Will Thailand really tax worldwide income for residents starting January 2025?

Sep 12, 2024
2 months ago
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
The proposal to impose income tax on worldwide income regardless of it being remitted to Thailand on all those who are resident for 180 days or more irrespective of visa status has now reached draft proposal status this means the Thai government may well vote on this matter soon and make an announcement in the Royal Gazette. If this was to become law, "last man out, put the cat out" Since there are still 4 months till year end this could be implemented by 1st jan 2025.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A draft proposal in Thailand suggests imposing income tax on worldwide income for all residents who stay in the country for 180 days or more, regardless of their visa status. If passed, this legislation could be enacted as early as January 1, 2025. The community discussion highlights concerns over the practicality of enforcing such a law, especially for remote workers and tourists, as well as the implications of existing double taxation treaties. Many participants express skepticism about the proposal's likelihood of implementation and offer advice on precautions for expats.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Tolga *******
Thailand has double taxation treaty with over 60 countries:
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Karst ***********
Well they would lose a large part of the DTV remote workers for sure.... And besides if they are planning to tax foreigners on a DTV visa working remotely they would have to fix the rampant corruption of billions of Baht dissapearing in the pockets of politicians first
David *******
It's no big deal or any shock..but a quick weekend in Vietnam and come back in .but how can they police it anyway!!..you can just move money around and avoid it in any case!..
Klee **************
Most of us have nothing to worry about, it will be impossible for it to be implemented/enforce
Karst ***********
Well if they start taxing remote workers on a DTV a lot of people will not stay in Thailand.... For example myself
John **********
@Karst **********
I think they are a prime target when you consider they are generating their income from inside Thailand
Elías ********
@John *********
from inside? I don't think the income is generated from inside, rather only expending money inside.
John **********
@Elías *******
maybe I worded it badly. They are working inside Thailand but for a remote entity. That sounds to me like they are liable for Thai tax as they are generating their income inside Thailand
Karst ***********
@John *********
yes but the whole point is they are not expats and they can only apply for it if they are employed abroad and work remotely. They already pay 400$ a year for the extension, other visa fees and living/spending costs in Thailand. This should already be a big source of income, if they start to tax overseas income, many remote working dtv's will retract and re-locate to vietnam or cambodia (mark my words), at least i would....
John **********
@Karst **********
they already (from
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/2024) tax overseas income if you bring it into Thailand in a year where you are tax resident. So if you spend 180 days or more inside Thailand in any calendar year then you have to pay tax on any income you bring in to Thailand. There is a proposal to change the thai tax law to tax Global income, not just income brought into Thailand, but at the moment that's just a proposal
Karst ***********
@John *********
so oke as long as you keep your income on your european / non thai bank account you'll be good ;-) honestly i think anyone bringing income into Thailand to be taxed is not so wise...better keep capital outside if you can
John **********
@Karst **********
yep if you can show that the money you bring in to Thailand was money you had accumulated prior to
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/2024 it will be classed as savings and not income
Paul *********
I wonder if this would apply to tourists on visas let’s say exemptions stays travelling around for 185 days in and out I really doubt this would be policed very well
Marek ***********
Immigration will stop you at the border and you cannot leave country. SUPER EASY.
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marek **********
The law already exists in Thailand but as yet it is not enforced.
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ********
I agree its will be very difficult to police unless they deploy IT against this.
Daniel *******
From Siam-Legal

However, there is an exemption from being subject to income tax in Thailand by meeting one of the following conditions:

1. The individual must not reside in Thailand for 180 days or more in a particular tax calendar year.

2. Invest on a foreign investment fund or Depositary Receipt.

3. Does not bring an income from overseas into Thailand.

Graham is angry that people have easy access to long term visas so he tries to scare everyone by constantly spreading lies.
Pascal ***********
@Daniel ******
I wonder how they will know the difference between a (recent) income and your savings ?

If I transfer money, it comes from my savings that have been taxed several years ago. And that amount is wau higher then my current income.
Daniel *******
@Pascal **********
You have to provide information about the origin of whatever you put in the account. Like tax papers etc. Of course, it is a game so, if you have something that proves it is years old taxed savings, then it is not to be taxed again.
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Pascal **********
You must keep records to prove what you claim pascal. Read the remarks of page 6.
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/FOREIGNERS_PAY_TAX2024.pdf
Pascal ***********
@Graham ******
Selling the shares of your company or selling (part of your personal) real estate isn’t taxed in my country. So I do worry about it.

If we only need to prove the money was already for several years in a savings/investment account, then it won’t be much of a problem.
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Pascal **********
if u are not taxed at home you have to transferable tax credit to offset against Thai tax. Remember you need to be able to prove what you say.
Greg ********
@Graham ******
You keep pushing that bloke as some expert. He was selling s financial products from dodgly companies from a one room in office a few months ago. He really has sold you the fear on this. Bedwetting much?
Max *****
@Daniel ******
i think point 3 is an old stuff. That is exactly the problem. Not the income made in Thailand. I think it is irrelevant for 95% of us here
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Max ****
As of 1st jan 2024 all remittances are taxable subject to DTA. The OP is about remittances to any country.
Daniel *******
Max Mai No, that is not the point. Do you understand that the law about tax residency is old old old? Nothing is changing!

