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What are the tax implications for transferring a UK pension to Thailand after two years of residency?
Thailand Tax LawTaxation of Foreign PensionsDual Taxation AgreementExpat TaxationUK Tax Code for ExpatsPension Transfers to ThailandNon-Resident Tax Code
Sep 21, 2025
7 months ago
John *********
ORIGINAL POSTERAfter living in Thailand for two years, i am expecting to transfer 1m THB per year of my personal pension into Thailand.
The UK will tax this amount (including national insurance) by approximately 10% ie 100,000 THB.
What tax would I need to pay on this money when transferred into Thailand?
The UK will tax this amount (including national insurance) by approximately 10% ie 100,000 THB.
What tax would I need to pay on this money when transferred into Thailand?
TLDR : Answer Summary
An individual transferring their UK pension (1 million THB) to Thailand after two years of residency may encounter various tax implications. The UK typically taxes pensions above £12,500, but due to the Dual Taxation Agreement, if the pension is taxed in the UK, it may not be taxed again in Thailand, contingent on proving prior taxation. Tax credits could be claimed against Thai taxes for the amount already taxed in the UK. Based on allowances, a significant portion of the pension (around 600,000 THB/year) might be tax-free in Thailand. It's essential to keep documentation like pension statements for verification, and obtaining a non-resident tax code from HMRC could eliminate UK tax obligations.
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Peter **********
you can attempt to get from hmrc a NT tax code as a non resident , thus paying no uk tax
Peter *********
May I ask why are you paying tax in the U.K. when you’re living in Thailand ?
Dave ************
@Peter ********
if the money comes from uk, then the uk tax it. My fruend was married to a thai, he died bearly 3 years ago. He had 3 work Pensions which she now gets a percentage of monthly. These pensions are still taxed in UK. Even though she gas never set foot in UK. And didn't have an NI number, they still managed to tax the money before it is sent.Last january, they did give her a tax rebate of about £1000. However they sent it as a UK cheque, which she could not pay into a thai bank. And she doesn't have a UK bank account. They have promised they will sort it out by the end of September, that was in march. My Money is on it not hapening, within theid time scaleJohn *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Peter ********
im not living in Thailand until December and also im not knowledgable to answer at the moment!Reply to
John *********
Reply
Alan **********
0%
Neil ********
Ps do not volunteer to get a tax code here in Thailand. U destined the rules and keep your head down.
They request you transfer
They request you transfer
*****
baht a month as one option for the visa. They are more interested in that metricSimon *********
If taxed at source, nothing to pay here. You'll probably never be asked, but it's worth having pension statements and P60 as proof.
Greg ***********
@Simon ********
Myself I would exactly do that, as long as there won't be any repucussions coming from Immigration, should they ask for your calendar year tax receipt when you apply for the next yearly extension. As far as I can see this won't happen, it has already been called off by many Immigration officials who have been interviewed on this matter. They don't want to do the job for the Thai Tax DepartmentReply to
Greg ***********
Reply
Neil ********
You can put 20k a year into an ISA. Your pension company can help. Then you can take it out tax free and transfer it as savings.
Or buy crypto and let it grow in a Thai crypto exchange and any gain is currently tax free in Thailand
Or buy crypto and let it grow in a Thai crypto exchange and any gain is currently tax free in Thailand
John *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Neil *******
thanks Neil will look into thisNeil ********
@John ********
you might have to run a year ahead on your ISA but each year you have a £20 k allowance to put in and take outReply to
Neil ********
Reply
John **********
The NI you pay in the UK is irrelevant. The tax you pay in the UK on the income you bring into Thailand can be claimed as a tax credit against Thai tax. The amount of tax you will pay in Thailand will depend on what allowances you can claim which are taken off before the tax rates apply then the tax scale applies. You might find this document useful
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John **********
It's also worth looking through the Dual Tax Agreement between Thailand and the UK which lays out everything including the claiming of tax credits
Reply to
John **********
Reply
Greg ***********
the U.K. and Thailand have a Dual Taxation Agreement. If you pension has been taxed in the U.K. already, and you can prove it, it won't be taxed again in Thailand (However the tax you pay in the UK on the income you bring into Thailand can be claimed as a tax credit against Thai tax - you need to check this with the local Thai Department of Tax). Rest assured something like 600,000 THB per calendar year will be tax free after all the allowances have been deducted
Paul ***********
@Greg **********
written proof please?Greg ***********
@Paul **********
you can google dual tax agreement and how it works . . . what I meant to say, John Stanners in the next comment put into more accurate words: "The tax you pay in the UK on the income you bring into Thailand can be claimed as a tax credit against Thai tax.". I changed my text accordinglyReply to
Greg ***********
Reply
Peter *********
You only get taxed on pension if above £
*****
and you pay no national insurance on itSimon *******
@Peter ********
Don't forget to take into account of any government pension you will be getting, I draw £*****
/year tax free from my private pension but once I get my government pension of approximately £*****
a year you will only be able to take £100 then you will be paying tax.You can take 25% of your pension tax free in cash also.John *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Simon ******
not sure how I do that, is it the UK Gov website?Mahmood ********
@John ********
Yes you need to get a government gateway login details first, once you have that it’s easy enough to lookup your national insurance contribution history and your expected future pension payments.Simon *******
@John ********
you need you NI number.Here is the link.**************************************
Reply to
Simon *******
Reply
Peter *********
@Simon ******
understand but you don't pay any national insurance when retired on pension as op suggestsJohn *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Peter ********
just to br clear, id that no NI on both private and state pension?Donald **********
@John ********
Check that you have paid sufficient NI contributions to qualify for a full U.K. pension.Dave *******
@Donald *********
35 yearsDonald **********
Peter *********
@John ********
correct no national insurance payments when retired on tax if pensions exceed personnel allowance which at moment is £*****
Reply to
Peter *********
Reply
John *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Simon ******
no government state pension, im 63 in December.So personal pension isnt subject to NI?
Peter *********
@John ********
you pay tax if exceeds £*****
but no national insuranceReply to
Peter *********
Reply
Robert ********
0
Reply to
Robert ********
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