Do I pay income tax if I work out side Thailand?

Expert Info

Posted by

on 7 Feb 2013

Hello,

Could you help me please? I am hoping to bring my family to Thailand and send my children to an international school.

My wife and children would stay in Thailand for 9 or 10 months of the year while I would fly in fly out to Australia for work.

I would spend less than 180 days in Thailand each year and would not be working at all in Thailand. I would however like to give up my Australian Residency as I would only be in Australia for work purposes which my accountant tells me would exempt me from income taxes in Australia.

Would I be required under these circumstances to pay any Income based taxes to the Thai Government and if so at what rate? Thank you for your time on this matter.

Kind Regards Jim

Anonymous (not verified) on 12 Feb 2013 - 13:47

Hi Jim,

From what I understand if you are in Thailand for less than 180 days a year, you are not considered a resident. If you were to earn any money in Thailand you would be taxed on that income but not on your worldwide income.

As you would be in Australia for the majority of the year, I think you would be considered Australian. Usually you would be required to pay taxes in the country where your income is derived from and where you spend most of the year.

As this is rather a technical issue and needs to be judged on a case by case basis, it may be a good idea to consult an international tax specialist.

The Expat Arrivals pages on Banking and Taxes in Thailand may also be of some use to you.

Best of luck.

Shantalie

Anonymous (not verified) on 13 Feb 2013 - 06:53

Hi Jim,

Thailand has agreements with a number of Western countries to prevent expats being taxed in both places.

However, to be considered a resident of Thailand you need to be in the country for more than 180 days of the year.

If you are in Thailand for less than that, you will still be considered a resident in Australia and liable of taxes there.

Shantalie

Anonymous (not verified) on 13 Feb 2013 - 06:37

Thanks Very much Shantalie, yea it's hard to know where I stand on this one. I find that I'm under a large amount of financial stress in Australia and the tax department is killing me. My accountant said if I "reside" in another country and fly in for work I can give up my residency here and stop being robbed by the Aus tax man. But there is no point in such a move if I get stung in the new country. I know people will say pay the tax its your duty but I'm trying to help my father who lost most of his retirement fund in a government compulsory super fund and keep my own family afloat at the same time. Thanks again for your help Jim

Anonymous (not verified) on 15 Jun 2013 - 18:34

I know I am a little late to this discussion, however. Is your wife Thai? and if not, what visa will she be on? If you are not planning on declaring residency in Thailand, then what visa will you be on, that will allow you stay for almost 6 months of the year? After you have worked out your visa issue, then how will you show the Thai government that you have enough money to make the monthly income?

Anonymous (not verified) on 15 Jul 2013 - 13:11

Hi Anon,

Your status as a taxpayer in Thailand will depend on how many days you are in the country during the tax year.

You are considered nonresident if you've been in the country for less than 180 years if the year. If this is the case you will only be taxed on income derived from Thailand but not your worldwide income.

You did not say where you were from ? Many Western countries have signed treaties with Thailand to avoid double taxation for their citizens living in Thailand.

It is advisable to enlist the services of Thai financial advisor to help with file your taxes, as forms are not in in English which makes things quick tricky for expats .

For more information check out the Banking, Money and Taxes in Thailand page.

Anonymous (not verified) on 11 Jul 2013 - 15:05

Hi, I just moved to Thailand from Singapore (I am neither Singaporean nor Thai). I got my work permit the 8th of July so my taxable income will be only from that date to 31st of January? the whole year regardless I arrived in Thailand in July or I would be taxable this year only in Singapore? Another question, my company pays the house for me, it seems that Thai law considers that allowance as an income and 100% taxable unlike in Singapore were it was capped. Can anybody help me and enlighten me ? Thank you very much

Anonymous (not verified) on 4 Jul 2014 - 12:03

Good day What is the tax rate for an individual in Thailand and what is the tax rate if you have a business.

Anonymous (not verified) on 22 Nov 2016 - 11:44

As an Australian if I live in thailand but work in australia what are the taxes that i pay in thailand as well as australia

Meagan on 22 Nov 2016 - 11:52

Tax is a complicated issue but as far as I'm aware you'll be taxed in the country you reside in for 183 days of the year or more. It would be best to confirm this with a tax or finance professional with experience in international tax issues. You can also see some more info on the Expat Arrivals banking, money and taxes page for Thailand.

Expat Health Insurance

Cigna Global Health Insurance

Moving your family abroad can be intimidating, but learning about medical options such as family health insurance early on can help you successfully settle in.

**Limited-time offer: 10%* off for life!**

Get covered today and enjoy 10%* off your health insurance policy!

Get a Free Quote

*T&Cs apply

Moving Internationally?

International Movers. Get Quotes. Compare Prices.

Sirelo has a network of more than 500 international removal companies that can move your furniture and possessions to your new home. By filling in a form, you’ll get up to 5 quotes from recommended movers. This service is free of charge and will help you select an international moving company that suits your needs and budget.

Get your free no-obligation quotes from select removal companies now!