Annual Leave in Thailand: A Guide for Employers
When you hire employees abroad you will be facing a whole new set of employee entitlements, most of which are set by statute. This includes annual leave, which in most
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Employing in Thailand: What You Need to Know
Shield GEO can contract directly with the company to employ and payroll their staff in Thailand. Shield GEO supplies local employment contracts for the staff which ensure that local statutory requirements are met covering issues such as termination, probation periods, leave entitlements and statutory benefits. Shield GEO is able to advice companies how to cover local employment regulations whilst still providing consistent global employment policies. Understand more about outsourced employment through Shield GEO.
Thailand labour market is governed by strict rules and regulations. It’s important that appropriate advice is sought out based on the business structure that would be established in Thailand.
Some of the rules and regulations that govern Thai labour market include:
- Labor Protection Act B.E. 2541 (1998)
- Labor Protection Act B.E. 2551 (2008)
- Labor Relations Act (No. 2) B.E. 2518 (1975)
- Social Security Act of 1990 as amended in 1999
- Workmen’s Compensation Act of 1994
- State Enterprise Labour Relations Act B.E. 2543 (2000)
- The Labour Court and Labour Court Procedure B.E. 2522 (1979)
- Thai Civil and Commercial Code
- Provident Fund Act B.E. 2530 (1987)
- Alien Employee Act B.E. 2521 (1978)
- Employment and Jobseeker Protection Act B.E. 2528 (1985)
For these and many other reasons the following are only guidelines in the broadest sense, and professional legal services are recommended when employing in Thailand.
Key points on employment
- Minimum daily wage is 300 Baht per day
- Maximum probationary period is 120 days
- Maximum number of work hours per day varies between 8 hours and 9 hours, while maximum work hours per week varies between 48 hours and 42 hours per week
- In addition to the 13 public holidays, each employee is entitled to a minimum of 6 days of annual leave
- Employees are entitled to 30 days of sick leave
There are several key areas to be aware of within Thailand’s employment regulatory framework, especially for companies that plan to initiate a full local office and human resources department. These challenges can be mitigated by use of a locally sourced payroll provider who is familiar with all of the local laws and rules for both local employees as well as foreign nationals.
Key Factors to Consider When Employing in Thailand
Hiring in Thailand? Here's our latest article on employment in Thailand.-
Contracts
An employment contract can be written or verbal as per the Labour Protection Act. Thai Civil and Commercial code and the Labour Protection Act stipulate the following statutory entitlements be included in employment contracts.
- Entitlement to rest, sick leave, annual leave and holidays
- Entitlements to remuneration (wages, overtime pay, holiday pay, severance pay)
- Notice period and the right to receive wages in case of termination of employment
- Restrictions on suspension from work
Different types of employees based on nature of employment contract:
Temporary workers:
- Have the same rights as permanent employees such as minimum wages, working hours, fairness etc
- Are considered employees under the Labour Protection Act
- Employees whose period of employment is fixed to 2 years and is terminated according to that period will not be entitled to severance payment
Agency workers:
- Outsourced/agency workers are protected under the Thai Labour Laws.
- As per the 2008 Labour Protection Act a business operator who utilizes outsourcing service for its employees is
- Considered as an employer of outsourced workers
- Ensure that the benefits to outsourced employees are similar to direct employees who have the same description
Part time workers:
- Receives wages based on an hourly rate
- Minimum wage per hour is 40 Baht
Permanent workers:
- Are protected under the Thailand Labour protection Act
Employee Entitlements
| Information | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Statutory Working Hours ? | Non-hazardous work: Maximum number of hours per day is limited to 8 hours, while the maximum number of hours per week is limited to 48 hours. *However, under special contracts employer and employee may agree to arrange the period of working hours. However, such hours cannot exceed 9 hours per day and 48 hours per week. Hazardous work: Maximum number of hours per day is limited to 7 hours, while the maximum number of hours per week is limited to 42 hours. All employees are entitled to a total of 1 hour for a full working day. Such daily rest periods can be taken after five consecutive hours of work. Employer and employee may agree to a shorter rest period. However, a total of 1 hour should be allocated for a full working day. Employees should be granted one daily holiday per week and the interval between holidays must not exceed six days. Employees will be entitled for overtime pay rates for work performed in excess of the maximum hours stipulated by the contractual agreement or the statutory law. Maximum overtime hours allowed per week is limited to 36 hours and will be paid at a rate varying between 1.5-3.0 times normal hourly wage rate. Minimum age for employment is 15 years and the minimum age for employment that involves hazardous work is 18 years. Pregnant employees are prohibited from working overtime, on holidays, or between 10pm – 6am.
