Answered8 months ago

What are the tax implications for Australian income if residing in Thailand on a DTV visa?

Thailand taxation for expats Australian tax laws DTV visa tax residency Australian trust income

asked Feb 24, 2026

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Australian related tax question

We're looking at heading to Thailand next year on the DTV, working remotely for an Australian client plus an investment property in Aus to fund us.

I'm looking for a clear answer on any tax implications if we were to stay for example

Jan to June (180 days) use our extension to push to December (360 days) come back home or travel for Christmas (approx 1 to 2 weeks) then spend another 180 days (new calender year)

All income would be in an Australian trust, so I assume nothing to declare in Thailand, so no tax implications? We would still be paying tax in Australia 

Cheers

Answer summary

An Australian expat considering moving to Thailand on a DTV visa for remote work and income from an Australian trust is seeking clarity on tax liabilities. Key points include that staying over 180 days may render them a Thai tax resident, where any assessable income brought into Thailand becomes subject to Thai tax. However, due to a tax agreement between Australia and Thailand, they might not face Thai tax on income taxed in Australia. If the income remains in an Australian bank account and is unearned while living in Thailand, it generally shouldn't be classified as assessable income.

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Determine**********

As it is Australian income that will be taxed in Australia there will be no Thai tax liability due to a tax agreement between the countries. My suggestion is don't get on their radar.

8 months ago

John **********

Once you spend 180 days or more inside Thailand in any calendar year you automatically become a Thai tax resident. Once you are a Thai tax resident any assessable income brought into Thailand becomes liable to thai tax and must be declared on a Thai tax return by the end of March in the following year. So whether you will be liable to pay tax and how much entirely depends on how much assessable income you bring in during the period and what credit you can claim against Thai tax for any tax already paid on that money in Australia. I doubt very much that using an Australian trust structure would make any difference to this.

8 months ago

CopperHed*********

@John *********

thanks, this is the answer my reasearch gave me but im still unsure aboutbwhat exactly thwy would consider income.

no i dont think the trust structure will affect this at all.

If the money is being paid into an australian bank account and we were living off savings anyway, can they class anything as income?

8 months ago

John **********

CopperHedgehog8334 no, I deliberately used the term assessable income as that's the only income that counts. So income received in a year before you became a Thai tax resident isn't assessable. Savings accumulated prior to

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/2024 aren't assessable. But you need to be able to document it. Income earned in any year you are a Thai tax resident will be assessable if brought into Thailand

8 months ago

John **********

CopperHedgehog8334 correct

8 months ago

CopperHed*********

@John *********

so with a border run we dont need the extension technically?

Thanks again

8 months ago

John **********

CopperHedgehog8334 yes for visa exempt entries but different if you have a valid visa

8 months ago

CopperHed*********

@John *********

ok thanks, I thought they were cracking down on the border runs but good to know

8 months ago

John **********

CopperHedgehog8334 most DTV holders just do a quick border bounce every 180 days, you can do that basically for the entire 5 years. You can only get an extension in the last 30 days or so of the 180 and it's a bit of a faff as you have to provide pretty much the same information you originally supplied but updated to the time you apply for the extension

8 months ago

CopperHed*********

@John *********

ok thanks. So just to clarify and hypothetically if we started our dtv visa with enough money to live for 360 days (first stint including extension) and all out income sat in a separate australian account we should be fine.

Also you seem to know what your talking about, will the plan to do the extension straight away, finishing close to the end of the calender year work for resetting the 180 days and allow us 1.5 years there in total with a small break?

Appreciate the help

8 months ago