Moving money into Thailand (and the tax angle)
Transfers, keeping records, and how the foreign-income rule affects what you bring in.
On this page
Getting money in
- Services like Wise usually beat bank wires on fees and exchange rates, and send straight to a Thai account.
- For retirement and marriage extensions that use the deposit route, the money has to arrive from abroad and sit in your Thai account for set periods. Check the guide for your visa.
- Keep the transfer receipts. Immigration and the Revenue Department can both ask where money came from.
The tax rule to know
If you spend 180 days or more in Thailand in a calendar year, you're a Thai tax resident. Since 2024, foreign income you earned from 1 January 2024 onwards can be taxed when you bring it into Thailand. Money you earned before 2024, or in years you weren't a Thai tax resident, isn't taxed when you bring it in.
A proposed change would exempt foreign income brought in within the year it was earned or the next year. As of mid-2026 it was still a draft and not law, so plan around the current rule.
Keep records
- Save a statement showing your savings as of 31 December 2023. It's your proof that older money isn't taxable.
- Note the date and source of each transfer.
- Get proper advice if you earn a lot abroad; tax treaties and tax already paid elsewhere can reduce what you owe.
Never miss your own deadlines
Answer five quick questions and we'll list every date that applies to you: 90-day reports, extensions, re-entry permits and tax. Free to start.
Sources we checked
General information, not legal or tax advice. Immigration offices don't all apply the rules the same way, so check anything important with your local office. Spotted something out of date? Email Joshua.