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| Time Off Work ? | An employee is entitled to a minimum of 6 days of annual leave after working consecutively for one full year. For an employee who has not completed one year of service, the employer may provide an annual leave on a pro-rate basis. |
| Medical Leave ? | An employee is entitled to take sick leave with 30 days of paid sick leave per year. An employer may request a medical certificate if an employee is absent for three consecutive days. Days on which the employee cannot work because of injury or illness caused by work shall not be deemed sick leave. |
| Annual Leave Accrual Entitlement ? | Employees are entitled to 13 national holidays per year. In addition employees are entitled to a minimum of 6 days of vacation after one year of consecutive work. |
| Maternity Leave in Thailand ? | Female employees are entitled to 90 days of maternity leave and 45 days of paid leave. There are no specific regulations with regard to Paternity leave. |
Employment Termination
| Information | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Severance / Redundancy Pay ? | An employee can be terminated without a specific cause and subject to all payments including severance pay, unused annual leave, overtime pay, and other payments due under the employment agreement within 3 days from the termination of employment. Severance pay rates vary based on the length of employment. Severance pay rate Work period 30 days pay 120 days – less than 1 year 90 days pay 1 year – less than 3 years 180 days pay 3 years – less than 6 years 240 days pay 6 years – less than 10 years 300 days 10 years and over Severance pay is not made if:
Conditions under which there would be non-severance payment:
Conditions under which a special severance would be paid:
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| Termination of Employment ? | Either party to an employment contract can give at least 1 days of notice and terminate employment, if the employment contract does not specify such terms. If an employee is dismissed for a statutory reason, such reasons should be kept on record. An employee may not be dismissed for due to the following reasons:
Unfair dismissal: Under the Labour Court’s Act, a Labour Court can re-instate an employee at the same wage rate that applied prior to the dismissal. However, if the Labour Court determines that the employer and employee cannot work together due to specific conditions, then it may order the employer to pay compensation. Ceasing operations temporarily: When employers encounter this issue the affected employees can be paid at a reduced rate of 25% of their normal pay rates. Workmen’s compensation Includes 4 categories
Compensation amount should be paid monthly at the rate of 60% of the monthly wages. Medical expenses must be paid out and should not exceed 45,000 Baht for formal cases and 65,000 Baht for serious injuries. Work rehabilitation expenses should not exceed 20,000 Baht. In case of death, funeral expenses should be paid at a maximum amount equal to 100 times of the minimum daily wage prescribed by the law. |
Probation
| Information | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Probation Period ? | Thailand Employment law stipulates a maximum of 120 days. |
Pension
| Information | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Pension Requirements ? | Thai pension system is a 3 pillar system and includes:
*Pillar 1 and 3 would be more relevant to expats. Social security contributions The Social Security Act of 1990, amended in 1999 specifies that all employers must with hold social security contributions from the monthly wage of each employee. The current rate is 5% of the first 15,000 Baht from the salary. Employer must match the employee contributions and should be remitted to the Social Security Office within the 15th day of each day of the following month. Social Insurance A new business organization must register itself to make social security contributions. Registration of a juristic person:
How to register the insured:
Social Security Office (SSO) old age insurance scheme is:
Features of SSO pension provision:
Funds relevant to the private sector:
Social Security fund: Provides benefits in the event of:
*Base wage used for the calculations range from 1,650 – 15,000 Baht Benefits paid out:
Tax benefits:
Retirement mutual fund Retirement mutual funds are suitable for those who do not have other retirement welfare savings plans such as government pension funds or provident funds. It’s an investment vehicle that intends to promote retirement savings through tax incentives. Tax benefits:
Provident fund A provident fund is established under the mutual agreement between the employer and the employee. Voluntary contributions can range from 2%-15% given that the employer contributions are equal to or greater than the employee contribution. Factors to be considered by the employer prior to establishing a Provident Fund:
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GEO Solutions or DIY Employment in Thailand?
Companies entering Thailand must make a decision whether to use their own resources for a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) approach, or to use a Global Employment Organization to handle payroll and employment responsibilities. A GEO or Thailand Employer of Record solution makes it faster, easier and cheaper to deploy staff if they don’t have a Thai entity established that can run payroll.
Learn how we've helped clients with employees in Thailand in this case article!A DIY approach will typically take 6-9 months until there is a properly incorporated WFOE ready to run payroll and cost up to 6 figures if registered capital is required. Shield GEO can deploy foreign staff in 4-6 weeks and local staff in 48 hours. Additionally Shield GEO is responsible for all compliance issues related to the employment.
| Tax | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income Tax Rates | A resident of Thailand is liable to pay taxes on income from all sources earned in Thailand as well as a on a portion of the income from foreign sources that is brought into Thailand. However, a non-resident of Thailand is only subject to income tax on sources of income earned in Thailand. Assessable income includes the following.
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| Tax Returns Supplied | Yes |
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| Corporate Tax Requirements | All individuals and corporate entities liable to pay tax must file annual tax returns. Thai companies and foreign entities carrying on business in Thailand are required to file their tax returns (Form CIT 50) within 150 days from the closing date of their accounting periods. Tax payment must be made together with the tax returns. In addition to the annual tax payment, any corporate entity subject to income tax on net profits is also required to make tax prepayment (Form CIT 51). A company is obliged to estimate its annual net profit as well as its tax liability and pay half of the estimated tax amount within two months after the end of the first six months of its accounting period. |
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| Employers Social Security and statutory contributions |
Employers are obligated to contribute 5% of employee salary upto a maximum of 750 Baht per month. An employer is obligated to contribute between 2%-15% of the employee’s monthly wage to the Social Security Fund (SSF). This contribution should match the contribution made by the employee. |
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| Employees Social Security and statutory contributions |
Employees are obligated to contribute 5% of employee salary upto a maximum of 750 Baht per month. An employee is obligated to contribute between 2%-15% of the employee’s monthly wage to the Social Security Fund (SSF). |
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Payroll and Tax in Thailand
There are specific rules in Thailand depending on whether your company employs residents or non-residents. The key concerns for a company that needs to comply with tax laws in Thailand are net taxable income, social security contribution, value added tax (VAT), corporate income tax, specific business tax (SBT), and property tax. Moreover, international treaties to avoid double taxation, international social security agreements, free trade agreements and special tax regimes for specific industries or sectors can make an indirect impact on a company’s tax environment.
