Hello,

With a Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa, and no incomes in Thailand, do I need to get a Tax Identification Number (TIN) and fill a tax return?

Thanks

LTR question (if an income tax on 2024 expat remittances into Thailand isn't delayed).

If after living in Thailand six years, an expat receives an approved Pension LTR in September 2024, does the LTR tax-free exemption take place in:

1) the tax year beginning January 2025?

2) the tax year beginning January 2024?

3) beginning September 2024 (pay tax on remittances from January to August of the 2024 income tax year)?

The answer could be beginning tax year 2025, but the LTR tax exemption wording is a bit vague.

I messaged BOI and they replied:

"According to the Royal Decree, governing reduction of Tax rate and exemption of Taxes (No.743) 2022, Section 5 : Income tax shall be exempted for foreigners have been granted a Long-term resident visa derived in the previous tax year from employment, or from business carried on abroad, or from a property situated abroad, and brought into Thailand.

However, regarding the Tax matter you are advised to contact the Revenue department for more details."

From what I have heard many local Revenue department offices have not had a chance to become familiar with the LTR and might not yet be able to help.

Text from decree:

"Section 5 Income tax under Part 2 of Chapter 3 in Title 2 of the Revenue Code shall be exempted for a foreigner categorised as Wealthy Global Citizen, Wealthy Pensioner, or Work­from-Thailand Professional who is granted a Long-Term Resident Visa under immigration law for assessable income under section 40 of the Revenue Code derived in the previous tax year from an employment, or from business carried on abroad, or from a property situated abroad, and brought into Thailand." (Strange that here, it only mentions employment, business and property income.)

Also note that this next section says that the exemption is suspended in the tax year that you do not comply with exemption rules.

"Section 7 In the case that a foreigner has applied tax reduction or exemption under this Royal Decree, and later does not comply with rules prescribed in Section 3, Section 4, Section 5, and Section 6 in any tax year, benefits will be suspended in that tax year."

So a bit odd... if you have the exemption, you are suspended effective in the current tax year but when receiving the exemption, it is not effective as of the current tax year.

Thailand Taxes.

It is my understanding that anyone who stays in Thailand a total 180 day (could be multiple times) during the tax year and brings money to Thailand or puts money into at Thai Bank must get a tax ID and file at Thailand tax return.

If your country has a double tax agreement with Thailand you can get a tax exemption.

Does anyone have any idea how the tax exemption will work and what documents you will need to provide?

Will Thailand charge you a tax if they don't think you paid enough tax on the money you brought into Thailand?

Some money in the US are tax exempt so how will the Thai government decide whether the money I brought into Thailand was taxed or not?

We call the Thailand Revenue Department and we're not able to get any answers.

I'm not willing to provide Thailand all my financial information. At transcript of my US tax return is all I would be willing to provide.

Remote work question for LTR visa holders:

The Canadian company I'm attempting to work remotely for is looking for proof that the LTR allows you to work remotely from Thailand, tax-exempt, and allows them to keep me employed like a normal Canadian citizen without doing anything special to accommodate me legally.

Beyond the LTR website ([members only]/) I'm not sure what else I can provide them. Anyone use any other website or source to provide this proof?

Thanks in advance! 🙏

Need advice. I’m on a renewable one year guardian visa. Am I eligible to tax exemption for my moves re furniture and personal belongings. I have been told by some movers that relocation tax exemption is only for people with a proper work visa? Any experience and advise to share will be much appreciated. Thank you.