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

What is the easiest way for an Italian remote worker to become a tax resident in Thailand?

Dec 17, 2025
a day ago
Pietro *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello,

I hold an Italian passport. I work remotely (self employed).

I want to become a TAX resident in Thailand. What's the easiest / fastest way to go about this.
1,401
views
37
replies
3
images
11
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
To become a tax resident in Thailand as an Italian passport holder working remotely, one must reside in Thailand for at least 180 days within a calendar year. However, nationality and the nature of income can complicate matters. It is important to distinguish between becoming a tax resident with or without benefits, as dual taxation may occur without proper residency change in Italy. Factors such as a local bank account and the type of visa (DTV or others) also play significant roles. Seeking advice from an international tax advisor is recommended to navigate these complexities.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Francesco ***********
I am Italian too. If you are looking to pay lower taxes, you can’t just stay over 180 days in Thailand because this will NOT block your Italian taxation. In this case, you will be paying double taxation from both Italy and Thailand, which is not what you want.

You need to change your tax residence through AIRE first, demonstrating that you have “the center of relationships and affections” in the country where you are moving to, including a rented home or condo.

You will lose free healthcare in Italy too, so you will need an international insurance if you still care about Italian hospitality.

After that, note that your plan getting a DTV is fine, however:

1) it’s still a tourist visa. Stronger than the METV or SETV of course, but still in future it will most likely face a crackdown like the ED. It’s a good choice for now, but I really don’t know for the future.

2) Extending a DTV over 6 months is not a good idea. There’s a small percent of people who actually extend it because basically they’ll require a lot of documents exactly like a brand new DTV application. It’s easier to do a border bounce rather than extending this kind of visa.

My only real advice is to speak to an International tax advisor to see the agreements between Thailand and Italy to avoid double taxation and see what’s the best strategy for you. But remember, it’s NOT that easy to stop paying taxes especially in a country like Italy just by moving to a new country. Italy will tax you “globally” on every income if you don’t have a good strategy to actually change your tax residency.

For my business, I have an LLC by the way :)
Chris *****
If you are not Thai or Luk Krueng (half Thai 🧬) this is practically (!) not easy to accomplish (as an individual, not business entity) Just my humble opinion krab 🙏🏻
Yo***
if you reside in Thailand more than 180 days a year, you become Tax resident of Thailand. It is simple. You are tax resident of Thailand. You go to tax office and ask them to obtain your tax ID.
Mauro *********
Bro.. I'm Italian also.

You can't make mistake more big .

If you read carefully many people answered with right way.

You should pay tax in Thai only if your incame came from Thailand! Easy ! 🤷‍♂️

No way pay tax in Thailand will help you .

And for our country you are tax free if you are aire and incame isn't from Italy.

Get?
Yo***
@Mauro ********
The author seems not to reside in Italy for more than 180 days a year, so he is no more tax resident in Italy. Taxing is no matter of where you are born, it is matter only where you reside mainly more than 180 days a year.
Mauro *********
@Yo***
yes correct.

But isn't automatically.

If you live abroad more then 180 day you should register yourself aire. After that if don't have incame from Italy you can pay tax in other country.
John **********
@Yo***
that's not true. If you spend 90 days in the UK every year you will remain a UK tax resident. You can be tax resident in more than one country at the same time
Pietro *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mauro ********
tecnicamente dovrei essere già "tax free" perché vivo in vietnam... ma non ho un vero e proprio visto per stare lì sono considerato turista. Credo che l agenzia delle entrate possa chiederti di dimostrare che stai pagando tasse altrove
Mauro *********
@Pietro ******
allora..

Senti bene cosa ti dico e poi prendi tutte le info che credi da Google o chatgpt per capirne meglio.

1) la tua tassazione dipende dal DOMICILIO fiscale .

2) di solito è associalo alla residenza. Quindi se sei iscritto aire non hai tasse in Italia se non quelle sui beni (casa auto terreni.. ecc ecc).

3) se stai più di 180 gironi all' anno all' estero sto fetenti al governo hanno messo iscrizione aire obbligatoria.

Pensa multe . E quando rinnovi passaporto è facilmente visibile .

Questo che tu ti dichiari turista o no..!

Imho..

Iscrivi aire nel paese dove credi di avere più servizi come ambasciata. (Vedi tu se Vietnam o Thailandia.. tra le due sceglierei Vietnam che hanno molti meno expat e sono decisamente più svegli).