Here's our most recent article on running payroll and taxes in Thailand.| Information | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Remote Payroll ? | A remote payroll in Thailand is where a foreign company, i.e. a non-resident company, payrolls a resident employee in Thailand. As per the Thailand Revenue Department a foreign company is defined as -A company that carries out business functions in Thailand but is registered under a foreign law -A company that does not carry on business operations in Thailand but derives income from Thailand Thus a non-resident company is permitted to process payroll for Thailand residents who are on its payroll. Another option for a non-resident company to payroll its employees in Thailand would be to use a fully outsourced service like a GEO or PEO which will employ and payroll the staff on their behalf. |
| Local Payroll Administration ? | In some cases, a company will register their business in Thailand under one of the forms available but prefer to have another company administer its payroll. This can be accomplished through a payroll provider. It is important to note that the company, as the Employer of Record, is still fully responsible for compliance with employment, immigration, tax and payroll regulations. But the payroll calculations, payments and filings can all be outsourced to the payroll provider. |
| Internal Payroll ? | Larger companies with a commitment to Thailand may wish to run their own local payroll for all employees, foreign and local. In order to accomplish this, they will have to complete incorporation, register the business and then hire the necessary staff. There will be a need for in country human resources personnel who have the background needed to manage a Thai payroll, and can fulfill all tax, withholding, and payroll requirements. This approach carries significant cost and requires some knowledge of local employment and payroll regulations. The company will need a local accounting firm and potentially legal counsel to ensure full compliance with Thai employment laws. |
| Fully Outsourced Payroll & Employment ? | Companies can outsource the employment and payroll of their staff in Thailand to a GEO, like Shield GEO. This is possible for both foreign workers and Thailand nationals. This is the easiest, fastest and safest way to payroll staff in Thailand. Shield GEO manages all aspects of payroll for workers in Thailand, including taxes, withholding, social security payments and other statutory requirements. Shield GEO becomes the Employer of Record and employs the staff on behalf of the client. Staff are paid monthly with tax and social security deducted at source and paid to local authorities. Shield GEO will invoice the client monthly in advance of the payroll date. The invoice consists of the Total Cost of Employment (Base salary + Employers Statutory Contributions + Additional statutory contributions) and a Management Fee. Shield GEO provides the employees with payslips. Read more about outsourced payroll and employment through Shield GEO. |
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Setting up payroll in Thailand
| Information | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Currency ? | Thai Baht (Thai: บาท, sign: ฿; code: THB) |
| Social Security Registration ? | An employer needs to register an employee as the “insured person” who starts working at the age of fifteen to sixty years old in the enterprise with 1 or more employees with the social security office within 30 days from the start of work. |
| Documentation Required for New Employees ? | Employment contracts and labour relations are governed by the Labour Protection Act, the Labour Relations Act, the Civil and Commercial Code, and the Labour Procedure Act. New employees in Thailand whether local or foreign are governed by the Labour Protection Acts B.E.2541 (A.D.1998). |
Tax Figures
| Information | Explanation | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate Income Tax ? | Companies in Thailand are generally taxed at 20%. Branch corporate income tax rate is also 20%. However, corporate tax rates may vary as follows.
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| Income Tax Rate ? |
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| Sales Tax ? | Current Value Added Tax (VAT) rate is 7%. Business entities with an annual turnover exceeding 1.8 million Baht per annum is legally obligated to pay VAT. |
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| Withholding Tax ? | Certain income types paid to companies can be subject to withholding tax at the point of source. Such withholding tax rates on pre-specified categories of income are as follows.
Service and professional fees
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| Other Tax ? | Petroleum Income tax An indirect tax paid on an annual basis on net profit earned while carrying out the business of petroleum exploration and production. Act B.E. 2514 (status 1) 50% Act B.E. 2522 (status 2) 35% Act B.E. 2532 (status 3) 50% Disposal of profits 23.08% Withholding tax rates (For transfer of petroleum) Property or rights 50% Payment of interest 50% Payment of dividend 23.08% Payment of interest 15% |
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| Time to prepare and Pay Taxes ? | 266 hours |
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| Time required to start a Business ? | 25.5 days |
Payments
| Information | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Payment Mode ? | Manual/soft copy by cheque or online. |
| Frequency of Salary Payment ? | 12 monthly pay periods. |
| Invoice / Payslips required ? | Available monthly as pdf. |
| Minimum Wage ? | Annual (US$) 3,012 |
Immigration and Work Permits in Thailand
Foreign workers are required to have the proper visas and work permits in Thailand, as established by immigration laws. Work permits must be secured for employees, and sponsored by a locally licensed and incorporated entity, which can be a problem for companies just entering the Thailand market. If you have yet to complete the incorporation process you can use an outsourced management company or GEO Employer of Record to sponsor the employee for the necessary permits.
Use your own company?
To obtain a work permit a foreigner must initially apply for a non-immigrant visa prior to entering Thailand. Once the initial visa is obtained a foreigner may begin the process of obtaining a work permit. On average the Thailand Ministry of Labor Office would take 7 business days to process a work visa.
Foreigners, who wish to work, conduct business or undertake investment activities may apply for
- Business visa category “B”
- Business approved visa category “B-A”
- Investment and business visa work
Visas for single entry and multiple entries vary in cost. Please contact us for a quote.
A foreign national must ensure that the intended job and skills does not belong to the categories generally limited to Thai nationals only.
Steps in securing a work permit (Thai work visas)
Step 1: Securing a non-immigrant visa
To obtain a non-immigrant visa an employee must provide the following
- Employment invitation and/or recommendation letters
- A request from the company that the employee shall be given a non-immigrant visa that would allow the company to apply for a work permit
- Company attestation mentioning that the employee is dependable, upstanding, law abiding and guarantees that the employee will respect Thai laws and customs
The non-immigrant visa will be valid for a period of 90 days. Non-immigrant
Step 2: Obtaining the work permit
The applicant (employee) must provide the following documents
- Passport copies with each page signed by the employee
- Non-immigrant visa card
- Departure card TM. 6
- Certified copies of scholastic records
- Certified copies of transcripts of records
- Curriculum vitae
- 3 copies of photos taken within the last 6 months (5 X 6 centimetres in size with full face coverage and on business attire)
- Certified marriage certificate if married to a Thai national
The employer must provide the following documents
- Commercial Registration Department certificate that shows the company is duly registered as a juristic entity and bearing the name of the Managing Director and/or Director, its objectives and registered capital
- A Commercial Registration Department certified shareholders’ list
- Application of VAT –VAT certificate (Phor Phor 20)
- Withholding tax of the company
- A Factory Department, Ministry of Industry issued factory license (if required)
- Financial statement
- Photocopy of the Directors’ passports and work permits with signature affixed
- Office map
- Letter of employment stating applicant’s salary and position
- Employment agreement
While the work permit is being processed the Thai employer should apply for the tax ID card for the employee.
Thai work permit can be granted to expatriates who satisfy one or more of the following conditions
- An establishment with a registered capital of atleast 2 million Baht can hire one expatriate for every 2 million Baht limited to a maximum of 10 expatriates in total.
- An establishment which has paid income tax to the Revenue Department in the past 3 years with not less than 5 million Baht can hire 1 expatriate for every 3 million Baht limited to a maximum of 3 expatriates in total.
