Question 1

If I stay in Thailand for less than 180 days in a year, do I need to file taxes?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

Generally, no. If you are not a Thai tax resident (fewer than 180 days), you are not subject to Thai tax obligations unless you have Thai-sourced income, such as Thai rental property income or a local salary.

Question 2

Do I still have to pay tax in Germany if I become a Thai tax resident?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

If you are classified as a Thai tax resident (spending 180+ days in Thailand), the income you remit to Thailand may be taxable. However, under the Germany–Thailand Double Taxation Agreement (DTA), certain income types such as pensions, employment income, and business profits are covered to prevent double taxation. The rules depend on the income type: German state pensions usually remain taxable in Germany, while private pensions and savings may become taxable in Thailand if remitted. For more information on the Thailand–Germany Double Tax Agreement and practical tax planning for German expats, check out our full webinar recording.

Question 3

Is the 180-day rule based on a calendar year or any 365-day period?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

It is strictly based on a calendar year (1 January–31 December). You may be a tax resident in one year but not in the next, depending on your number of days spent in Thailand.

Question 4

What happens if I did not file taxes in prior years while staying in Thailand on a DTV visa?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

If you qualified as a tax resident but did not file, you may need to file back tax returns. The Thai Revenue Department can audit filings going back 5 years, and in cases of suspected fraud, up to 10 years. Penalties include a surcharge of 1.5% per month on unpaid tax and fines of up to 200% of the tax owed. Our back tax filing service can help you get up to date and compliant.

Question 5

Do I need to register with the Thai Revenue Department if I have no income but stay over 180 days?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

Yes. If you are in Thailand for more than 180 days in a calendar year, you are considered a Thai tax resident. Even if you have no current income, you should still obtain a Tax ID Number to ensure compliance. If you later remit income into Thailand, you will already be registered and ready to file. If you need a hassle-free way to apply for a Thai TIN see our service here,

Question 6

How do I file taxes in Thailand as a DTV visa holder?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

As a DTV visa holder, you only file taxes if you’re a tax resident (staying 180+ days in a calendar year). First, you will need to get a Tax ID Number and then file an annual tax return in April of the following year. If you rent out a property overseas for income, you may also need to file a half-year return in September. We have more detailed information on the tax for DTV visa holders here

Question 7

What happens tax-wise if I exceed 180 days on DTV?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

If you stay over 180 days in a calendar year on a DTV visa, you become a tax resident. You must apply for a Tax ID Number and file an annual tax return. You pay personal income tax on income earned in Thailand and foreign income brought into Thailand. Double Taxation Agreements may offer credits to avoid paying tax twice. We recommend you speak to our team to fully understand your personal tax situation. Book a call, they will be happy to help.

Question 8

Can I work remotely for a foreign company without paying Thai taxes on DTV?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

Yes, you can work remotely for a foreign company on a DTV visa without paying Thai taxes if you stay less than 180 days in a calendar year. Non-residents only pay tax on Thai-sourced income. Remote work for a foreign employer is not Thai-sourced. However, if you stay 180 days or more, you become a tax resident and any foreign income brought into Thailand is taxable and you must file a return.

For more information on the DTV and tax, see our article here. If you would like to talk it through, book a call with our team.

Question 9

Can a DTV holder get a Thailand Tax ID?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

Yes, DTV visa holders can get a Thailand Tax ID Number (TIN). You need a TIN to file taxes if you become a tax resident by staying 180 days or more in a calendar year. You can apply for a TIN at your local Revenue Department office, or if you prefer to avoid the hassle, we offer a simple online process that can take care of it for you.

Question 10

Do digital nomads need to pay tax in Thailand?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

Digital nomads in Thailand, such as those holding a DTV visa, are required to pay tax if they are deemed tax residents. You become a tax resident by staying 180 days or more in a calendar year. Residents pay personal income tax on Thai-sourced income and foreign income brought into Thailand, like remote work earnings. For more information, we have a more detailed article on tax and the DTV visa here.

Question 11

How do I become a tax resident in Thailand as a DTV holder?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

You become a tax resident in Thailand as a DTV holder by staying 180 days or more in a calendar year. This can be in one stay or multiple visits. As a tax resident, you must apply for a Tax ID Number and file an annual tax return. We can help you with these, speak with our team for more information

Question 12

What are the tax implications if I stay more than 180 days on a DTV visa?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

If you stay over 180 days in a calendar year on a DTV visa, you become a tax resident. You must pay personal income tax on income earned in Thailand and foreign income brought into Thailand. This includes remote work salaries or freelance earnings. If you have to file, as a tax resident you will be entitled to fully claim Thai tax allowances Book a call with our team if you have further questions

Question 13

Do non-residents need to file a tax return?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

Non-residents (under 180 days) are not required to file unless they have Thai domestic income.

Question 14

What are the filing obligations for someone staying less than 180 days in Thailand?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

Foreign income remitted during non-residency (less than 180 days) is not taxable.

Question 15

Should my spouse and I file taxes jointly or separately?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

If one spouse has no income, you may file jointly and claim a 60,000 THB allowance for the non-earning spouse. If both have incomes, you must file separately.

Question 16

When do you become a Thai tax resident?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

A Thai tax resident is someone who spends 180 days or more in Thailand in the calendar year. Learn more about Thailand tax residency by listening to a short podcast here.

