Remittance Tax

Remittance tax applies only to profits transferred or deemed transferred from a Thailand branch to its head office overseas. It is levied at the rate of 10 percent of the amount to be remitted before tax, and must be paid by the remitting office of the offshore company within seven days of the date of remittance.

However, outward remittances for the purchase of goods, certain business expenses, principal on loans to different entities and returns on capital investment, are not subject to an outward remittance tax. The tax does not apply to dividends or interest payments remitted out of Thailand by a company or partnership; these are taxed at the time of payment.

Section 70 of the Revenue Code addresses income paid to foreign juristic persons. When a company or partnership incorporated under a foreign law and not carrying on business in Thailand receives “assessable income” paid either from or in Thailand, the payer is usually required to deduct income tax at a rate of 15 percent of the gross remittance. In 1992, standard deductions, which used to vary with each type of income, were abolished, making the flat 15 percent rate effective on all assessable income except for dividend income, on which the 20 percent withholding tax was reduced to 10 percent.

There is no withholding tax on capital gains or on the share of profit paid to foreign investors in mutual funds, if in the SET. Physical remittance of funds may not be necessary in order to incur either the dividend or interest tax liabilities. These taxes may be incurred by making book entries.