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What are the tax obligations for social media influencers and DTV holders in Thailand?

Mar 23, 2025
11 days ago
Hey social media influencers on DTV:

Director-General Pinsai Suraswadi of the Thai Revenue Department has made it clear:

🔹 Social media influencers and online business owners must file income tax documents by the end of this month.

🔹 Failure to report income can result in severe penalties—including back taxes, interest, and fines that can increase your liability by up to 5x!

🔹 The Thai government is tracking digital footprints, making it easier than ever to detect unreported earnings.

🔹 The Revenue Department has the power to audit records going back 5 years—and the penalties include both civil and criminal consequences.

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TLDR : Answer Summary
The Thai Revenue Department, under Director-General Pinsai Suraswadi, has announced that social media influencers and online business owners must file income tax returns by the end of the month. Failing to report income could lead to significant penalties, including back taxes, fines, and potential audits going back five years. Many comments express concern and confusion regarding the implications for DTV holders, banking issues, and the enforcement of these tax obligations.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Dany ********
as soon as we can open bank accounts we might start paying tax 🤣🤣
Boaz *****
@Dany *******
True! Interest come, and tax come.
Ian **********
This was why the law was amended. Before the change you could bring untaxed money onshore tax-free if it was earned in a previous tax year but since the 1st Jan 2025 that is no longer the case. Many Thais are earning serious money online and the revenue dept is trying to catch up. This simple amendment to the existing rules has panicked the expat community into thinking it affects them but it is aimed at untaxed money and not taxed income from your home country that is covered by double taxation agreements.
Joseph *********
Watch wait and see. These guys are good. And they are not losing more money then thay have. Welcome to a new tourist economy. They ditched the 'paper trail' for a reason.

I love Thailand and they need your money and they will get it. And they told everyone already they will get it under the conditions stated.

This is not a democracy. Royal Thailand is a beautiful thing. (I mean that)
แดนนี่ ***********
Let’s see how that all happens. So many obstacles, contradictions, etc towards this. I know dozens of foreigners here, and they each know more, everyone is just waiting to see the realistic path to how this will play out. As of now no one’s paying taxes(they all pay taxes in their legal home countries)

The mere fact that DTV holders are not allowed to open bank accounts logically excludes them from having to pay taxes, so let’s see if they change these rules in the near future
Anonymous ******************
@แดนนี่ **********
no one paying taxes? DTA agreement with my country clearly states I have to pay taxes in Thailand and I'll do it. This document is from 1980s 😅 so nothing new here.
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant 633 also, the idea that we pay taxes only for "remitted" income is rather unusual. Normally, we pay for all the money, no matter if it is remitted or not. So Thailand still has very good rules and I really have no idea why people try to avoid it.
แดนนี่ ***********
Anonymous participant 633 it’s Thailand, lots of things are in writing but not even bothered with by the government themselves. Nothing is consistent with Thailand. The dtv requirements alone vary drastically with each embassy around the globe, so if it’s clearly established with your country then that may not be at that stage yet for all countries
Bettina **********
They really want to get rid of the last people who brought money to Thailand
Ko *******
I hope they will enforce it…
Andy **********
Why do so many people post or comment anonymously on this DTV page, I reckon some of them are tax agents, drumming up business, with all the scaremongering they do. There has always been a need to complete a tax return, after someone has spent more than 180 days in a tax year, thousands of people have never done one, and never will, it's the same in every country, if someone is suspected of tax invasion, they will get investigated, they can't investigate everyone, they don't automatically know someone is earning money in Thailand without specifically looking at that person, most people are just waiting to see what happens next.
Werner ************
Maybe immigration will start asking for a tax clearance receipt 🤷🏼‍♂️
Anonymous ******************
@Werner ***********
DTV holders are not required to attend immigration, so a fat lot of good that will do!
Werner ************
Anonymous participant 323 really they don’t deal with immigration when entering the country? Filing a 90 day report or 180 day renewal?
Greg ******
@Werner ***********
Same as for Non-B 😉
Greg ********
@Werner ***********
One of these :-)
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%20Tax%20Clearance%20Certificate%20is,compliant%20and%20of%20good%20standing.
Bo **********
Good No one want influencers... Ppl i know hate them
Aliz ****
Let's assume it's true that DTV holders will get taxed for working from thailand. How can I get a tax file number, and open a thai bank account to be able to pay tax properly? Is there a clear path to do that? Or are they going to look into my foreign bank account? I'm more than happy to pay tax and contribute, but there seems to be lots of obstacles to be able to do that thru the proper channels
Greg ******
@Aliz ***
The current law is already in effect: if you spend 180 days per calendar year in the country, you become a fiscal resident. Remitted money is taxed, with amounts depending on existing treaties.
Ra ********
@Aliz ***
yes true firstly they don't allow dtv visa holder to open bank account and on top of that they want tax also. They only want to track credit and debit transcation and impose tax on you. They should have a proper way let dtv visa holder open bank account so they can remit money and then they can impose tax on whatever amount brought into thailand
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
This is true -- there needs to be a clearer path to opening bank account and file/pay taxes properly assuming you stay in Thailand more than 180 days per year and have income that is brought into the Kingdom.
Cam ********
Hey Anonymous we aren’t going to listen to you if you have to hide your identity
Joseph *********
Anonymous is so people don't have to feel belittled by assclowns. Word to your mom
Joseph *********
He posted an article from the Bangkok Post. He didn't make this story up.
Anonymous ******************
@Cam *******
That is such a stupid thing to say.

