I read "I was in Thailand for 6 months doing visa runs and never overstayed. Everything was in rule"

Do you really think 6 months back to back visa run is in order and normal tourist use?

I think you are lucky you did not get stopped before.

I think in your case some patience is needed and then apply for DTV if you are remote worker or can afford to pay for soft power activity long time.

I would not take that risk, they can see from where he applies.

Anonieme deelnemer 413 I drove my car a hundred times over the local speedlimit and got never fined, does that mean there are no speed checks?

@Iven *******

It is counting for a calendar year, but 180 days is just a bit less than half a year, 1 July 2026 till 31 December 2026 is 184 days, 1 January 2027 til 31 June 30 2027 is 181 days, so when you stay eaxactly 1 year this way, you will be taxable for 2026 and 2027.

So you have to be careful for exact dates to prevent any risk.

And as far as I could read 180 days a year is taxable, so don't stay longer than that in any calendar year.

These small differences is also a common cause for people overstaying a few days.

When you not as you explain not come to Thailand for soft power activity and not have a remote job, DTV just is not working.

It looks to me IO thinks you not here in Thailand for normal tourist use, which is correct because border runs are not normal tourist behaviour, but as long as you have a valid tourist visa, and a valid ticket outside within 60 days, you might get questions, but normally they will permit you entry.

On visa exempt this is more difficult.

But I guess you know self the best for what reasons you are in Thailand, and when you don;t want to have too much questions, you should choose the visa for that purpose.

@Iven *******

How dangerous tax-evasion is in Thailand is difficult to tell.

Opinions if you are obliged to file tax return as soon as you are tax resident differ.

Personally I think that when you are tax resident, but don't have to pay tax because of an existing DTA between your country and Thailand excluding the brought in money from Thai tax or you can prove you had the brought in money before 1-1-2024, you might not have a big risk although I think technically they can fine you because you did not file the tax return.

My Thai girlfriend says a lot of Thai also simply do not file and never have problems, but I think that cannot be a guarantee they never will do for foreigners.

@John ********

if you become tax resident in a year it does not matter if that money was brought in before you reached day 180, all money brought in in such a year counts. The fact it is taxed before is not excluding it from Thai tax, that depends on DTA. If you can prove you earned the money before 1-1-2024 it is not taxeable. When you sell collectables you should be careful, it can be seen as work. Looking for legal ways to prevent tax paying is not forbidden of course, but you are suggesting illegal ways by trying to bring in money in a way it might be difficult to trace and just don't file a tax return.

Anonieme deelnemer 413 Sure there will be checks every now and then, why should they not check people with DTV visa?

Anonieme deelnemer 413 and also for softpower calculate the cost of training for the periods you plan to be in Thailand.

Chances you will be checked when you enter the country are not high, but when you get checked while not having any soft power activity it might cause problems.

@John ********

bringing money in while you are tax resident without tax return is just illegal, you are suggesting things to do so authorities might not see, so I guess you know for yourself it is illegal.

And since you are not a digital nomad I suppose you have choosen the soft power option for DTV which implies you bring in money to Thailand, what in fact every DTV holder does to live in the country.