- An establishment which employs 50 Thai employees can hire 1 expatriate for every 50 Thai employees limited to a maximum of 5 expatriates in total.
- An expatriate who has an income and duty to pay personal income tax equivalent or more than 18,000 Baht
Thai immigration authorities may consider work permit approval, renewal and modification of employment descriptions regardless of afore mentioned requirements if any of the following conditions are met.
- An expatriate working for a representative office conducting quality control, procurement, or marketing research
- An expatriate working for investment consulting, administrative consulting, technical and technology, or periodical internal audit
- A tourism representative who brings in foreigners to travel in Thailand
- Employed under a International Financial Institution approved by the Bank of England
- Engaged on a temporary basis in the entertainment, religious, social welfare, cultural or sporting without the intention of making profit and paying income tax to the government
- A contractor working on government or state enterprise projects
- An individual who works using mostly local raw materials or is capable of reducing the usage of imported raw materials
- Supports the export of Thai products
- An individual working to bring in new technology
- Provision of labour where there is a shortage of Thai labour
Work permit for expatriates in Thailand
To apply for a work permit the employee should have a non-immigrant visa or a residence permit. An employer may file an application for advance permission to allow an employee work prior to arriving in Thailand. However, the work permit will only be issued one the employee arrives in Thailand.
Documents that should be submitted to apply for a work permit.
- Application form (Tor. Thor. 2) along with 3 ID photos (5 X 6 cm) taken within the last 6 months
- Letter from the employer certifying employment and the reasons for not employing a Thai national
- Employment agreement
- Copy of the company’s affidavit (within the past 6 months) certified by the Commercial Registration Department
- Copy of the list of shareholders certified by the Commercial Registration Department (obtained within the last 6 months)
- Copy of certified incorporation
- Copy of the tax payer card, VAT certificate or Phor. Por. 01 and 09
- Copy of current balance sheet with profit and loss showing total assets
- Copy of Phor. Ngor. Dor. 50 (Corporate Income tax return) including the receipt
- Organizational chart
- List of all expatriate(s) along with their positions and work permit numbers
- Copies of educational certificates and letters of recommendation from previous employment
- Copies of all pages of the passport with a calid non-immigrant visa (category B or O)
- Copies of all the pages of the work permit of the authorized Director showing the valid date (given that the authorized Director is a foreigner)
- A medical certificate (taken not more than 3 months ago)
- Power of attorney affixed with a stamp worth
- Map of the company’s location
- Official form of notification of commencement of work (Tor. Thor. 10)
- Copy of Phor. Por. 30 for the previous 6 months including receipts (for new companies only)
Thai work permits are only valid as long as the visa allows the employee to remain in Thailand.
*A One-Stop Service Center was established to speed up the processing of visas and work permits. Work permits that would normally take between 10 and 14 working days would be processed within 3 hours.
The following personnel are qualified to submit applications via the one-stop service center
- An investment expert who has been granted privileges under the Investment Promotion Act, the Petroleum Act, or the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand
- An executive or expert working for a company with a fully paid up registered capital or whose operational funds are not less than 30 million Baht
- Alien officers of branch offices of overseas banks, foreign banking offices of overseas banks in Bangkok, provincial foreign banking offices of overseas banks, and representative offices of foreign banks
- Aliens who come to work for branch, representative, or regional offices of overseas enterprises
Use the Shield GEO solution?
Once you get in touch with us, one of our consultants will take all the work off your hand, co-ordinate with our local partners to get all the required permits organised, provide the processing time, costs, document-checklist and keep you informed through the process. Contact us to know more.
Types of visas in Thailand
| Category | Description of Visa |
|---|---|
| Non immigrant visa category “B” | Issued to applicants who wish to work or conduct business in Thailand 1) Foreigners who wish to work in Thailand • Passport or travel document (valid for 6 or more months) • Copy of the work permit issued by the Ministry of Labour and Alien income tax or Por Ngor Dor 91 (if the employee has worked previously in Thailand) • Corporate documents of the hiring company in Thailand 2) Foreigners who wish to conduct business in Thailand • Corporate documents of the hiring company in Thailand Copies of company documents must be signed by the Board of Directors or authorized Managing Director and affix the company seal. An extension maybe applied for a period of one year from the date of first entry into Thailand. Visas for single entry and multiple entries vary in cost. Please contact us for a quote. |
| Non-Immigrant visa category “B-A” (Business approved visa) | The applicant’s associated company in which he or she will invest in or conduct business mat apply for this visa on behalf of the applicant. Visas for single entry and multiple entries vary in cost. Please contact us for a quote. |
| Non-Immigrant visa category “IB” (Investment and Business visa) | Issued to foreigners who intend to become teachers at education levels below university level in Thailand. Visas for single entry and multiple entries vary in cost. Please contact us for a quote. |
| Three year Non-Immigrant visa “B” (for business only) | Issued to foreign citizens who wish to visit Thailand for business purposes. Valid for a period of 3 years. Multiple-entry allows the visa holder to visit Thailand as often as required as long as each visit is not for period exceeding 90 days. Employment of any kind is strictly prohibited. Documents required: • Completed application form • Corporate documents of the hiring company in Thailand Please contact us for a quote. |
| APEC Business Travel Car (ABTC) scheme | Australian businessmen and businessmen who belong to APEC economies are eligible to apply for ABTC which allows them to obtain multiple entry business visas. APEC economies which currently participate in the ABTC scheme are Australia, Brunei, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea (Republic of Korea), Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Thailand, Chines Taipei, Vietnam |
Setting up a company in Thailand
When setting up a company you may want to consider these factors:
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Business factors
There are clearly defined restrictions on foreigners who wish to establish a business in Thailand. The Foreign Business Act details out the industries in which foreign investors are prohibited to conduct business. Further, it specifies the industries in which foreign investors can establish business operations with special permission from the respective regulatory authority.
