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.
Still Have Questions?
If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for after searching, don’t worry. Just submit your query at Ask a Question.
Tax Advisory Disclaimer
The information on this website is for informational purposes only and is not professional tax advice. For full details, please consult our complete Tax Advisory Disclaimer.
In Thailand, you might get a tax refund if you’ve paid more tax during the year than you actually owe. This is figured out when you calculate your yearly income and subtract any deductions or credits you’re allowed. To get a refund, you need to fill out an annual tax return with details of your income, deductions, and what you’ve already paid in taxes. The deductions and credits you can get, and how you file your tax return, depend on your own situation, like the income sources you receive and the allowances and deductions available to you. Keep good records of how much you earn, what taxes you pay, and keep your receipts for things you can deduct so you can back up your refund claim.
In Thailand, you can legally lower your taxes in a few ways. First off, you can invest into Thai tax saving structures like the Provident Fund, Government Pension Fund, or Retirement Mutual Fund, up to the allowed limits. Investing in Long-Term Equity Funds and Retirement Mutual Funds might also cut down your taxes, but there are rules about how long you must keep your money in them and how much you can put in. You can also reduce your taxes by claiming allowances for your family, like your children, parents, or spouse, and by deducting things like home loan interest and gifts to approved charities—just keep within the set boundaries. You can also take out Thai registered life or health insurance for you or your family members can give you extra tax deductions. Always make sure your tax strategies follow the Thai Revenue Department’s rules to ensure you remain fully compliant.
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
Yes. This is for the 61 Double Taxation Agreement countries in place. The is a tax credit system with these 61 countries
Learn more about Double Tax Agreements for expats in Thailand by watching our video here.
Yes. Gift tax rules are different to income tax rules. Gift tax rules states you may gift 20 million Thai Baht to family members (ascendants and descendants) and 10 million Thai Baht to anyone else wihtout gift tax. The gift tax rate starts at 5% over this. It is recommended that if you are to gift assets, you seek advice as it is more complicated than simply sending money to a third party. You need to ideally have evidence on file that this is a formal gift.
Learn more about Gifts and Taxation in Thailand