Tax Guide
Personal Income Tax
Liability to tax depends on the concept of residence, and there is a
liability to income tax if an individual is present in Thailand for at
least 180 days or more in a tax year. Individuals and ordinary
partnerships are liable to pay personal income tax in graduated rate
bands of 5%-37% of net income.
Tax is due on all forms of income earned in Thailand. The
income liable to tax is income from all sources, less allowable
expenditure and personal allowances.
Corporate Income Tax
Corporate income tax is payable by companies and registered ordinary or
limited partnerships. It is imposed on the net profits of a business
during a tax year, after deduction of permitted depreciation and
allowable expenditure. Tax is payable on the net profits arising from a
business carried on. Foreign companies or partnerships are liable to
pay tax on income originating in Thailand.
The
corporate tax rate is 30% of net income. The tax is paid in two stages.
A company must file interim accounts and an interim tax return within
two months of the end of the first six months of its accounting period,
and pay 50% of the tax estimated to be due. The final accounts and the
year end tax return must be filed within 150 days of the close of the
accounting period and the balance of the tax paid, taking into account
the interim payment made half way through the accounting year.
Value Added Tax ("VAT")
VAT is payable on the provision of taxable services by an entity
registered for VAT. The Thailand VAT system is very similar to that in
the United Kingdom. The main differences are: (i) the Thailand VAT rate
is a flat rate of 10%, but temporarily reduced to 7% at present; and
(ii) VAT returns are filed and the VAT due is paid monthly, within the
15th day of the month following the month of assessment.
Withholding Tax
Withholding personal income tax must be deducted from an employee's
wages paid by his employer and paid to the Revenue Department on a
monthly basis. The system is similar to PAYE in the United Kingdom.
Credit is given against the employee's annual tax bill for any tax
earlier withheld and paid.
There are many other occasions
when liability to withhold and pay tax arises, for example, on the
payment of interest, rent or service fees. When a Thai company pays an
invoice for services to another Thai company, 3% of the invoice amount
is deducted and paid to the Revenue Department as withholding tax. The
issuer of the invoice then has a tax credit for this amount, which he
can utilise in his own tax return. International withholding taxes can
also arise (see below).
Specific Business Tax ("SBT")
Certain types of business, including banking and pawnbroking, are not
subject to value added tax, but are subject to SBT. SBT also arises on
the sale of land.
International Withholding Tax Double Taxation Treaties
Foreign entities which do not engage in business in Thailand but which
derive income from Thailand are liable to pay international withholding
tax, subject to the terms of any double taxation treaty between
Thailand and the recipient's home country. The tax is due on many types
of income including: interest; dividends; capital gains; rental or hire
payments and royalties. Though the liability to tax may arise, the
recipient may have a tax credit for the tax deducted under the terms of
a double taxation treaty between Thailand and the recipient's home
country.
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