Expat Tax: Frequently Asked Questions
Thank you for visiting our Thailand Expat Tax FAQ page. We answer questions received from expats, anonymised for privacy, to help others navigate the new tax rules.
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If it can be proven that the work was done overseas, and the salary is not from work conducted in Thailand, then you can justify that it is not liable for tax in Thailand. However, if the work was conducted whilst living and working in Thailand, then it is potentially taxable in Thailand.
Yes, withdrawals from a Roth IRA remitted to Thailand are treated as pension income. The entire amount remitted, not just the gains, is considered taxable income.
No, proceeds from selling an asset in a non-Thai tax year are not taxable in Thailand, provided the sale occurred while you were not a Thai tax resident.
Thailand currently uses a remittance-based tax system. You will only be taxed if you sell the crypto in a Thai tax year, realise a gain, and remit the proceeds to Thailand.
You can read more about cryptocurrency taxation here.
For Thai tax residents, capital gains are calculated based on the gains realised when selling assets. This applies regardless of whether the investments were held before 2024. It does not follow the “cash in the bank” rule.
It is calculated on the date it arrives in Thailand (the initial date received in your account); the currency is irrelevant, it is the date the funds are remitted and received in Thailand.
If you transfer your investments to Thailand, you may be subject to capital gains tax. Any tax already paid can potentially be used as a credit against the tax owed in Thailand. Remitting funds to Thailand from investments would classify as an assessable income source.
If it can be proven that the work was done overseas, and the salary is not from work conducted in Thailand, then you can justify that it is not liable for tax in Thailand. However, if the work was conducted whilst living and working in Thailand, then it is potentially taxable in Thailand.
The Canadian / Thai DTA is quite favourable for Thai tax residents. Pensions are only taxable in Canada and for investment capital gains you can use any tax paid in Canada as a credit.
You cannot avoid or change the jurisdiction you want to be taxed if you are a Thai tax resident, and you have overseas assets. For example, a UK pensioner cannot easily get an NT tax code while being a Thai tax resident, meaning tax will usually be deducted at the source in the UK. If you then transfer funds into Thailand, it’s taxable, but you can potentially use any tax paid as a credit against taxes owed in Thailand.
Yes, in Thailand, tax residents must pay taxes on their foreign-sourced income remitted to Thailand. This means if you’re considered a tax resident in Thailand—defined as someone who spends 180 days or more in the country in a calendar year—you must include your income from abroad in your annual tax return and pay Thai taxes on it. However, to avoid double taxation (paying taxes on the same income in both Thailand and the country where the income was earned), Thailand has tax treaties with many countries that allow for tax credits or exemptions. It’s important to consult a tax professional to understand how these treaties may apply to your situation and to ensure compliance with Thai tax laws while maximising available benefits.
You can learn more about Thailand’s new rules on foreign-sourced income here.
Not everything that is transferred into Thailand is taxed. Only assets that are classed as foreign-sourced income are liable to tax.
Not everything that is transferred into Thailand is taxed. Only assets that are classed as foreign-sourced income are liable to tax.