Will my pension income be taxed in Thailand if I retire and have it paid into a Thai bank account?

Feb 25, 2024
9 months ago
Allan ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
If I retire to Thailand and get my pensions paid into my Thai bank account,would this income be taxed by the Thai government ?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
If you retire in Thailand and receive your pensions in a Thai bank account, whether your income is taxed by the Thai government depends largely on your country of origin and any existing tax agreements (DTAs). For many countries like the USA, UK, and Australia, pensions may not be taxed in Thailand if taxes were paid in your home country due to these agreements. However, it is essential to fill out the appropriate tax forms in Thailand and consult with tax professionals to navigate these rules effectively, especially considering that any non-pension income may be taxable.
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Gordon *********
From what country
Bob **********
Nobody knows until next year but I would say if it’s your pension no there after the big fish don’t think they have the staff to mess with every expats pension
Ken ******
maybe you should consult a tax advisor or sccountant,

some one interpret as below:

those people

from countries which have

a double tax agreement

with Thailand could still need to pay new

tax in Thailand,

double tax means that you

will receive tax credit for

taxes paid outside of

Thailand. So, if you are

assed as having to pay

usd200 in USA and usd300

in Thailand, In Thailand you

would pay 300-200=100

dollars in Thailand.

anyway the risk is that one still likely to fill a tax report form with income and asset and let authority decide which is taxable and which be exempt. Filling the form could be a tedious process, depending on how it is designed, and whether there is english translation, or chinese? if not, hopefully no.need to seek professional help. And how can one prove whether the remitted income already taxed in other jurisdiction?(for example you have multiple income sources, and some sources already taxed but some exempted due to different tax law in another country )