You may also want to consider the following when making your decision:
- The industry and the nature of business that will be established
- Nationality of the headquarters/Management and employees
- Minimum capital and conditions
- Treaties, free trade agreements and economic partnership agreements
- Treaty of Amity between Thailand and the USA
- Thailand – Australia Free Trade Agreement
- Japan – Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement
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Location
Location is another critical factor. Other provinces in Thailand (excluding the province in which Bangkok is located) may have different rules, cost structures and approval criteria. It is always recommended to seek advice from relevant professionals, such as business or legal advisers, accountants and others depending on your needs.
There are specific rules in Thailand depending on whether your company employs residents or non-residents. The key concerns for a company that needs to comply with tax laws in Thailand are net taxable income, social security contribution, value added tax (VAT), corporate income tax, specific business tax (SBT) and property tax. Moreover, international treaties to avoid double taxation, international social security agreements, free trade agreements and special tax regimes for specific industries or sectors can make an indirect impact on a company’s tax environment.
There are seven types of business forms available for foreign companies in Thailand. Each of these business forms has unique advantages and disadvantages, as well as differing scope of approved business activities, registration requirements, minimum capital requirements and accounting/auditing requirements.
When setting up a company in Thailand you have the following options.
- Partnership
- Limited Companies
- Joint Ventures
- Representative Office
- Branch Office
- International Head Quarters
- Joint Ventures
This article provides a general guideline for foreign entities that seek to enter Thailand for business purposes. In particular, it looks at common pathways to establish a business presence in Thailand, generally through a Partnership, Limited Company, Joint Venture, Representative Office, Branch Office, or International Headquarters. In addition, various economic, tax, and regulatory factors are provided throughout as a source of useful information to assist those who seek to establish a business presence in Thailand.
Partnerships
There are 2 types of Partnerships that can be established in Thailand.
- Ordinary Partnerships
- Limited Partnerships
Ordinary Partnership
All partners are jointly and wholly liable for all obligations of the partnership. Ordinary Partnerships are twofold.
- Non-registered Ordinary Partnership
- Registered Partnership
Limited Partnership
Limited Partnerships are twofold.
- One or more partners whose individual liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed to the Partnership
- One or more partners are jointly and unlimitedly liable for all obligations of the Partnership
Features of Partnerships
1. Unregistered Ordinary Partnership
- All partners are jointly liable for all obligations of the Partnership
- Not registered with the Ministry of Commerce
- Partnership pays taxes at the rates applicable to individuals
- If the Partnership agreement does not specify the value attributable for services, the contribution is to be equal to the average shares from other partners who made contributions in the form of cash or property
2. Registered Ordinary Partnership
- All partners are jointly liable for all obligations of the Partnership
- Must be registered with the Registration Office at district level (based on the location of the Partnership) or at the Office of Business Registration Services, Ministry of Commerce (Bangkok)
- A Partner’s liability for the Partnership’s obligations ceases two years after the Partner leaves the Partnership
3. Limited Partnership
- One or more partners are jointly liable without any limitation for all the Partnership obligations
- Obligations of one or more partners are limited to their contributions made to the Partnership
- Must be registered with the Registration Office at district level (based on the location of the Partnership) or at the Office of Business Registration Services, Ministry of Commerce (Bangkok).
- Partnership name should exclude names of Partners with limited liability
- A limited partner can contribute cash &/or property
- A limited partners cannot contribute only services
- Can be managed only by partners with unlimited liability
- A partner who engages in the management, becomes jointly liable, without any limitation on the Partnership’s obligations
Management
A Limited Partnership must be managed only by the partners with unlimited liability. Partnerships which have a foreigner as a Managing Partner or Manager are considered as alien Partnerships and are under the jurisdiction of the Foreign Business Act.
Minimum capital requirements
Not specified
Accounting/Auditing requirements
- Prepare financial statements and submit to the Business Information Service Office, Department of Business Development, or any provincial business development office within 5 months from the closing date. Failure to do so would result in a fine of 50,000 Baht.
- Financial statements must be audited by and subject to the opinion of a certified auditor.
- For Registered Partnerships with registered capital of less than 5 million Baht, total revenue of no more than 30 million Baht, and total assets of no more than 30 million Baht, the financial statements need not be certified by an auditor.
Registration Procedure
Information required for a Partnership registration:
- Name of Partnership
- Objective of the Partnership
- Location of the Head Office and/or Branches
- Name, address, age, nationality and the occupation of the Partners
- Name of Managing Partner (must be partner without limit)
- Limitation of Managing Partners power
- Partnership seal
Place of registration:
- Head office is located in Bangkok – Central Business Registration Division, Department of Business Development or at any of the 7 Business Development Offices
- Head office is located in other provinces – Provincial Business Development Office and can submit the request via www.dbd.go.th
Steps for registering a Partnership:
1. Reserve the Partnership name. Upon receiving approval for the name, request for the Partnership registration within 30 days.
2. Prepare the request for registration and submit to the Registrar (request form can be obtained from the Department of Business Development or any of the 7 Business Development Offices or the Provincial Business Development offices or can be downloaded via www.dbd.go.th)
3. Obtain the certificate of registered transactions (if required)
4. Receive the certificate of registration
Limited Companies
In Thailand there are two main types of corporations:
- Private Limited Companies
- Public Limited Companies
Limited Public Companies in Thailand are governed by the Public Limited Company Act. Limited Private Companies are governed by the Civil and Commercial code.
Private Limited Companies
Private Limited Companies in Thailand have the same basic characteristics as those in Western countries. The most common form of establishing a corporate is to set up a Limited Liability Company.
Management
- A Limited Liability Company will be managed by a Board of Directors.
- The number of Directors is determined by the Shareholders’ meeting and there is no statutory minimum requirement.
- Foreigners can be appointed as Directors
- However, for companies which have received permission to conduct business under list 2 of the Foreign Business Act, at least two fifths of the Directors should be Thai nationals.
- For a company established under the Thai-US Treaty majority of the Directors should be American or Thai nationals.
Investment capital requirements
There are no minimum or maximum share capital requirements
A minimum of three shareholders should be present at all times. Under certain circumstances a Private Limited Company may be fully owned by foreign nationals. However, for business activities restricted to Thai nationals under the Foreign Business Act, foreign participation is restricted to 49% of share capital. The 49% foreign ownership may exceed or maybe exempted if a Foreign Business License is granted. Minimum capital, transfer of technology and reporting requirements may vary based on the Foreign Business License.
