Expat Tax: Frequently Asked Questions

No you do not have to file a tax return for non-assessable income.

Pensions are taxed on income, not gains on the pension structure. This is subject to how much income has been remitted, if tax has been paid on this elsewhere and if there is a DTA in place. If there is no DTA, Thailand has the full right to tax any remittance as income, and there is no credit to be given due to no DTA in place.

You must check the Danish DTA for that specific type of pension. If there are no special rules to say that it is not taxable, then it is potentially taxable in Thailand. If the tax you paid in Denmark is considerably higher than the tax rate in Thailand, you may not need to pay anymore, as the DTA is there to protect you against paying more than the tax rate of your own country. Even if there is noextra tax to pay, it is likely you will still have to file a tax return.

You can read the Thailand-Denmark DTA here

In the Australian-Thai DTA, bothvivil service and military pensions are exempt from tax in Thailand.

For more information on the Australia-Thailand DTA and other tax planning information for Australians watch our webinar here. 

This is untrue. If the pension is transferred or remitted into Thailand, there is potentially a tax obligation depending on the specific DTA.

Learn more about Double Tax Agreements for expats in Thailand by watching our video here. 

You will have to file a tax return, but with your allowances and deductions, its likely you won’t have a tax obligation. We can file this for you with our essential tax filing. Here is more information.

Veterens pensions are classed as government pensions. Both Social Security and government pensions are excluded from Thai income tax due to the Double Taxation Agreement. You don’t need to file a Thai tax return or get a Tax ID number

Certain types of pensions in different countries, such as government or civil service pensions, are not taxable in Thailand, depending on the DTA. UK Army pensions are not taxable in Thailand.

Correct, the UK/Thai DTA shows that government services and government pensions are not taxable in Thailand and only in the UK.

In the US DTA, it specifically states that US government and military pensions are not taxable in Thailand. 401k and similar accounts, however, are taxable in Thailand. You can use any tax paid on them as tax credit if they are remitted to Thailand.

Potentially, yes. This is dependent on the tax rate in the UK and if it was remitted into Thailand. State and private pensions in the UK are taxable in Thailand, but you can use tax already paid as a credit. Even if your tax rate is high in the UK, and even if there is no tax to pay in Thailand for your situation, you will still have to file a tax return.

Learn more about Double Tax Agreements for expats in Thailand by watching our video here. 

The most important factors are how much tax you have paid, and how much have you received. You must calculate the net and gross and consider how much of that was sent to Thailand. You can then use that tax amount to deduct as a credit. It is not as straightforward as just considering a 20% tax rate: you must work out your net and gross from what was actually taxed. You cannot use your UK allowances, you get a Thai tax allowance. You will likely have to file a tax return in Thailand. There could be tax to pay in Thailand depending on the taxable income amount and your existing tax credits.

Learn more about Double Tax Agreements for expats in Thailand by watching our video here. 

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.

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.

UK state pensions are taxable in Thailand if remitted. However, the exact tax treatment depends on the amount remitted due to Thailand’s allowances and deductions, which could mean you have to file but not have tax to pay. If you have less than THB220,000 remitted in a calendar year and are married, or less than THB120,000 if you are single, you do not need to file a Thai tax return for your UK state pension. If it is above these limits then you do, regardless if you have tax to pay or not. 

Yes this is correct, Canadian pensions are not taxable in Thailand and do not need to be filed on a tax return. You still keep your 120k limit

My interpretation is that you do not remit any pension funds from Switzerland. If you do not remit or transfer foreign-sourced income into Thailand, then you do not need to file a tax return.

If you remain in Thailand for 180 days or more in a calendar year, retired expats are classes as Thai tax residents. Depending on the source of income for anything remitted to Thailand, they could be liable for taxes in Thailand.

You can find out more about tax residency rules in Thailand by listening to a short podcast here. 

Starting in 2024, Thailand requires foreign retirees who are tax residents (those staying more than 179 days in a year) to pay taxes on foreign-earned income remitted to Thailand, with rates ranging from 0% to 35% based on the progressive personal income tax scale. This change, which includes pensions, may see taxes levied on these incomes, although Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs) between Thailand and many countries can mitigate this, potentially meaning any tax already paid can be credited against any income tax due. Notably, income accumulated in savings in the bank before moving to Thailand won’t be taxed if it was before the individual became a tax resident. Given the complexity of these new regulations, it’s advisable for foreign retirees to consult with tax professionals to navigate these changes efficiently and ensure compliance with Thai tax laws.