does double tax exemption imply blanket tax exemption without need for exemption on an item by item basis (income source item/category) or need comparison of individual category, eg investment income, rental collected or simply pensions
Kool *******
If you are over the legal retirement age in your home country, and receiving your pensions you will not be taxed on those funds in Thailand. On the other hand if you are under the legal retirement age in your home country, but 50+ and on a retirement visa extension in Thailand, then Thailand will want to know if you have paid tax on any money you regularly bring into Thailand to live on, as you are too young to receive normal pensions. The regulation that changed is simply that wages earned outside Thailand used to be able to be brought into Thailand tax free if they had been held in an offshore bank for more than a year since they were earned as wages/salary. That loophole is what ended, meaning any wages earned are taxable in Thailand no matter how long they were held outside Thailand. If taxes were paid on those wages in another country, then the tax treaties with Thailand come into play, but it is not known yet how Thailand will enforce this new change, but again, pensions will not be affected, as taxes have been paid on that already, and Thailand has tax treaties with almost every country Thailand exports to, and trades with. It is also not known yet how Wise transfers are treated, as there is no designation if the money used in a Wise transfer came from a pension, only that it came from an overseas source. This will be interesting how they view Wise transfers, as there are no details about where the money came from, a pension or wages, only that it came from overseas.
Allan ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
Thank you,I'm well over legal retirement age.
Brett **********
Section 41,makes this answer very confusing!
Allan ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks for that Brian.
Brian **********
If you move to Thailand on a permanent basis and don’t have residency in the UK then your state pension will be frozen at the rate when you become resident in Thailand.
John ********
@Brian *********
You can't have residency in the UK if your out of the country for more than I think it's 181 consecutive days. Unless as I suspect some retirees do not tell the DWP., that they've moved out of the UK and use a UK relatives address as their permanent residency. I don't blame them if they do that because freezing UK pensions unless you live in certain countries that the UK has a social security agreement with, where you get the annual increase. It's called discrimination one pensioner against another one. What this agreement is supposed to be I don't know. All I know is you get the increase if you declare you live in the like of Philippines, USA, some Carribbean islands but not all and some countries that a lot of people haven't even heard of. 😂 There's a movement named ICBP,(international consortium of British Pensioners), which is now run by a lady living in Canada who is striving to no avail to try to get the discrimination by the UK government to change the rules, but they've stated on several occasions that the governments have no intention of changing the rules. I contacted my MP and also the ICBP with a compromise that would see all overseas British pensioners not get the triple lock, but that all pensioners overseas receive a 2.5% increase annually. I believe this was put to some MPs but as of this time no feedback.
Brian **********
@John *******
I deleted my response before the moderators deleted me 😂😂😂
John ********
I don't know how the Thai inland revenue are going to check if a foreigner is in Thailand for more than the 180 days that qualifies the foreigner to pay tax.I can't see the immigration department conferring with the inland revenue, be opening a can of worms. 😂
John ********
@Brian *********
ok, kow jai!
Brian **********
@John *******
yes it’s true, and you can’t really blame people for using a UK address if they are resident in Thailand. However I can see that changing when the new tax laws take a hold as the thai authorities will have access to more information. Let’s just hope that the UK government don’t backdate their enquiries.
John ********
It's the usual British government attitude, if your not working and paying tax, then their not interested in you any more, but if your a foreign illegal criminal that crosses the English Channel in a rubber dinghy, a 5* hotel, full board,free mobile because you ditched yours in the Channel so UK immigration can't tell which country you are a National of and £30 a week for cigs and or booze.
Allan ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Oh,I can afford it,I just asked one question, PRICK !
John ********
@Allan ***********
Allan, there's plenty of expat pricks unfortunately in Thailand. I lived there for eleven years and steered well clear of farangs for this reason.
Christian ***********
@Allan ***********
name him.. Was a dumb reply..
Allan ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Christian **********
This is a really useful site for information regarding Visa applications and everything else,the title gives it away.I asked a question and now I have all the information I could ever need,plus one dumb reply 🙄 and I did name him Christian
Reluctant *******
If you can't afford any new taxes, just go back home. Then you can stop worrying and whinging.
Reluctant *******
One thing about being an expat is that we all have a home country we can go back to. Nothing ignorant about pointing this out. The only ignorant comments are those that are full of false information, speculation, and personal opinions. Leaving a country you are a guest in is always preferable to fighting a system and worrying about things you will never be able to change. if you can't afford to go back to your home country then you really should shut up and accept whatever your host country and it's government decide to do or LEAVE. So many broke dick expats do nothing other than constantly complain and nit pick what the Thai government says it may do, or actually does. After 7 years living in TH, my frustration level dropped way off when I just accepted things as they were , day by day. Now go rub some butthurt cream into your jaw muscles as well.
John ********
@Reluctant ******
I hope Thailand doesn't have many ignorant farangs like you, who when someone is just trying to ask a question and get help, they get ridiculed by ignorant replies.
Reluctant *******
@John *******
The butt-hurt ointment is on isle 8.
Alan ********
@Reluctant ******
toss pot 👆🏿
John ********
@Reluctant ******
just another expat wanker
Shayne **********
For the best Tax information for Americans talk with
@American *****************************
.
@https://www.facebook********************
John **********
Looks like you are from the UK, so whether you will be due tax on them if you get them paid into a Thai bank is one question, but an equally important question is no matter how you bring them into Thailand will you be due tax on them. As of this year any income brought into Thailand is now assessable for tax in Thailand. The way it normally works is that any income you have from the UK is first assessed for tax in the UK, then if that income is brought into Thailand it is also assessable for tax in Thailand. When you know both your UK tax and your Thai tax you can claim a credit against Thai tax for any tax already paid in the UK
Gordon *********
@John *********
doesn't a a UK pension have to be paid into a UK Bank account
John ********
@Gordon ********
You can give the DWP your foreign bank account details and have your pension transferred either every month, or 13 weeks. How the exchange rate would be applied is not known by me. If it is what they call the inter bank exchange rate, then it'll be better than exchange rate from bank to bank, ie , your UK bank to your Thai bank. It maybe better to use Wise or another system, where the exchange rate is better than that of UK banks.
John **********
@Gordon ********
nope. But whether it is or not what's relevant is what you bring in to Thailand
Gordon *********
@John *********
think you are wrong if payment is made in UK and you take it out ATM as a holiday maker would how does that work
John **********
@Gordon ********
if you are a holidaymaker you are not liable to thai tax. You have to spend 180 days in the thai tax year before you become liable to thai tax
Gordon *********
@John *********
OAP can not be payed into a Thai bank
John **********
@Gordon ********
yes it can. I was offered that option by the overseas pension Office when I first claimed my pension
Gordon *********
John **********
@Gordon ********
yes you have the choice. You don't need to bring it into Thailand. You can leave it to accumulate in the UK if you prefer
Gordon *********
OAPencion
Allan ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
Yes John,I am from the UK, and thanks for the information 👍
Roberto *********
@Allan ***********
Unfortunately it appears the UK DTA doesn't exempt pensions, so you'll probably pay double tax in any pension brought into Thailand. Fortunately for Australians, pensions can only be taxed in the country in which they're paid (Big sigh of relief from all the Aussies!)
John **********
@Roberto ********
he won't pay double tax in as much as he will get a credit for any tax already paid in the UK but it does mean the UK tax free allowances are lost
Roberto *********
@John *********
But he'll pay tax in UK and more tax in Thailand. So twice?
John **********
@Roberto ********
whether he pays tax in the UK will depend on his income exceeding his allowances. If it does he basically gets that tax "back" via a tax credit (pro rata to the amount he brings in to Thailand). So yes he will technically pay tax twice but the UK tax gets refunded via the credit So in reality he's only paying the higher of UK or Thai tax
Roberto *********
@John *********
But paying in both countries? It's a shame the UK didn't negotiate a better deal to look after its pensioners.
John **********
@Roberto ********
indeed. The UK cares little about it's pensioners, and those of us living in Thailand don't even get annual inflation increases to the state pension, same for UK pensioners living in Australia
Olivier *********
First step will be to fill your Annual Personal Income Tax Form (PND90/PND91)

