Listen to this story |
The Revenue Department of Thailand recently issued Directive No. 161/2566, dated September 15, stipulating that individuals with foreign-sourced income must include it in their tax calculations for the year they repatriate the income to Thailand. The directive takes effect from January 1, (2024).
The directive is grounded in Section 41 Paragraph 2 of Thailand’s Revenue Code, which establishes the principle that tax obligations are determined by one’s residence in Thailand. According to the section, anyone residing in Thailand for at least 180 days within a tax year and generating income abroad from employment or assets must include that income when filing taxes if the money is brought into Thailand within the same tax year.
The government’s primary goal with this directive is to close legal loopholes and increase tax revenue. However, this well-intended policy is not without its challenges.
The existing Section 41 Paragraph 2 of the Revenue Code doesn’t clearly state that individuals with foreign-sourced income that is repatriated to Thailand within the same tax year must file taxes. This vagueness in the law leaves room for interpretation and could result in compliance issues.
Additionally, the directive poses some economic challenges. It may discourage Thais from working abroad or investing in foreign assets, potentially causing a drain in the skilled workforce and affecting foreign direct investments. It could also deter expatriates and foreign professionals from bringing their global income into Thailand.
While the new directive aims to increase government revenues, it risks unintended consequences for both individual taxpayers and the broader Thai economy. Before fully implementing it, the authorities must consider its long-term implications carefully.
The government needs to offer clear guidelines to address these ambiguities and consider the impact on economic behavior. At this stage, whether the directive is more beneficial or detrimental remains a subject of considerable debate.