Personal Income Tax (PIT) is a direct tax levied on income of a person. A person means an individual, an ordinary partnership, a non-juristic body of person and an undivided estate. In general, a person liable to PIT has to compute his tax liability, file tax return and pay tax, if any, accordingly on a calendar year basis.
1.Taxable Person
Taxpayers are classified into “resident” and “non-resident”. “Resident” means any person residing in Thailand for a period or periods aggregating more than 180 days in any tax (calendar) year. A resident of Thailand is liable to pay tax on income from sources in Thailand as well as on the portion of income from foreign sources that is brought into Thailand. A non-resident is, however, subject to tax only on income from sources in Thailand.
2.TAX BASE
2.1 Assessable Income
Income chargeable to the PIT is called “assessable income”. The term covers income both in cash and in kind. Therefore, any benefits provided by an employer or other persons, such as a rent-free house or the amount of tax paid by the employer on behalf of the employee, is also treated as assessable income of the employee for the purpose of PIT. Assessable income is divided into 8 categories as follows :
2.2 Deductions and Allowances
Certain deductions and allowances are allowed in the calculation of the taxable income. Taxpayer shall make deductions from assessable income before the allowances are granted. Therefore, taxable income is calculated by :
TAXABLE INCOME = Assessable Income - deductions - allowances
Deductions allowed for the calculation of PIT
| Type of Income | Deduction |
| a. Income from employment | 40% but not exceeding 60,000 baht |
| b. Income received from copyright | 40% but not exceeding 60,000 baht |
| c. Income from letting out of property on hire | |
| 1) Building and wharves | 30% |
| 2) Agricultural land | 20% |
| 3) All other types of land | 15% |
| 4) Vehicles | 30 |
| 5) Any other type of property | 10% |
| d. Income from liberal professions | 30% except for the medical profession where 60% is allowed |
| e. Income derived from contract of work whereby the contractor provides essential materials besides tools | actual expense or 70% |
| f. Income derived from business, commerce, agriculture, industry, transport, or any other activities not specified in a. to e. | actual expense or 65% - 85% depending on the types of income |
Allowances (Exemptions) allowed for the calculation of PIT
| Types of Allowances | Amount |
| Personal allowance | |
| Single taxpayer | 30,000 baht for the taxpayer |
| Undivided estate | 30,000 baht for the taxpayer’s spouse |
| Non-juristic partnership or body of persons | 30,000 baht for each partner but not exceeding 60,000 baht in total |
| Spouse allowance | 30,000 baht |
| Child allowance (child under 25 years of age and studying at educational institution, or a minor, or an adjusted incompetent or quasi-incompetent person) | 15,000 baht each (limited to three children) |
| Education (additional allowance for child studying in educational institution in Thailand) | 2,000 baht each child |
| Parents allowance | 30,000 baht for each of taxpayer’s and spouse’s parents if such parent is above 60 years old and earns less than 30,000 baht |
| Life insurance premium paid by taxpayer or spouse | Amount actually paid but not exceeding 100,000 baht each |
| Approved provident fund contributions paid by taxpayer or spouse | Amount actually paid at the rate not more than 15% of wage, but not exceeding 500,000 baht |
| Long term equity fund | Amount actually paid at the rate not more than 15% of wage, but not exceeding 500,000 baht |
| Home mortgage interest | Amount actually paid but not exceeding 100,000 baht |
| Social insurance contributions paid by taxpayer or spouse | Amount actually paid each |
| Charitable contributions | Amount actually donated but not exceeding 10% of the income after standard deductions and the above allowances |
2.3 Tax Credit for dividends
Any taxpayer who domiciles in Thailand and receives dividends from a juristic company or partnership incorporated in Thailand is entitled to a tax credit of 3/7 of the amount of dividends received. In computing assessable income, taxpayer shall gross up his dividends by the amount of the tax credit received. The amount of tax credit is creditable against his tax liability.
3.1 Progressive Tax Rates
Personal income tax rates applicable to taxable income are as follows
Tax rates of the Personal Income Tax
| Taxable Income (baht) | Tax Rate (%) |
| 0-150,000 | Exempt |
| more than 150,000 but less than 300,000 | 5 |
| more than 300,000 but less than 500,000 | 10 |
| more than 500,000 but less than 750,000 | 15 |
| more than 750,000 but less than 1,000,000 | 20 |
| more than 1,000,000 but less than 2,000,000 | 25 |
| more than 2,000,000 but less than 4,000,000 | 30 |
| Over 4,000,000 | 35 |
To be implemented for the 2013 and 2014 tax years.
In the case where income categories (2) - (8) mentioned in 2.1 are earned more than 60,000 Baht per annum, taxpayer has to calculate the amount of tax by multiplying 0.5% to the assessable income and compare with the amount of tax calculated by progressive tax rates. Taxpayer is liable to pay tax at the amount whichever is greater.
3.2 Separate Taxation
There are several types of income that the taxpayer shall not include or may not choose to include such income to the assessable income in calculating the tax liability.
Income from sale of immovable property
Taxpayer shall not include income from sales of immovable property acquired by bequest or by way of gift to the assessable income when calculating PIT. However, if the sale is made for a commercial purpose, it is essential that such income must be included as the assessable income and be subject to PIT.
Interest
The following forms of interest income may, at the taxpayer’s selection, be excluded from the computation of PIT provided that a tax of 15 per cent is withheld at source:
Dividends
Taxpayer who resides in Thailand and receives dividends or shares of profits from a registered company or a mutual fund which tax has been withheld at source at the rate of 10 per cent, may opt to exclude such dividend from the assessable income when calculating PIT. However, in doing so, taxpayer will be unable to claim any refund or credit as mentioned in 2.4.
For certain categories of income, the payer of income has to withhold tax at source, file tax return (Form PIT 1, 2 or 3 as the case may be) and submit the amount of tax withheld to the District Revenue Office. The tax withheld shall then be credited against tax liability of a taxpayer at the time of filing PIT return. The following are the withholding tax rates on some categories of income.
| Types of income (baht) | Withholding tax rate (baht) |
| 1. Employment income | 5 - 37 % |
| 2. Rents and prizes | 5 % |
| 3. Ship rental charges | 1 % |
| 4. Service and professional fees | 3 % |
| 5. Public entertainer remuneration - Thai resident - non resident | 5 % 5 - 37 % |
| 6. Advertising fees | 2 % |
Taxpayer is liable to file Personal Income Tax return and make a payment to the Revenue Department within the last day of March following the taxable year. Taxpayer, who derives income specified in c, d or f in 2.3 during the first six months of the taxable year is also required to file half - yearly return and make a payment to the Revenue Department within the last day of September of that taxable year. Any withholding tax or half-yearly tax which has been paid to the Revenue Department can be used as a credit against the tax liability at the end of the year.