and submit it to the RD.

Then 'they' will let you know.
Roberto *********
No you won't be taxed on pension
Jeffrey ************
@Roberto ********
The Thai tax authority have not confirmed this....
Roberto *********
@Jeffrey ***********
There's nothing to confirm. Did you ask them? 🤣🤣🤣
Jeffrey ************
@Roberto ********
You obviously haven't 🙄
Paulus *********
@Jeffrey ***********
they haven't confirmed anything
Roberto *********
@Paulus ********
No need, it's confirmed in the DTA. Are you one of these people waiting for some grand announcement? It ain't going to happen because there's nothing to announce
Paulus *********
@Roberto ********
what are you on about
Roberto *********
@Paulus ********
I'm just amused that people are waiting "for an announcement" but don't know exactly what announcement they're waiting for! The order was published in October or November last year. That's the announcement. 😆
Jeffrey ************
Nobody really knows.
Mark *****
@Jef****
, 💯% agree, all speculation at the moment
Roberto *********
@Jeffrey ***********
Lots of people know. Pensions are not taxed
Jeffrey ************
@Roberto ********
Wishfull thinking, but untrue...
Roberto *********
@Jeffrey ***********
Just a fact. Sadly bar-stool experts like yourself enjoy spreading misinformation! 🤣🤣
Jeffrey ************
@Roberto ********
You'll find out next year and we can all have a good laugh at you then 🤣🤣
Roberto *********
@Jeffrey ***********
There's nothing to "find out" next year. Pensions are covered in the DTA, nothing to pay in Thailand 🤣🤣🤣. Laugh at yourself!
Bart **************
Mac *********
No advantage in having it here. It's better to bring it in as you need it, like Mike suggested. That way, you have more control and probably less liability. How the new tax laws will affect us is still unknown at this point.

