Answereda year ago
Where can I open a bank account as a freelancer living in Thailand?
I find myself in a stressed situation atm. I’m a freelancer and working remotely. I need to open a bank account either in Thailand or somewhere else to get paid and to be able to pay for my expenses.
I don’t know where to open? I can’t open in my home country since I’m not resident there anymore and have been aboard for so long time.
I have only Revolut personal account and I don’t know if I should receive or transfer money there becuase I’ve heard people got flagged and got their account locked.
Ah God this is not fun at all. 😞
I don’t know where to open? I can’t open in my home country since I’m not resident there anymore and have been aboard for so long time.
I have only Revolut personal account and I don’t know if I should receive or transfer money there becuase I’ve heard people got flagged and got their account locked.
Ah God this is not fun at all. 😞
Answer summary
The user is seeking advice on how to open a bank account while living as a freelancer in Thailand, given their non-resident status and previous inaccessibility to their home country's banking system. They express concerns over using their existing Revolut account due to potential risks and are looking for alternative solutions. Commenters suggest several options, including opening a business account in Hong Kong, using services like Wise or Stripe for transactions, and looking into offshore banking as alternatives, while noting potential requirements and challenges regarding banking in Thailand.
56 repliesnewest first
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Juan ********
Revolut is their own bank, additionally, PayPal or western union might me a viable options
Ryan ********
There's a ridiculous amount of disinformation in this thread about tax and banking. If you can't figure out something at home or in Thailand, try to open an account at an offshore bank (e.g. Xapo Bank) or an onshore bank in a more lax jurisdiction, Georgia (the country) is popular at the moment.
Karl *****
Who are these people that tell the truth to their banks 😂😂😂😂
Ive got at least 5 accounts, most registered to an address back home….
Ive got at least 5 accounts, most registered to an address back home….
Amir ***********
You should use Stripe to get paid from your customers.
Then just open a Wise business account to drip yourself the money and spend on expenses etc.
Then just open a Wise business account to drip yourself the money and spend on expenses etc.
Aio ************
I do all my biz + personal stuff mainly on Wise & then I transfer some to Revolut as well. I have accounts in other countries, but Wise & Revolut is the only ones I use. Worked for me for years.
Kolby ***********
Wise?
Anonymous ******************
Sorry if this isn’t helpful but you can’t open a bank account in Thailand without appropriate visa or owned a condo so scratch that. Even if you find a way, it might get closed eventually if you don’t do it properly. Where do you file your taxes since you need to pay tax somewhere somehow ?
John **********
Surely if you have been working for any length of time this is not a new problem for you? What have you been doing up until now?
Thoughtful**********
OP@John *********
and how is this comment going to help me?Im looking for solution not nonsense like your comment.
James ********
WHOA 😳... FRANKLY, I have the same question...
We're here to help you 😌
@ **************
s and other members are trying to be helpful to you. We really don't know what you have been doing in recent years regarding your banking situation and receipt of fees for your services as a DIGITAL NOMAD. The Thai Embassy or Consulate where you apply for the DTV visa are going to ask you for your recent bank account balance and statements for 3 to 6 months. With a balance of 500,000 Thai baht or more for the most recent bank account statement or possibly for 3 MONTHS vs one. The requirements vary among the Thai Embassys or Consulates... so it's important to read their website to see what their requirements are for the bank account balance and statements required to be submitted.We're here to help you 😌
John **********
ThoughtfulLychee5096 it's not nonsense comment. What is the reason you can't continue doing what you have been doing? Because that's the solution to your problem
Shane *****
i am more surprised you don't have a single existing and active bank account in your home country. they may close it after very long years of inactivity but how do you manage all these years ? it make no sense.. very suspicious
Shane *****
@Matthew *********
I didn't ask anything..he is the one asking.. everything being asked and said are already here..not sure what is the purpose of your postAnonymous ******************
I dont have a bank account in my passport country. Its not unusual at all. Some people have lived abroad their entire adult life.
Shane *****
Anonymous participant 142 the OP said he/she doesnt have ANY active usable account in any country in the world not just passport. I have no idea why so many of your kind have reading comprehension or logic problem.. do you live your entire life scavenging for food and lodging, mouth to mouth? It is unusual but maybe not to you..so, how many percentages of people are like you that allow me to use the term "unusual" ? Care to enlighten me?
Paul *******
@Shane ****
Exactly. For the most part, if you're a citizen of the country you open an account in AND it has some activity, it shouldn't be closed randomly...Thoughtful**********
OP@Shane ****
I have an traditional bank account in my home country but that are tied to tax residency to my home country and I’m afraid to use that one to get paid because they might be ask for new TIN and I don’t either have one.John **********
ThoughtfulLychee5096 you need a TIN if you bring earned income into Thailand anyway
Ben *****
ThoughtfulLychee5096 You need to register yourself as a sole proprietor in your home country which would give you a business tax number. Basically you're just asking this forum how to avoid paying taxes.
Shaughn ***********
ThoughtfulLychee5096 Income tax in NZ is 18.5% for low to moderate income earners. If you are earning more to bring you into their top tax bracket then just buy the Thai elite visa and you will get a Thai bank account with it.
Marc ********
ThoughtfulLychee5096 Correct. You would have to stay 1 month though after that you get multiple entry visa. Never heard of they tracking down anybody for anything if you have the appropreate visa.
Thoughtful**********
OP@Marc *******
And how will that work? you mean go there and get work permit and visa extension for 6 months and then open bank account, and come back Thailand as normal? Don't Cambodia track down on people who left the country for 3+ more and then they freeze the bank account?Marc ********
ThoughtfulLychee5096 You could open an account in a neighboring country if you have the correct visa, for example, Cambodia.
Thoughtful**********
OP@Ben ****
Yes I want to avoid paying tax into my home country because I don't live there or have anything left there since 2 years ago. You guys are so low IQ and think everyone's situation is similar like yours. I might started badly but now I need to do something, and the alternative go back and become tax resident in my home country is not an option as I don't want to pay 50% tax.
Alex *********
@Shane ****
I don't have any bank account in my own country cuz it'd cost me a lot in fees for having a debit card which I would rarely use. I currently have a bank account in the country I live in but I could easily do it without any bank account. Nothing suspiciousMatthew **********
@Alex ********
you dont need to explain yourself to some idiiot on fb. 1/ who is he to ask, the police? 2/ its not illegal to not have a bank account. 3/ why does he care if you don't have a bank account? 4/ he says with authority but he's a nosey guy on fb sticking his nose in. 5/ its nothing to do with the question you asked. Just tell him to f!@%off!!!! Good luck with your account.Shane *****
@Alex ********
the OP said he doesnt have a single usable active account anywhere in the worldMarc ********
@Shane ****
he has Revolut.Anonymous ******************
Indeed cash is king.
Alex *********
@Shane ****
and I said that if one of my previous employers didn't force me to get one to transfer my salary, I wouldn't have any either 😅Anonymous ******************
Make a company in Hong Kong and open a company account there.
As a bonus, Hong Kong doesn't tax any foreign sourced income too.
As a bonus, Hong Kong doesn't tax any foreign sourced income too.
Benjamin *********
Participant anonyme 142 difficult these days to get a bank account in HK , ( for the company yes it’s easy )
Anonymous ******************
Yes you can't get a personal account without being a resident. But your company will always be a resident and respect tax residency rules for where the company is located
Gerald ***************
Anonymous participant 142 any recommendations how to do this?
Anonymous ******************
Look up ATHENASIA for an agency that specifically deals with setting up hong Kong companies
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