pay relevant income tax. Tourists don't pay Thai income tax, and a DTV is a tourist visa.
Pete *******
@Kool ******
utter rubbish. Once you become tax resident regardless of the visa you are on then if you remit foreign sourced assessable income it may attract a Thai tax liability.
Kool *******
@Pete ******
ok, you want to get into details. For this I'll use an American citizen as an example. Thailand expects you to pay your relevant income tax in your home country on income not made from business inside Thailand. Because of this, and the fact you do technically become a tax resident after 180 days in-country (this is nothing new), Thailand has dual tax treaties with many countries they trade with. The US has a treaty that sets equal tax amounts, and the tax you pay in your home country offsets all tax liability here on that same income earned outside Thailand in the case of an American. That is why I first mentioned Thailand trusts that you've paid your income tax in your home country. Thailand doesn't care, until you prove them wrong for trusting you to have paid your taxes.
Anonymous ******************
@Kool ******
thailand expect nothing from you except respect the law. Tax credit from the dta does not mean you don't have tax liability in thailand. For example if you pay 15% for us dividend income, and you earn and remit 10 millions baht on the year, they want you to pay thai tax revenue on it, and you can tax credit the 15% that you already paid in us.. ... but for exemple if you earn and remit 1 millions baht from usa dividend, with 15% tax paid to usa, the tax bracket for 1 millions in thailand is under 15% , so you will not have more to pay in thailand ( because tax credit ) ( but you are supposed to report and fill the tax report in thailand ... ( with 0 to pay in that case) )
Pete *******
@Kool ******
the process of claiming tax credit through a DTA is well known. If your tax credit doesn’t cover your Thai tax liability you will be paying additional Thai tax. A basic rate UK tax payer pays 20%, Thailand has tiered rates up to 35%. Its follows that a Thai tax liability can occur on foreign sourced remitted income that has already been taxed in the source country.
Anonymous ******************
@Pete ******
correct, very basic to understand that it allow country to not allow people to have low tax on income you pay your tax as normal income, but you can deduct what you already pay as tax elesewhere on the income. I don't understand why so much people don't understand.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Pete ******
does the money even need to be remitted? isn't it already thai sourced income if earned while working in Thailand (even if remotely for foreign company)?
Pete *******
Anonymous participant Thailand does not tax worldwide income. Working remotely on a DTV is NOT earning Thai sourced income. On many DTV visas you will see printed “Employment Prohibited “. You are not allowed to earn Thai sourced income with a DTV.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Pete ******
'Remote Worker' visa and 'Remote Work' prohibited?
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant for the Thai government a remote work is not a work -_- at least until you're on a proper visa. But I don't know if money from remote work is Thai sourced or not - there are different opinions.
Anonymous ******************
Participant anonyme 799 ?? No the money you earn from outside thailand is not thai sourced. But what is your point with that ? Thai source is for example you rent a condominium, or you have dividend from thai company, or you work for thai company ( what you can not do as dtv )
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Anonymous participant 270where did you check that the income you earn while working remotely for foreign company from Thailand is not thai sourced?
Anonymous ******************
Participant(e) anonyme I don't understand your point ? Why it look important for you ? Thai sourced = income come from inside thailand , I give you example.
Pete *******
Anonymous participant you can work remotely as long as you don’t work for a Thai business or have any Thai customers. The company, customers and payments must all be outside of Thailand.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
may i know the source for this info?
Kool *******
Anonymous participant go to your local revenue office with your passport and DTV, and you will find out.
Anonymous ******************
@Kool ******
I received my TIN on DTV without any problems. Yes, we are obligated to pay taxes. No matter if it's a tourist visa or not
Elías ********
No, it's not.
Anonymous ******************
I think here's the case! I believe - strictly according to the law - it should be considered as remitted! You can look for some discussion about it in this group - a lawyer showed the specific articles from the law that support this statement (however many people tried to ignore his words). It looks like people don't know about it and consider it as not remitted - and even the officers sometimes agree with that. So I think it's totally unclear, like many things in Thai tax law.

So I recommend you to use a good tax advisor who will take responsibility for that decision. That's what I do.

Btw. Sometimes taxes in Thailand can be lower than in your home country, so it can be a good idea to remit that money.
Greg ********
Anonymous participant 799 Nah!
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant 799 also read about "foreign branch" definition (from your country's DTA)
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant 799 also you don't need to send money to your Thai bank account to make it remitted. If you bring it by cash into Thailand, take it from ATM, use a payment card in Thailand - it's also considered remitted.
James ********
James ********
Anonymous participant 799
Elías ********
Participante anónimo 799 Naaah
Wannikea *********
In short no. Only funds redeemed into Thailand can be assessable as a possible tax liability.
Greg ********
No. Not even assessable never mind taxable.