@David *********

Where did I ever say that one doesn’t need to pay taxes in Thailand if the difference in the rate taxed there is higher, or that one never has to file a tax return in Thailand? You’re blatantly putting words in my mouth, which, sadly, has become all too typical of bitter expats here in Thailand. Instead of contributing meaningfully, you’re cherry-picking irrelevant examples and completely disregarding the original poster’s situation.

Most people don’t live off long-term capital gains. They rely on regular jobs with salaries that are already taxed at 30% or more, depending on the state and city they reside in. For the majority of Americans earning typical income, there would be no additional tax owed in Thailand. It’s really that simple.

Furthermore, your claims about long-term capital gains are incorrect. If you want to be precise (which you’re clearly not), long-term capital gains in the US are taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on income level, filing status, and other factors. So not only are you misinformed, but you’re also presenting your argument in bad faith. Address the facts instead of twisting words and providing misleading information.

@David *********

I’m misinformed? - Talk about irony. If you’re going to call someone out for being misinformed, at least back it up with details and evidence to prove your point. You’ve done none of that. Where did I ever claim that the DTA isn’t about tax credits? I’ve said repeatedly that the whole point of the DTA is to prevent double taxation—end of story.

If you’ve already paid your taxes in the US on income earned there, you won’t have to pay taxes in Thailand. Why? Because US-sourced income is taxed by the IRS, often at rates as high as 35-40%, leaving no additional tax liability in Thailand. And yes, this effectively absolves you from paying Thai taxes on that income.

What’s the actual difference between getting a tax credit and saying you don’t owe taxes in Thailand? There isn’t one—the result is exactly the same: you don’t pay taxes in Thailand on income that’s already been taxed in the US. It’s a simple concept. Honestly, people like you love to overcomplicate things and argue for no reason. At the end of the day, US citizens can’t be taxed twice on the same income. End of story.

People act like Thais don’t overstay their visas when abroad, but it happens frequently. The percentage of Thais who overstayed their US visas last year was nearly 2%. Not high, but not low either.

@Bullock ********

Welcome to my blocked list, asshole.

@Bullock ********

Classic response from a clueless troll who bought into the fear-mongering about being taxed in Thailand. You’ve clearly fallen for it and now you’re parroting nonsense to justify your ignorance—exactly what those spreading the fear rely on to profit off people like you.

@Luit ****************

US taxes are among the highest in the world, especially if you live in a state or city with state income taxes—definitely higher than Thailand. So let me make it clear again: it doesn’t matter what type of Thai visa you have or how long you stay in Thailand. If you’re earning income in the US, you must pay all your taxes in the US. No exceptions, no special circumstances.

The tax treaty between the US and Thailand exists to ensure you’re not taxed more than the highest rate of either country, which, in this case, is unquestionably the US. Since OP is American and has already paid taxes in full on US-earned income, there’s no need to worry about paying taxes in Thailand. It’s that simple. Stop overanalyzing and looking for complexities where none exist.

@Jay ******

To be clear, if someone earns income in the US as a US resident, there are no circumstances under which they would have to pay taxes in Thailand, regardless of their visa type or how long they stay in the country. Whether they are a tax resident in Thailand only matters in terms of potentially needing to show proof that they’ve paid taxes in the US.

@Bullock ********

Please enlighten us, genius. You’ve contributed absolutely nothing to this conversation, yet here you are mouthing off about double taxation. Clearly, you’ve never bothered to read up on the topic because, as I’ve already explained, the double taxation agreement between Thailand and the US exists specifically to prevent individuals from being taxed on the same income by both countries. Maybe do some research before pretending to know what you’re talking about.

@Luit ****************

Not in the case of the US. If you earn income in the US while living in Thailand full-time, *regardless of visa type*, you will never owe taxes in Thailand on that income. Anyone claiming otherwise is misinformed and doesn’t understand how taxes work.

So, like, is Thailand worth it?