You can find out more about Thailand’s tax rates, allowances and deductions here or if you prefer to listen to a short podcast here

If the money is remitted from pre-2024 savings, it doesn’t need to be declared or filed because it is not a taxable income source. The notable amendment in Order No. P.162/2023 is the clarification added to the first item of Order No. P.161/2023, which stipulates that the new taxation rule does not affect income earned before 2024. This specific exemption provides a transitional period for taxpayers, allowing them to adapt to the new system without the worry of retrospective taxation.

You can learn more about pre-2024 savings in relation to Thailand’s foreign-source income tax by listening to a short podcast here.

You will have to file a tax return, as this is over the single filing limit of THB120k and the married filing limit of THB220k.

This doesn’t mean you have to pay tax. It depends on your other allowances and deductions.

You can find out more about Thailand’s tax rates, allowances and deductions here or if you prefer to listen to a short podcast here

UK defined contribution pensions  are assessable income in Thailand if remitted. You can use any UK tax paid as a credit.

UK defined benefit company pension are assessable income in Thailand if remitted. (You can use any tax paid as a credit.

An Australian Veterans’ Affairs Disability Pension is typically classified as a government pension.  This type of pension is paid by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)  It is distinct from superannuation or private retirement pensions as it serves as compensation for service-related injuries rather than retirement income.

In the context of Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs), a Veterans’ Affairs Disability Pension is typically regarded as a government pension. Our understanding is this is not taxable in Thailand under the Aus / Thai DTA.

You may find our webinar on the Thailand-Australia Double Tax Treaty useful; you can watch it here. 

Both your state pension And private pensions are classed as assessable income If you transfer To Thailand. You will likely have To file a tax return. Our Assisted Tax Filing Service will help you to claim the tax credits for tax paid In the UK. This is called assisted tax filing. Click here to learn about foreign sourced assessable income.

Thai tax residents are liable for tax on foreign sourced income if remitted to Thailand. From January 1, 2024, new tax rules apply to income from outside Thailand. If you’re a Thai tax resident and you bring in more than 120,000 THB (or 220,000 THB for married couples) from foreign retirement income to Thailand, you will need to file a Thai tax return. You do get Thai allowances and deductions, and can potentially use tax paid on that retirement income as a tax credit against tax owed in Thailand, but this depends on the specific DTA between the jurisdication where your retirement pension is based and Thailand.

Learn more about tax filing requirements for expats in Thailand by listening to this short podcast. 

Yes, UK pensions are subject to taxation in Thailand if you are a Thai Tax resident, which is defined as someone living in Thailand for 180 days or more in a calendar year. Thailand taxes residents on foreign sourced income remitted to Thailand. This includes UK pensions. If you transfer the UK pension to Thailand it is taxable. However, there is a double taxation agreement (DTA) between the UK and Thailand, which aims to prevent the same income from being taxed in both countries. This agreement may allow for some relief or exemptions, depending on the nature of the pension and other individual circumstances. It is advisable to consult with a tax professional to understand how the DTA applies to your specific situation and to ensure compliance with both UK and Thai tax laws. If it is a State pension or private pension, these are both taxable in Thailand. You can use any tax paid already as a credit against any tax owed in Thailand.

Learn more about Double Tax Agreements for expats in Thailand by watching our video here. 

It does not matter what year the funds are remitted, but rather if you were a Thai tax resident when the income was earned. If you are a Thai tax resident in 2024 with UK income that is not remitted to Thailand, and you remit it in 2026, then it is potentially taxable in Thailand.

If you are a Thai tax resident, it is only remittance that becomes assessable. If funds are left overseas, they are not taxed in Thailand. However, if funds are remitted into Thailand, it is potentially taxable. There are no exemptions for pensions for pre-2024 values. You can find detailed guidance on what constitutes assessable income here. 

This is assessable income. Its likely with your allowances and deductions you will have a little of no tax to pay. We can help you file this with our ‘Essential tax filing’ which is THB7,500 per year.

For more information for Australians watch our webinar here. 

The UK state pension is considered assessable income in Thailand if remitted. You can use any tax paid as a credit.

The LTR Wealthy pensioner VISA has a royal decree exemption from foreign sourced income. You still have to file, but it’s a different form you have to complete, which has just been added to the revenue’s website. The good news is that US government pensions and social security are not taxable in Thailand.

You can learn more about the tax benefits of Thailand’s Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa here. 

If you were a Thai tax resident when the income was paid into the account, then if you remit this into Thailand at any time in the future, this is liable for income tax in the year it is remitted. This started from 1st January 2024 onwards.

You will have to file a tax return, but with your allowances and deductions, its likely you won’t have a tax obligation. We can file this for you with our essential tax filing. Here is more information.

Yes the Wealthy Pensioner LTR is exempt from foreign sourced income if remitted the following tax year.