It is IMPOSSIBLE to enforce taxes on income that does not come in the country. Period.
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Daniel ******
That is the point of my OP the Fycktard, this proposal if passed will mean fund that are not remitted to Thailand will be taxed for Thai tax residents. You sound you are a Dutch idiot.
Daniel *******
@Graham ******
Nope, unless the money are transferred to thai bank account, no taxes. Thanks for the funny insult tho :)
Daniel *******
Beware of Graham, clinical liar. No one can tax money that you don’t being in Thai account!
Greg ********
@Daniel ******
His glass is certainly always half empty. It must be a black cloud following him about. Seems to be a thoroughly unhappy chap.
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Daniel ******
I never said they actually can as of today, the OP describes the advancement of a proposal to do just that, tax all funds even when not remitted to Thailand.
Daniel *******
@Graham ******
Stop making stuff up! Nobody will tax people who don’t transfer cash to a Thai bank. PERIOD
Toni *******
Before thinking too much, check if your home country has double tax agreement with Thailand
Ray *****
Proposal and could.......why worry about something that may never happen.

If it makes the Royal Gazette then make plans.

Personally don't see it ever implemented
Greg ********
@Ray ****
Exactly - it is bedwetting and newly minted Tax Advisors touting for work.
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ray ****
its not about worry Ray, its about planning. What you should have said is "enforced" there is a big difference.
Greg ********
Worry about it if it ever happens. They have not implemented the 2024 changes in practice yet and it will be mid-2025 before we have any indication at all how and if it is working.