Accounting/auditing requirements
- Directors must arrange for an annual general meeting to obtain shareholder approval of the company’s audited financial statements within 4 months from the end of the fiscal year
- Directors must file the audited financial statements, including the shareholder list to the Company Registrar within 1 month after holding the shareholders meeting.
- Financial statements must be audited by and subject to the opinion of a certified auditor.
Steps that should be taken to register a Private Limited Company:
1. To establish a Private Limited Company there must be at least 3 promoters signing together in order to prepare and register the Memorandum of Association.
Initially a company name should be reserved. It takes up to 2-3 business days to reserve a company name. To reserve a company name, the company can either submit a signed Name Reservation form to the Department of Business Development of the Ministry of Commerce or fill in a Name Reservation form and submit it through the Department of Business Development’s website. Two alternative names should also be provided in case there is a conflict in the name selected by the company.
*Upon receiving the shares, the director must register the company within 3 months from the date of the company’s first meeting.
Promoters should possess the following qualifications:
- Be an ordinary person (should not be a juristic person)
- Be at least 12 years of age
- Must purchase at least 1 share
The following information is used to register the Memorandum of Association:
- Company’s name (the name that was reserved)
- Location of the head office (Province)
- Objective of the company
- Registered capital must be divided equally among all the shares (Share price per share must be at least 5 Baht)
- Name, age, occupation, address and number of shares that the reserved
- Name, age and address of two witnesses
2. Once the Memorandum is registered, the following actions must be taken.
- Every promoter must purchase the reserved shares
- Once all the shares are reserved, the promoters must hold a statutory meeting for all the subscribers.
3. Promoters shall handover the business to the Directors
4. Directors shall collect the share capital from the promoters and subscribers.
Such payment should be atleast 25% of the share capital.
5. Once the share capital collection is complete, the authorized Director must prepare the request for registration of company’s establishment and submit the form to the registrar. The request must be submitted to the registrar within 3 months from the date of the company’s statutory meeting.
If the following steps can be performed within the same day, then the promoter can prepare the Memorandum and the Director can register the Memorandum. Thus the company can be established on the same day.
1. All the shares that were reserved should be bought by the respective parties so that the company can be registered
2. Arrange a statutory meeting to establish the company according to the Civil and Commercial code
3. Personnel who set up the company shall assign all affairs to the Director
4. Director should request the personnel who reserve to buy shares and pay such funds according to the Civil and Commercial code 1110.
Registration
Registration is twofold.
1. Registering the Memorandum
2. Registering the establishment
Registration procedure
To register the establishment, the personnel who set up the company or the company’s director shall request to verify and reserve the company’s name. Upon reserving the name, a request for the registration of memorandum of association will be submitted within 30 days by reserving the name in person or via www.dbd.go.th
1. Prepare the request for registration and other attachments and submit to the Registrar
2. Pay the fee
3. Obtain the certificate of registered transactions
4. Receive the certificate of registration
Time restrictions for setting up a Limited Liability Company
- Request for registering the company’s establishment-must be submitted within 3 months from the date of the company’s establishment
- Request for registering new directors-must be submitted within 14 days from the appointment of the directors
Fees for registering a Limited Liability Company
5. Registering the Memorandum of Association 500 – 25,000 Baht
6. Register the establishment 5,000 – 250,000 Baht
7. Registering for tax documents
A tax ID card and a number must be obtained from the Revenue Department within 60 days from the date of incorporation. For foreign companies, a tax ID card and a number must be obtained from the date it initiates business activities in Thailand.
8. Registering for an employer account under the Social Security Act
An employer account must be established within 30 days from the start of employment. The registration process would normally take 1 day.
Public Limited Companies
Investment capital requirements
- There is no minimum capital requirement. However, each share must have the same par value
- The Promoters must subscribe to at least 5% of the total share capital and must maintain such shares for 2 years from the date of registration
- The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), compliant with the SEC Act, is responsible for approving the offering of shares and supervision of the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET)
Management
- Must have at least 5 Directors and at least half of the Board of Directors must have a registered address in Thailand.
- At least 50% of the Promoters must be residents of Thailand.
- A Limited Liability Company will be managed by a Board of Directors.
- Foreigners can be appointed as Directors
- For companies which have received permission to conduct business under list 2 of the Foreign Business Act, at least two fifths of the Directors should be Thai nationals.
- For a company established under the Thai-US Treaty, majority of the Directors should be American or Thai nationals.
Accounting/auditing requirements
- Directors must arrange for an annual general meeting to obtain shareholder approval of the company’s audited financial statements within 4 months from the end of the fiscal year
- Directors must file the audited financial statements, including the shareholder list to the Company Registrar within 1 month after holding the shareholders meeting.
- Directors should publish the balance sheet in a newspaper (public media) for at least 1 day within 1 month from the date on which it was approved at the Shareholders’ meeting.
- Financial statements must be audited by and subject to the opinion of a certified auditor.
Incorporation process
1. Corporate name reservation
To reserve a company name, the company can either submit a signed Name Reservation form to the Department of Business Development of the Ministry of Commerce or fill in a Name Reservation form and submit it through the Department of Business Development’s website. Two alternative names should also be provided in case there is a conflict in the name selected by the company.
It takes up to 2-3 business days to reserve a company name.
Once the selected company name is approved, the corporate name reservation will be valid for 30 days.
2. File a Memorandum of Association (MOA)
After the name reservation has been approved, the MOA must be submitted to the Department of Business Development of the Ministry of Commerce.
For a Public Limited Company the MOA must include at least the name of the company, purpose of the company, province in which the company will be located, registered capital, number of share, and the names, date of birth nationalities and addresses of the promoters and the number of shares each of the promoters has subscribed.
There must be at least 15 promoters to register the MOA and prepare the prospectus to buy all the shares specified by the MOA. Promoters should be at least 20 years of age. The promoters of Public Limited Company must be among the company’s initial shareholders.
