@Ant ******

everywhere (as I have ever known) your visa class or even no visa is irrelevant for the initial 2 year license.

For sure Chiang Mai doesnt need any visa, brother did one last year while on a visa exempt.

@John *********

which ones wont issue a driving license ?? Obtaining a residence cert can be difficult in some provinces, in which case you can fall back on getting an embassy letter, but all provinces should issue 2 year licenses to all visa classes.

The 5 year license is a different story, not all offices issue those on a DTV.

You can obtain a license even on a visa exempt stamp.

There is no visa class restriction on the first 2 year licenses at all.

@Qi *******

you pay taxes on funds you remit to the kingdom any year you live here over 180 days..

Tax residency has no bearing on where your income source is.. It is also entirely possible to be tax resident in Thailand, and not in your home or passport country, while paying zero tax. I do and have done for years.

I am a cross border tax specialist.. Thailands loopholes are a large reason I am here.

@Qi *******

no they don't need to

That can operate a non Thai / offshore business, eg a USA LLC or a Hong Kong ltd while in Thailand on a DTV

Which of the 60ish DTAs are you even talking about ?

And as someone who deals with EU/UK/(rarely)USA DTAs on a daily basis, I can says between those ones, and the OECD standard, that is categorically not true.

One country may retain sole or primary taxation rights, but taxation rights does not preclude dual filing.

Anonymous participant 600 You keep saying this, and it is simply incorrect.

The DTA may protect you having a tax obligation, it does not protect you from a filing obligation.

Correct it is a remittance based system. But you have to remit something to live on I presume.

Legally if you are here over 180 days there is a filing obligation, but its not currently well enforced.

@Jack *******

the remitted assessable income is what you must file.. That is clearly spelled out in the revenue code what is income and what isnt.

However you slice it the 'I dont have to file, my income is tax paid elsewhere and theres a DTA' is simply not the facts. You may not owe anything, thanks to DTA protections, but that is established when you file (with proof). Not just on a 'I dont think I owe anything' basis.