Question 17

How would any earnings prior to taking up residence in Thailand be treated? If I took up residence in 2025, would I only start to be taxed on capital gains earned in 2025 onwards?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

It depends on the type of structure you hold. Cash in the bank from previous tax years when you were a non-Thai tax resident is not assessable income. If it is an invesment fund then you would be liable for the capital gains on the investment fund, not from the date you moved to Thailand. In most cases there is no relief for when you were a non-tax resident. Please seek a 1-1 consultation to discuss specifics and before taking action.

Question 18

I am currently living in Australia and planning retirement in Thailand. If I sell all my assets in Australia and send the money to my Thai wife's and my own bank account in Thailand one year before I actually retire and live there, am I subject to tax? I will be sending all my money at one time, no income just cash?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

Before remitting large sums of money, please seek advice and a consultation before acting. In principle if you are a non-Thai tax resident, you can remit the assets to Thailand as a non-Thai tax resident, or just keep the money in an account in Australia. This can be remitted in the future as the ‘crystalisation event’ took place when you were a non-Thai tax resident. I recommend that you seek advice and clarity before acting. You may find our webinar on the Thailand-Australia Double Tax Treaty useful; you can watch it here.

Question 19

If you spend more than 180 days outside Thailand in a fiscal year and then transfer money into a Thai bank account, will these funds be considered non-resident and therefore tax-free?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

Being a non-tax resident depends on the amount of days you are in the country, but you have to be careful that you don’t accidentally become a tax resident in a jurisdication which could have a tax implication. If you are planning to become a non-tax resident and transfer assets to Thailand, I recommend you seek advice regarding where  you will remain for the rest of the year before doing so.

Question 20

To retire in Thailand permanently, I would have to be 100% certain that the sale of my house was not taxable as I would be paying Thai tax at 35%.

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

We need more context around this to give a definitive answer, but in principle you could sell the asset while you are a non-Thai tax resident. You need to check the DTA in place between the country where the house is situated and Thailand.

Question 21

What if you moved to Thailand, became a tax resident, obtained a Tax Identification Number (TIN), but then returned to Australia or stayed in Thailand for less than 180 days before going home for a year? If during this period you sold your home and then returned to Thailand later, would the sale of your home be taxable? Also, if you have a TIN and become a non-tax resident, earning foreign income and returning to Thailand in another calendar year, is the sale of your home considered taxable income?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

You can have a TIN and not be a tax resident in a following year correct.

Question 22

I have entered Thailand without a visa for 90 days via my apec travel card. I will be in Thailand for more than 180 days each year. Will the new tax laws also apply to this type of business entry? I’m not working in Thailand but have previously.nn

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

Being a Thai tax resident is dependant on the number of days you reside in Thailand, rather than your Visa status. If you remit foreign sourced income to Thailand and it’s over the minimum requirements, you may have to file and you may have a tax liability.nn

Question 23

How long can I stay in Thailand without paying tax on foreign sourced income sent to Thailand?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

If you remain in Thailand for 180 days or more in a year, you are considered a Thai tax resident. As a Thai tax resident, you are liable for income tax on foreign sourced income remitted to Thailand. Learn more about Thailand tax residency by listening to a short podcast here.

Question 24

How do I become a tax resident in Thailand?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

To become a tax resident in Thailand, an individual must be present for a total of 180 days or more in a calendar year. This establishes the individual's liability for paying taxes on foreign-sources income remitted to Thailand. It's crucial for prospective tax residents to accurately track their days in the country and to familiarise themselves with Thailand's tax regulations, including the need to file an annual income tax return if their remitted income exceeds the minimum threshold. Learn more about Thailand tax residency by listening to a short podcast here.

Question 25

If I’m in Thailand for less than 180 days per calendar year, is there still tax to pay on funds remitted into my Thai bank account?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

If you are in Thailand for under 180 days per calendar year, you are a non-tax resident and you do not have to file a Thai tax return for foreign-sourced income. If you have income within Thailand, you may need to still file a return. Learn more about Thailand tax residency by listening to a short podcast here.

Question 26

I became a tax resident last year and will probably be one this year. I tried to contact Thailand Revenue Department to get a tax ID for any money I earned. They are insistent that I need a work permit?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

You can get a tax ID number (TIN) regardless of whether you have a work permit or not, and you need to file if you have over TBH120,000 of income in tax year, regardless whether you have a work permit or not. If people would like help with this we have a paid service to obtain on their behalf.

Question 27

How does the Thai Revenue Department deal with income that is earned in a year when the taxpayer is not a tax resident, but which is remitted into Thailand in a year when the expatriate is a taxable resident?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

Income from years when one is not a tax resident can be remitted into Thailand anytime in the future. Individuals are only liable for tax on assets that are remitted to Thailand when you are a tax resident. It is advised to keep very good records to prove this if asked in the future.

Question 28

If one spends 175 days in Thailand per year, do they need to pay tax in Thailand?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

If you do not spend 180 days or more in Thailand per year, you are considered a non-Thai tax resident. Foreign-sourced income that is remitted into Thailand is not a taxable asset. However, if you have an income in Thailand, you are liable for tax. Learn more about Thailand tax residency by listening to a short podcast here.

Question 29

When should you apply to become a Thai tax resident?

Chas Begley · Accepted Answer

You are a Thai tax resident if you remain 180 or more days a calendar year. You do not need to apply for a Thai Tax ID number if you do not have Thai tax liability. If you do have income over THB120,000 in a calendar year remitted to Thailand, then you need to file a tax return and will need to get a Tax ID Number (TIN) You can get this from your local revenue office. If people would like help with this we have a paid service to obtain on their behalf. Learn more about Thailand tax residency by listening to a short podcast here.

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