3. Convene a statutory meeting
Once the shares subscribed reaches the number specified by the prospectus (not less than 50% specified by the Memorandum of Association) a statutory meeting should be convened. The following would be determined during the meeting.
- Adoption of Articles of Association
- Ratify any contracts entered into and expenses incurred by the promoters
- Finalise the remuneration, if any, to be paid to the promoters
- Finalise the number of shares, if any, to be issued
- Finalise the number of ordinary or preference shares to be allotted as fully paid or partly paid up capital
- Appointment of the initial directors and auditors
After the statutory meeting, the promoters should hand over all business matters to the directors of the company.
4. Registration
Within 3 months after holding the statutory meeting, the directors must register the company.
Time restrictions for setting up a Public Limited Liability Company
- Submit the prospectus to the registrar within 15 days from the date the prospectus is submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Promoters should convene a statutory meeting when the number of subscribed share has reached the number specified in the prospectus (must not be less than 50% of the number of shares in the MOA) within 2 months from the date on which the subscribed number of shares reach the specified number and no later than 6 months from the date on which the MOA is registered.
- Board of Directors should request for the company’s registration within 3 months from the date of establishing the company
Fees for registering a Public Limited Liability Company
1. Registering the Memorandum of Association 1,000 – 25,000 Baht
2. Register the establishment 1,000 – 250,000 Baht
*However, if the company is specified as “foreign” under the Foreign Business Act, the following rules shall apply
- Engages in business activities specified by the Foreign Business Act, the minimum registered business capital would be greater than 25% of the estimated average annual operating expenses, calculated over a 3 year period, and not less than 3 million Baht.
- If the company does not engage in activities specified by the Foreign Business Act, minimum registered capital should be 2 million Baht.
Registering for tax documents
A tax ID card and a number must be obtained from the Revenue Department within 60 days from the date of incorporation. For foreign companies, a tax ID card and a number must be obtained from the date it initiates business activities in Thailand.
Registering for an employer account under the Social Security Act
An employer account must be established within 30 days from the start of employment. The registration process would normally take 1 day.
Branches of Foreign Companies
Foreign companies may carry out business operations in Thailand through a branch office. Such branch offices are subject to legal and tax regulations in Thailand. There is no special requirement for foreign companies to register their foreign branches in Thailand to carryout business operations. However, most business activities must adhere to the respective regulations (VAT registration, taxpayer identification card, Commercial Registration Certificate, Foreign Business License etc.)
Branches of Foreign Companies are considered as foreign entities and maybe required to apply for a Foreign Business License under the Foreign Business Act.
Investment capital requirements
Minimum investment capital must be greater than 25% of the estimated average annual operating expenses calculated over a 3 year period, but not less than 3 million Baht.
Once the Branch Office receives approval to commence business operations, the minimum capital must be remitted to Thailand for the commencement of business operations.
- First 25% of minimum investment within first 3 months
- Another 25% of minimum investment within first year
- Another 25% of minimum investment within second year
- Last 25% of minimum investment within third year
Management
At least one person responsible for operating business operations in Thailand must be domiciled in Thailand.
Accounting/auditing requirements
- Branch office is required to maintain accounts only relating to the branch in Thailand.
- Accounts and financial statements must be prepared to submit to the Department of Business Development for each accounting period.
- The Manager must submit a copy of the financial statements to the Registrar no later than 150 days from the end of the fiscal year. Approval of the shareholders is not required.
- Financial statements must be audited by and subject to the opinion of a certified auditor
- Audited financial statements certified by an authorized auditor should be submitted to the Revenue Department and to the Commercial Registrar for each accounting period.
Auditing requirements specify that audited financial statements of juristic companies must be certified by an authorized auditor and be submitted to the Revenue Department and to the Commercial Registrar for each accounting year.
Tax regulations:
- Branch is subject to Thai corporate tax of 20% on income derived from its business operations in Thailand
- Must apply for a tax payer identification card and VAT certificate (if required)
- Must file annual corporate income tax returns with the Revenue Department
Requirements to carry out reserved business activities:
- Obtain a foreign business license
- Adhere to minimum capital requirements, transfer of technology and reporting requirements attached to the Foreign Business License.
Fees for registering a Branch of a Foreign Company
- Application fee 2,000 Baht
- Government fee 20,000 – 250, 000 Baht
Representative Offices of Foreign Companies
Must have the following 3 characteristics:
- Established in accordance with the Foreign Law with an office in Thailand to operate the services to the head office or the affiliated company or the group of companies in foreign countries
- Provides services to the head office, affiliated company or group of companies without receiving income for the services rendered. However, a Representative Office can receive funds to cover expenses.
- Has no authority to receive purchase orders or to offer for sale or to negotiate business deals with any person or juristic person.
Scope of business activities should be limited to the following 5 categories.
- Locating sources of goods and services in Thailand on behalf of the head office
- Managing quantities of goods purchased in Thailand by the head office
- Providing advice and assistance relevant to goods and services sold to agents or consumers in Thailand
- Disseminating information on new goods and services to the head office
- Reporting on Business developments in Thailand to the head office
Investment capital requirements
Minimum investment capital must not be less than 25% of the estimated average annual operating expenses calculated over 3 years, but not less than 3 million Baht.
Requirements to remit minimum capital are as follows.
- First 25% of minimum investment within first 3 months
- Another 25% of minimum investment within first year
- Another 25% of minimum investment within second year
- Last 25% of minimum investment within third year
Management
At least one person responsible for operating business operations in Thailand must be domiciled in Thailand.
Fees for registering a Representative Office of a Foreign Company
- Application fee 2,000 Baht
- Government fee 20,000 – 250, 000 Baht
Tax regulations
- Obtain a corporate tax identification number
- Submit income tax returns to the Revenue Department and Department of Business Development
- All individuals and local staff must obtain taxpayer cards
*A representative office is not subject to Thai taxation since such representative office is understood to be receiving a subsidy from the head office to meet its expenses in Thailand and such gross receipts are not classified as revenue to be included in arriving at income tax payable by a juristic person.
International Headquarters
On May 1, 2015 Thailand introduced the International Headquarters scheme. It replaced the Regional Operating Headquarter scheme that expired in 15 November 2015.