Ps. Se non hai beni tassabili in Italia sei aire e non hai entrate in Thailandia sei tax free..! (Legalmente).
John **********
@Mauro ********
not quite true. If you bring assessable income into Thailand in any year you are a Thai tax resident then you have to complete a Thai tax return if it amounts to 120k baht or more
Mauro *********
@John *********
may can read which law say that?? Do you ear that in bars?!?
John **********
@Mauro ********
try looking at the regulations provided by the Thai Revenue Department. Here's a summary

*****************************************************************************************
Mauro *********
Mauro *********
@John *********
thanks for share link.

But if you read carefully like I say this tax if incame came from Thailand.

Plus they say also which one don't need pay.
John **********
@Mauro ********
read it again. Income from Thailand AND income earned outside Thailand in a year where you are a Thai tax resident IF that income (or part of it) is brought into Thailand
Mauro *********
@John *********
bro sorry if insist

... But they write so big and easy understand.. foreigners incame no subset of Thai tax
John **********
@Mauro ********
please read it carefully. There are only 2 instances where foreign income brought into Thailand are not subject to thai tax. If the income was earned prior to
*****
/2024 or if the income was earned in a year you were not a Thai tax resident. If you earned income in
*****
/2024 or later and you are a Thai tax resident in the year you bring that income into Thailand then Thai tax rules apply
Nickna******
Why do you want to be a tax resident? How do you think this helps you? Are you looking to pay a lower tax rate?

With DTV your clients cannot be in Thailand. Where will they be? If your clients remain in Italy and you maintain ties, such as bank accounts, you will likely remain a tax resident of Italy.

(In general) You pay whichever taxes are higher, not whichever taxes are more beneficial to you.
Pietro *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Nickname9876 I haven't lived in Italy in over 13 years. I don't have italian clients. I have no ties to Italy other than being born there. I have been in Southeast Asia for 3 years already ( I spend maybe 1 month a year in Italy and its been like this since I was a teenager)
Nickna******
@Pietro ******
ok great just thought should consider as some don't know 😊
Moritz ************
Nickname9876 si può iscrivere all AIRE che evita la doppia tassazione
Jeremy ********
Do you want to be a tax resident with zero benefits?

Do you want to be a tax resident with benefits?

There is a big big difference between the 2
Pietro *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jeremy *******
care to elaborate?
Jeremy ********
@Pietro ******
Tax resident with benefits

WP open own business make minimum salary of ฿80k paying with paying a month for 3 years apply for PR or citizenship

No benefit

Buy a visa like elite LTR etc pay taxes have no route to PR or citizenship

Understand??
Pietro *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jeremy *******
yes none of these options apply to me. I plan to stay on a DTV visa.
Andrew ********
Its dependant on visa you have and current rules will need a bank account which also requires right visa
Pete *******
@Andrew *******
tax residency is NOT dependant on visa type.
Pietro *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Oh damn. So what happens if I stay over 180 days on DTV? Technically I should become a tax resident, no?
Pete *******
@Pietro ******
it doesn’t matter what visa you hold, you automatically become a Thai tax resident by residing 180 days inside Thailand in a calendar year. There is no other qualifying criteria. As a Thai tax resident you are legally obligated to obtain a TIN within 60 days of receiving assessable income.
Pietro *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Pete ******
and can you do that without a thai bank account?
Pete *******
@Pietro ******
tax residency and getting a TIN do not require a Thai bank account.
Pietro *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
No visa yet. I believe I am eligible for DTV, is it possible to open a bank account with that? And can I apply for a tax ID right away?
Andrew ********
@Pietro ******
no on both accounts, thats the funny thing DTV holders can be in the country more than 180 days in a calendar year but they will not be able to apply for tax ID and cant get a bank account. If the new rules go into affect with foreign income for tax - it will be interesting to see how they track ATM withdraws and assess income for DTV holders or anyone they restrict from a bank account
Pete *******
@Andrew *******
nonsense.
Pietro *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Pete ******
care to elaborate?
Henry **********
@Pietro ******
no with DTV, is a tourist visa
Pete *******
Reside inside Thailand for 180 days in a calendar year and you automatically become a Thai tax resident.
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
... members · 60% approval rate
The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.
Join the Group
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
View the Conversation
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else