Is money brought into Thailand taxable if on a retirement visa and not exceeding 180 days?

May 24, 2024
7 months ago
Bryant *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
My understanding with the new text policy is that any kind of money that you bring into the country, even if you've already paid taxes on it and another country Will be subject to taxes in Thailand...

So my question is if you are on a retirement visa but don't stay over that 180 day limit, which is the time in country needed to be taxed, is what you bring in during that 180 days subject to tax?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion focuses on whether funds brought into Thailand are taxable for retirees on a retirement visa who stay under 180 days. Key points include the clarification that individuals who stay less than 180 days are not considered tax residents and therefore are not taxed on foreign income. Comments suggest that income received prior to a specific tax date may also not be taxable, and there are implications regarding Double Tax Agreements (DTAs). Community members are encouraged to seek professional tax advice to understand their specific circumstances in light of new tax regulations.
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Phil ******
@Bryant ****
in your case maybe but my case definitely not paying tax here in Thailand as I am Australian and had 2 separate opinions from tax professionals. Suggest you get professionals to look at your circumstances instead of creating false posts. Oh the Thai government is making an announcement in this subject in July.
Bryant *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil *****
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Phil ******
@Bryant ****
yes seen it and doesn't apply to me
John **********
@Phil *****
really? Link please
Phil ******
@John *********
th tax professionals that gave me their opinions are for my eyes only as everyone's tax liability is different
John **********
@Phil *****
I was referring to your conjecture that the Thai government is making an announcement in July. First I've heard of it
Phil ******
@John *********
i read this off a tax website. This is expected to be a clarification of tax rules for aliens
John **********
@Phil *****
can you remember the website? I'd like to read it as I believe they are already clear
Jo **********
your understanding is incorrect
John **********
It's *income* that you bring in that is assessable for tax
Alan ******
@John *********
That count's me out.
Alan ******
Why not wait and see what Thai Taxation propose to do, ur only guessing at the moment adding confusion to an already confusing topic.
Tony ********
@Alan *****
they have proposed and implemented, don't expect any further communication from the government. 99% of your tax obligation remains as it has always been, the only change is that you cant claim tax credit because you remitted income in a different year to it being earned. Its upto individuals to read the tax rules and their countries DTA with Thailand to understand their situation. The change just brings Thailand more in line with other countries who also operate 180 day rule and are remitence based.
Peter *********
No one's knows at the moment how it will effect retirees
Tony ********
@Peter ********
it is upto individuals to find out by reading the RD document and your countries DTA. Understand the liability on the funds you have already brought in and will bring in this year if you were to file a tax return. Consider the allowances you can get and the incremental tax rates and tax credits/exclusions under the DTA. But that is all stuff that should have been done when you moved here, and you would be a postion to understand the impact of them closing the loophole. If you work it out and you think you will owe tax, review what your bringing in, if your left with a growing amount in your bank account every month, think about reducing it.
Peter *********
@Tony *******
you work as a tax agent ????
Tony ********
@Peter ********
absolutly not, i've just taken time to understand what the change is by going to the source documents.
Peter *********
@Tony *******
so will it effect the normal retiree no income in Thailand ?
Tony ********
@Peter ********
this webinar and others in the same series appear to be quite unbiased
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Peter *********
@Tony *******
how will they know how much funds you have brought into the county pls 🙏
Tony ********
@Peter ********
because you tell them in your tax return (if you do one). But if they want to check the detail, or are doing an audit, they have access of all your worldwide bank transactions (from countries signed up to the international treaty). They also have access to all credit card transactions worlwide from countries under a seperate agreement.
Peter *********
@Tony *******
you have income from a job in 🇹🇭 most people just send pension money from UK to Thailand 🇹🇭 using wise and already been taxed on it in uk 🇬🇧
Tony ********
@Peter ********
yes, but i also bring in taxed income from the UK which to be honest i never declared as it was from previous year and already taxed and under my Thai allowance. The DTA on UK pensions doesnt look great if your living off state pension alone, as there is no/minimul uk tax paid. Private pensions usually are taxed at source (you need a certificate from uk.gov site to claim dta credit in Thailand), and Government employee pensions can only be taxed in UK is my understanding. But if your purely living day to day of UK state pension alone the tax situation hasnt changed in years, this change has just got people thinking about it.
Nongnuch ********
It's way to early. The actual implementation will be seen in the first quarter of 2025. Funds which you earned before 1st January 2024, and which you can prove you held them before this date, won't ever be subject of taxation in Thailand. Only newly created and transferred income is
Alistair **********
If you spend less than 180 days here then you aren't a tax resident, so you aren't taxed in Thailand on foreign income.

If you stay over 180 days and are a tax resident, then you should check if there's a DTA as it will help mitigate your tax liability.
Bryant *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Alistair **********
@Bryant ****
double taxation agreement
Bryant *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alistair *********
ty... My understanding is on that that you pay whichever is higher... And It sure seems like Thailand is higher so I would have to pay the balance is my understanding
Alistair **********
@Bryant ****
it depends on what your specific DTA says. There may be tax exemptions or credits. It also outlines which country you are a tax resident of.
Bryant *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alistair *********
I am in USA...I will have to check
Pom ********
@Bryant ****
Not tax if you stay less than 180. Also money transfer to Thailand from Social Security income and money earned up to December 31, 2023 wouldn’t be tax.
Steve *******
Your understanding is Incorrect!
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