What makes it even dumber is you commented that after other people already had discussions going.

Then the dumbest of all is that you deny the information from a valid source based on your stupidity towards anonymity.

You’re dumb and it shows.
Cam ********
Anonymous participant 486 bahahahaha another anonymous clown. Your opinion means sweet FA to me if you can’t post from your own account. Go diddle yourself.

🤣
Anonymous ******************
But what's unusual here? Of course, if you're a tax resident in Thailand you have to pay taxes. No matter who you are. It's obvious.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Anonymous participant 633 Totally agree! But how many influencers actually file?
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant for me it's obvious: don't pay taxes - pay a fine or go to the jail. No idea why people think they don't need to pay taxes in Thailand, lol
Raed ****
yeah right I'm going to believe anonymous post
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Raed ***
Don't believe anonymous post -- believe BANGKOK POST lol.
Biff *******
Anonymous participant only slightly more believable from that sensationalist sh*t-stirring ‘newspaper’.
Boaz *****
Nothing to do with the DTV holder. More on the local Thais who conduct business online.
Greg ******
@Boaz ****
When spending 180 days per calendar year in a country, you become a fiscal resident regardless of your nationality or visa status. I highly doubt this speech applies only to Thais, given the increasing number of digital nomads arriving. I would actually expect the opposite.
Dominik ********
@Boaz ****
especially for all the so called nomads that live here all year around 🤦🏻‍♂️. Not moving around your not a nomad. Stay more then 180 days in a country you have to pay your taxes
Boaz *****
@Dominik *******
The Revenue Department tracks each individual's bank transactions.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you Dominik! Anyone who thinks this is only targeted toward Thais in delusional. 180+ and need to pay taxes.
Anonymous ******************
@Boaz ****
I would argue that it applies to everyone living here and promoting/selling/advertising content online here. You are living here, working here and making your money here at this point. This is different than working for a remote company where your income are already taxed.
Anonymous ******************
I have lived and worked long enough to know that if you make money somewhere, the govt (Thai or not) will want a piece of it! You can try to hide it especially if it is a 1 time payment but if you are getting a steady stream of income, you will get taxed!
Boaz *****
Anonymous participant 418 To get more accurate news, look into Thai language news. The English do not report fully.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Anonymous participant 418 I agree.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Boaz ****
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Vitaly ********
It has nothing to do with DTV, they are targeting Thais
Greg ********
@Vitaly *******
It is aimed primarily at Thais but so were the tax changes announced late 2023 for 2024.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Vitaly *******
No this is targeted toward all of the “This is what $100 gets you in Bangkok” influencers producing content in Thailand, making money from it domestically and abroad, and not paying taxes.
Vitaly ********
Anonymous participant did you read the article?
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Vitaly *******
Yes Thai influencers are on the hook too, but I highly doubt that’s their biggest concern.
Vitaly ********
Anonymous participant there’s zero indication farangs are his concern. The speech was delivered in Thai too fwiw.

I’m not advocating tax dodging, just saying you’re wrong in this particular case
Netanel *******
to make it short - if you make your income outside of Thailand, and specially if you're making a good income, you better not go to Thailand. Spend your money somewhere else.
Bruno ***********
@Netanel ******
curious comment. Why is that ?