Disclaimer: As is always said, 'we are not financial advisors or tax attorneys. Free advice is like asking a mechanic what’s wrong with your car without looking at it; he might have an idea, but he’ll need to look under the hood. 🙂 I.E ”your personal financial situation"
Allan ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mac ********
Oh,I understand that Mac,I've been in the motor trade 50 yrs,I've fixed or tried to fix so many cars stood at a bar
Mac *********
haha me too :)
Mike **********
I still have my funds in my US bank and investment firms. I do a monthly transfer as I need. I just feel my funds are better protected and have easier access there. The banks here operate a little odd. Maybe it’s just a trust issue. 🤷‍♂️
Eric **********
@Mike *********
No they are weird. It’s not just your perception!
Allan ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you Paul.
Paul *******
First, it depends on your country of passport. If you paid tax on that pension in your home counrty and that country has a dual tax agreement with Thailand (like USA, Great Britain, Australia, New ZSealand and many other countries) then it will not be subject to Taxation by Thailand.
Tom *********
**************************************************
Heather *******
@Paul ******
are you sure? The advise I received says you will pay the difference. For example it you pay 10% in you home country and Thailand is 15% then you will pay 5%
Paul *******
@Heather ******
If you are not a tax resident of Australia then you do not receive the tax free threshold and pay a minimum of 44 cents in the $ tax. Much more than in Thailand. And the tax authorities in Thailand do not know how much you are taxed in Australia, So I expect that Thailand will tax you at 15% or at 0.
Heather *******
@Paul ******
I’m from the uk
Paul *******
@Heather ******
Same, same.
Rok ********
@Paul ******
if you become tax resident in Thailand (more than 180 days of physical presence during fiscal year) your worldwide income becomes taxable and tax already paid in your home contry (subject to having double taxation agreement with Thailand) credited against the Thai liability. For high earners the tax liability is usually very similar however for lower earners the additional tax liability in Thailand can be substantial due to the difference in personal allowances: eg UK £
*****
pa while Thailand only £3000 pa if i remember correctly. You newd to study carefully or get professional advice. Best of course is not to become tax resident in any of the countries in addition to the home country (where your pension will be always taxes at source in any case).
Jim ********
@Rok *******
Not quite correct. Tax in Thailand only paid on untaxed money brought into the country. Earnings anywhere else in the world are not taxed by Thailand
Rok ********
@Jim *******
…. If you are a tax resident … more than 180 days presence in the country in a fiscal year (Thailand 1st Jan-31st Dec)? Whatever the treatment best not to become a tax resident and divide the year into 3 or more countries… is my moto. The above treatment is certainly correct for Indonesia.
Jim ********
@Rok *******
I only bring in money from pension which is taxable in my home country of which I'm also a tax resident, so it makes zero difference to me. I generate a lot of money in Australia, but it stays there, so nothing to do with Thailand
Charles ********
@Paul ******
no where in domestic law or international treatiee does it state income is exempt of you already paid tax on it.

Generally, DTA make government pension taxable only from the government that issued it. Private pension are going to be taxable where you are a tax resident, which for retirees in Thailand, mean Thailand. It could even be taxable in both (then credited) depending on the souce country (US especially).

It also has nothing to do with your passport or citizenship, only the countries involved. If a UK citizen is receiving a pension from France and lives in Thailand, the factor of UK citizenship does not effect that.
Jim ********
@Charles *******
Depends on the DTA. For Australians any pensions are only taxable in the country in which they're received, so Aussie pensions will not be taxed in Thailand
Summe*****
@Charles *******
I interrupt the DTA’s in the same way. The confusion in have is with the Kingdom’s Revenue Department directive that address (sic) “only income remitted into the Kingdom (either in current year as interpreted previously or any year as appears to be interpreted now)”. Are the DTA’s followed or the Directive followed?
Charles ********
@Summe*****
the DTA is followed, assesable income is determined by both the DTA and domestic law. So even if an foreign income type is assesable it will only be upto the amount brought into thailand. There still lots clarification we need, how RD will handle commingled funds, will funds be considered regular income, or preferences treatment of certain types, etc.
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