Scope of business activities:
- Managerial/technical services
- Supporting services such as procurement, research and development. Marketing and sales promotion etc.
- Financial management
- International trading centers (ITC)
An associated enterprise refers to companies or partnerships which are related to international headquarters and includes:
- A company/partnership which holds direct or indirect shares in the International Headquarters of not less than 25% of total capital
- A company/partnership in which the company/partnership is a direct or indirect shareholder or partner with not less than 25% of total capital
- A company/partnership which has power to control or supervise the management and operation of International Headquarters
- A company/partnership in which International Headquarters has the power to control or supervise the operation and management
- A company/partnership in which the company or partnership has the power to control/supervise the operation and management.
Investment capital requirements
The paid up registered capital must not be less than 10 million Baht.
Management
Not specified
Accounting/Auditing requirements
- Must prepare financial statements for each accounting period
- Financial statements must be audited by and subject to the opinion of a certified auditor
- Audited financial statements certified by an authorized auditor should be submitted to the Revenue Department and to the Commercial Registrar for each accounting period.
Tax regulations
Tax incentives offered by the Revenue Department subject to the following conditions:
- Supervise foreign branch offices or associated enterprises in not less than one country
- Paid up registered capital should not be less than 10 million Baht on the last day of the accounting period
- Total business spending should not be less than 15 million Baht per annum
Corporate Income Tax (CIT):
CIT is offered for 15 accounting periods from the date of approval by the Director General of the Revenue Department.
Personal Income Tax (PIT):
PIT is offered to expatriates at specialist/executive level at a reduced rate of 15%
Specific Business Tax (SBT):
Exemption for the revenue from lending to Associated companies
Withholding tax (WHT):
Exemption on dividends paid by the International Head Quarters to corporate shareholders in foreign countries and interest paid by the International Head Quarters to corporate lenders in foreign companies.
*Other incentives are provided by the Board of Investment (BOI) subject to the following conditions.
- Supervise associated companies in foreign countries or its foreign branches in atleast one country
- Paid up registered capital must not be less than 10 million Baht
Joint Ventures
A Joint Venture is a Thai Limited Liability company owned by 2 or more companies. According to Thai law a Joint Venture is not a legal person. Although it can engage in business, it cannot be registered. However, the Revenue Department recognizes a Joint Venture as a juristic person for taxation purposes and therefore should apply for tax identification card. Also, a Joint Venture should register for VAT if it qualifies under the requirements of the Revenue code.
Critical elements of a Joint Venture (as per the Revenue code and the Revenue Department):
- At least one of the Joint Venture partners must be a juristic entity
- A joint investment in the Joint Venture
- Sharing of profit or loss under the Joint Venture agreement
- Partners should have joint liability to third parties related to the Joint Venture
Investment capital requirements
Not specified
Management
Not specified
Accounting/Auditing requirements
- Must prepare financial statements for each accounting period
- Financial statements must be audited by and subject to the opinion of a certified auditor
- Audited financial statements certified by an authorized auditor should be submitted to the Revenue Department and to the Commercial Registrar for each accounting period.
Registration procedure
A foreign company that participates in a Joint Venture:
- Should obtain a business license under the Foreign Business Act
- Should create a branch office in Thailand
- Should register the Joint Venture to obtain a tax payer identification card
Time taken to obtain a business permit and a taxpayer identification number:
8 – 10 weeks.
Cost: 20,000 – 250,000 Baht
Regional Offices
Refers to an office established by a transnational corporation in a country which does not include the country of its registered head office.
A regional Office can engage in the following business activities:
- Managing business activities of branches and/or subsidiary companies on behalf of the head office located in the same region as the regional office.
- Provide services to the branches of the head office and its subsidiary companies
Prohibited activities:
- No income can be derived by provisioning the above mentioned services
- Cannot accept a purchase order or make a sales offer
- Cannot negotiate business arrangements
If the business activities undertaken by the Regional Office are included in the List 3 of the Foreign Business Act, then a foreign business license must be obtained from the Director General of the Department of Business Development.
Investment capital requirements
Invested capital must be at least 25% of the average estimated expenses of the past 3 years but not less than 3 million Baht (as per the Foreign Business Act).
Management
Not specified
Accounting/Auditing requirements
- Must prepare financial statements for each accounting period
- Financial statements must be audited by and subject to the opinion of a certified auditor
- Audited financial statements certified by an authorized auditor should be submitted to the Revenue Department and to the Commercial Registrar for each accounting period.
Registration procedure
- Should obtain a foreign business license (based on the Foreign Business Act)
Fees for registering a Regional Office
- Application fee 2,000 Baht
- Registration fee 2,000 – 250,000 Baht
Tax regulations
- Should obtain a corporate tax identification number
- Should submit tax returns
- All staff are required to obtain tax payer cards and submit personal income tax
Outsourcing Employment Through a GEO Employer of Record Service
Whether to incorporate in Thailand, and what sort of entity to setup are just two of the many choices companies must make when expanding into a new market.
If the company intends to have staff in Thailand they must also decide whether they will administer that employment internally or use a Global Employment Organization to handle payroll and Employer of Record responsibilities. A GEO Employer of Record solution is an attractive alternative where
- the company is looking to setup an office quickly
- the company wants to work within a defined budget
- the company wants to limit its initial commitment in Thailand
- the company needs help with tax, employment, immigration and payroll compliance in Thailand
The complexity of employment regulations in Thailand makes the use of a GEO advisable coupled with local legal counsel to ensure full compliance with employment laws, for example the drafting of local contracts for workers.
Shield GEO provides a comprehensive service in Thailand allowing companies to deploy their staff quickly with reasonable, clearly stated costs and timeframes. The company contracts directly with Shield to employ and payroll their staff on their behalf in Thailand.
Shield GEO then becomes the Employer of Record. Shield GEO assumes the legal responsibility for these employees, sponsoring them on work permits, complying with local employment law and running their monthly payroll. Using Shield GEO is the fastest and most cost effective way to deploy local and foreign workers into Thailand. Read more about outsourced employment through Shield GEO.
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