Thai revenue tax for farang residents

[SubCmdr]

EverythingThai,

Thank you for your informed, detailed and precise information on the evolving tax situation here in Thailand. I prefer reading your posts than the individuals who are running scared based on rumors being proffered on YouTube.

Once again, thanks!

[Explorer8939]

Then why are you scared to stay here more than 6 months this year?

The purpose of this topic is to educate people about the new tax proposals.

Your question has nothing of value for people concerned about Thai taxation. Let's see if you can control yourself and stick to the topic.

[Huacho]

There is a 180 day residence requirement for any country to claim you as a tax resident.

Man, that's impressive! 195 countries in the world and you know the residence requirements for all 195! Amazing!

[Explorer8939]

Then why are you scared to stay here more than 6 months this year?

Sometimes lax enforcement results in a temporary crackdown.

I'm going to give it a year to see how this works out, and if mass numbers of Farangs file tax returns in 2025.

[EverythingThai]

You are asking me to bet on enforcement by a country that can't enforce motorcycle helmet laws?

I am just reporting the news here, I don't believe what they promise to do.

Then why are you scared to stay here more than 6 months this year?

[XXL]

There is a 180 day residence requirement for any country to claim you as a tax resident.

Widespread myth. Requirements vary from country to country. Countries that have a unambiguous 180-day requirement are in the minority.

For example the UK reserve the right to claim anyone staying more than two weeks in the UK as a tax resident. Countries like Belgium and France apply the "center of life interests" principle, whatever that means. And so on and so forth.

https://www.internationalhradviser.com/storage/downloads/Taxing%20Issues%20Expatriate%20Myths.pdf

[Explorer8939]

Scare mongering. Wait and see. Will you take me up on that bet I offered?

You are asking me to bet on enforcement by a country that can't enforce motorcycle helmet laws?

I am just reporting the news here, I don't believe what they promise to do.

[EverythingThai]

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business...s-in-the-works

It gets worse.

Scare mongering. Wait and see. Will you take me up on that bet I offered?

[EverythingThai]

I have asked many times how TRD will monitor inbound cash flows, and have been assured that they will "see" ATM transactions, Credit Card transactions, and bank transfers, and link those to you so you can't escape.

So. I know many bar girls who live off sponsorship with some Farang sending them big bucks so they stop work. Why isn't TRD pursuing those rather large incoming transactions?

Domyou think think the new law was made just for foreigners. You are sadly mistaken. That is actually one of the reasons the old law was made stronger. To go after Thais. They could care less about guys like you. Do you think the banks and the Revenue Dept will be as organized and link as easy as you think? While you are busy bouncing in and out of Thailand paying more money in travel than what you would ever have to pay due to the double tax agreement with your country and Thailand, the rest of us will be having fun spending our money.

Did you even know that the pension from your home country is most likely already exempt from tax in Thailand? Therefore, you are worrying about this because why? You think you will have to file and that is what scares you. Did you read the DTA between Thailand and your home country. Go to read it and come back here to ask questions. I will be happy to answer them for you.


On a side note, wait till you hear this. You wont be able to sleep for a whole week. Three clients of mine were refused tax IDs in Udon Thani at the revenue dept. The officer said they dont need one. How does that grab you ?

Then you have the foreign tax lawyer on you tube last week charging 7000 Baht to get the same tax ID. They do them for him because he gives the officer halpg the money. We do them for 2000 Baht and only for people who are newly hired in a job.

[Explorer8939]

It seems that the LTR visa is the only game in town for those bent on staying more than 180 days in TH per year.

Barring an LTR visa, understaying the 180 days is the safest option to avoid TH tax, though this will usually mean you technically become a tax resident nowhere. This can backfire if a country where you stay only a few months - or your home country - claims you as a tax resident by default. I'm especially talking here about people who have used TH as a tax haven "tax residence", not about people who've been taxed at source outside TH all along.

There is a 180 day residence requirement for any country to claim you as a tax resident.

[Explorer8939]

Bingo! You've hit the nail right on the head.

If people would just stop catastrophizing, read up and research a little themselves from reliable sources, and NOT listen to the garbage posted on internet forums, people would realise nothing will change.

As is normal for Thailand don't listen to what the government says it is going to do, just act on what they do actually do. These are often two vastly different propositions.

I have asked many times how TRD will monitor inbound cash flows, and have been assured that they will "see" ATM transactions, Credit Card transactions, and bank transfers, and link those to you so you can't escape.

So. I know many bar girls who live off sponsorship with some Farang sending them big bucks so they stop work. Why isn't TRD pursuing those rather large incoming transactions?

[XXL]

It seems that the LTR visa is the only game in town for those bent on staying more than 180 days in TH per year.

Barring an LTR visa, understaying the 180 days is the safest option to avoid TH tax, though this will usually mean you technically become a tax resident nowhere. This can backfire if a country where you stay only a few months - or your home country - claims you as a tax resident by default. I'm especially talking here about people who have used TH as a tax haven "tax residence", not about people who've been taxed at source outside TH all along.

[Stykler]

Foreigners are blowing this all out of proportion.

Bingo! You've hit the nail right on the head.

If people would just stop catastrophizing, read up and research a little themselves from reliable sources, and NOT listen to the garbage posted on internet forums, people would realise nothing will change.

As is normal for Thailand don't listen to what the government says it is going to do, just act on what they do actually do. These are often two vastly different propositions.

[Explorer8939]

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business...s-in-the-works

It gets worse.

[EverythingThai]

Maybe this could be the thread where to discuss the matter rather than "polluting" the mongering ones.

I believe lots of residents night be able to elaborate and other might have questions too.

For my 2 cents worth. Foreigners are blowing this all out of proportion. The 180 day rule that qualifies the expat as a tax resident has always been in place and has never been enforced. Then they change the accessible income to include funds brought into Thailand in the year you became a tax resident that were earned in a previous tax year and many began to lose their minds. If they decided to apply for a tax ID and were granted one, most would not pay 1 baht because of there double tax agreements between Thailand and their respective countries. My take is this: There will still be no enforcement and life will continue to go on as normal for all expats who live in Thailand. Immigration can't be bothered to insist on proof of personal income taxbeing filed in Thailand for retirees. Why? It's just too much work and they will also lose a lot of income, wink wink.