Sure these newly minted Tax Advisors are using their FUD marketing. Selling financial products to the financially illiterate one day and setting themselves up as international tax experts the next. FFS
Paul ********
@Greg *******
Yes, don't they just love to depress us.
Greg ********
@Paul *******
Literally chatting to a Thai girl I outsource work to right now. She has not heard a thing about any tax changes. She laughed when I mentioned the global taxation. She just went, "How"? Well educated Thai with post-grad degree from UK Univesity.
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg *******
I just read again 1) Our new PM saying she wants to extend the tax base 2) promote medical marijuana 3) continue with the digital wallet.
Greg ********
@Graham ******
You mean this tax annoucement in her 10 point policy plan "4. Collect tax from informal and underground businesses: The proceeds can be allocated for education, public health and utilities." Genuine question - what is it like being a full on pessimist?
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg *******
no, if i see the page again i will post it I think the connection to Taksin will be her downfall.
Greg ********
@Graham ******
Did you read it in the original Thai? I will get someone to do this. Second hand hack reporters in English does not cut it
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg *******
here is part of it, some of the hand out is in cash.
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76/thailand-to-begin-distribution-of-handout-scheme-this-month?utm_campaign=Article&utm_source=article_suggestion_thailand&utm_medium=reccommended&utm_content=suggestion-article
Greg ********
@Graham ******
Sweet FA to do with the global taxation policy and government support for it. Stop posting nonsense.
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg *******
that's where they expect to get the money from for their hand outs.
Greg ********
@Graham ******
Link please. So a new law will need to be passed starting in 2025 for tax returns in 2026. Enough time for the bedwetters to leave.
Paul ********
@Greg *******
The worst is that Thai Visa .com always writing about crackdowns lol, so i stopped looking at it, Same with these so called expat advisers,
Greg ********
@Paul *******
ThaiVisa (ASEAN Now) been grumpy old expat whingers for 25+ plus years. So many bitter losers on there it is laughable. Half of them hate Thailand but are stuck. Misanthropes United.
Paul ********
@Greg *******
Can think of worse places to be stuck lol I've been here over 20 yet still love it to bits ;-)
Greg ********
@Paul *******
I have been coming here 30 years. This is my 2nd time living here. Worked twice here as well as on retirement visa. Have an interview with a CEO on the 23rd as approached again about working. Had 10 years in Singapore and 4 in Belgium working. Had the life of Riley really and not going to worry about tax till it is implemented. I have paid tax the last 5 years in Thailand - it is not an onerous form to complete compared to UK, Belgium or singapore
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg *******
Agreed on financial advisers changing spots. The RD does not have to do anything to "implanted" the 2024 changes. All tax residents need to file tax returns. I have lost count of how many times I have posted this flyer from the RD. How much clearer do people need it.
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/FOREIGNERS_PAY_TAX2024.pdf
Greg ********
@Graham ******
You can post that flyer till you are blue in the face. I wager now a tiny % of foreigners who are technically tax resident in Thailand ie Retirees, who have not been submitting a tax return will submit one for the March 2025 deadline. Until it becomes tied to visa issuance etc I and sure hardly anyone will bother unless employed or has a business in Thailand. How many have a TIN? Do you have one?
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg *******
no, not yet, I have a plan B. This year I only brought in money which I proof I had prior to 1st jan. Next year I will sell a house with a massive capital gain, I am not even risking things so I will deliberately be non-resident and I will get the LTR probably. I do not post to scare people, just to get them to research their position and do risk assessment. The issues are how will they enforce these laws and for high networth individuals, what is the risk of being detected.
Greg ********
@Graham ******
High Net Worth individuals have real tax advice - not from an unregistered unqualified ex Financial Advisor 🙂 They will go same route as you - LTR is they want long term here depending if retired or not etc. Working here is different and there are options. As for others on non-O such as retirement or spousal visa I would wager less than 5% if they know about it are going to get a TIN and complete a tax return next year. I wager if I went into the bar in Pattaya where I watch the football and asked about it I would get baffled looks or guffaws. Until the Immigration and Tax Departments are working together I cannot foresee much take up. As for taxation on global incomes I also think that is a stretch. Yeah, the elite Thais are gong to vote on giving them taxes on earnings outside Thailand. Where is Thaksins money located these days? One person from the revenue department has mentioned drawing up proposals - where has any government minister said this is policy?
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg *******
lets wait and see on if and how they vote, remember there are external factors at play here "OECD"
Daniel *******
@Graham ******
Go somewhere with OECD 😃 Thai vote means nothing lol.....no country can vote and force another country to give personal tax information about own citizens lol :D
Greg ********
@Daniel ******
He is wandering now like Trump yesterday. Claiming the Digital Wallet is being filled with expat tax money. He has jumped the shark now. Full on ASEA Now delusion. The Leo & Chang Bar talk is full on
Greg ********
@Daniel ******
Try getting information out of Singapore for example. Thailand are both members of ASEAN but they do not have an extradition treaty lol - that is how far the trust goes.
Daniel *******
@Greg *******
Yea, this dude is claiming he knows it all, throwing words around, not understanding a single thing about those treaties and agreements. He really is bored old dude angry on people getting cool long term visas easily. I tried to educate him, but he does not want to even read description of the agreements he is mentioning. He is stubborn as a kangaroo :D
Greg ********
@Daniel ******
It seems he does not know about Thailand and Extradition Treaties either. To be honest I think you may be correct - he knows sweet FA about Thailand at the end of the day. Reads some marketing rubbish put out by dodgy financial advisors and wets the bed
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg *******
here is one part of what i picked up today, the part that are of importance. In this one casino's will be legalized.
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568e65a449ab3a62cca5e15de56&ei=20
Greg ********
@Graham ******
The discussion is about tax and taxation of global income. It is NOT about casinos or digital wallets. Why are you going off on a tangent? If you are lonely and need to chat go to a bar and talk to a tart for drinks
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg *******
the digital wallet is being filled with expat tax money.
Andy ************
@Graham ******
You really need to lay off the pipe. You've been pushing your bulls**t for months. No retired expat will be taxed, and any that are silly enough to file a tax return can just suck it up. I most certainly won't be as I don't want to waste the Tax Office time and resources. I don't have a single baht to pay in tax here so there's no point! Go suck up to your wonderful tax advisors who are just out touting for business. Look at this garbage:-
Greg ********
@Graham ******
More nonsense from you. Are you a complete fantasist making this up on your own or is it the bar talk in the Leo and Chang drinkers club you attend?
Daniel *******
@Greg *******
He also calls the DTV visa out, using different slurs, he despise it and people who have it. Pure jealousy out of old salty man. Suddenly he can't flex his whatever complex visa he was getting earlier 😃 They broke his toys and now he is angry haha
Greg ********
@Daniel ******
There are a few older expats a bit salty about the DTV - I do not know why. Mind you I know a few middle class Thai professionals not happy about it as well - think it is too lax
Daniel *******
@Greg *******
I always find it amusing when foreigners living in Thailand or Vietnam feel so entitled to criticize the rules and laws of those countries, as if they have any right to do so. I found that especially in Thailand do that a lot, thinking they own the country or what.
Greg ********
@Daniel ******
It tends to be a certain demographic. I have worked in a few countries and most the time the expat working professionals did not take much notice of what was going on locally unless a major drama. Work, get paid, have fun.
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg *******
I do not think Thailand has an extradition treaty with anyone.
Greg ********
@Graham ******
Well shows you how little you actually know then about the country you reside in. The UK Siam Extradition Treaty goes back to 1912. Thailand has extradition treaties with well over a dozen other countries "Currently, the following countries have extradition treaties with Thailand include Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, United States of America, and United Kingdom; Hungary and Russian Federation were recently added to this list..
Greg ********
@Graham ******
Next you will be telling us Soros, The Rothschilds and the WEF are pushing it!
Graham *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg *******
No I will not because they are not.
Greg ********
@Graham ******
Lets see how it works out in practice. I prefer using established tax experts. Check when that domain you are pushing was first registered. More bandwagon jumping than Russel Brand. These guys are tax experts - done my filing for the last 5 years. not registered a domain after tax announcements in late 2023
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