Revenue Code
Governs corporate and personal income tax, VAT and withholding tax, with surcharges and penalties for late filing.
Southern Thailand — Phuket
Tax, Accounting & Employer Compliance in Phuket
Keeping every statutory tax and accounting deadline under control.
Why Phuket matters are different
Phuket has one of the highest shares of foreign-party transactions in Thailand: condominium purchases, long leases, hotel and restaurant investment, cross-national marriage and long-stay residence. Matters here usually run on two tracks at once — Thai law, and the requirements of the counterparty’s home country. Sequencing documents so they work in both jurisdictions from the start matters more than finishing quickly.
A company registered in Thailand carries layered statutory duties: monthly filings with the Revenue Department, social security contributions, bookkeeping under the Accounting Act, and annual financial statements submitted to the Department of Business Development. We handle these alongside the legal work so that everything filed with the authorities is consistent, reducing exposure to surcharges arising from late filing or mismatched figures.
- Foreign ownership in a condominium building is capped by the Condominium Act, so checking the building’s foreign quota before paying a deposit is unavoidable.
- Long leases are common here; whether the lease is registered at the Land Office changes its binding effect significantly.
- Accommodation businesses carry specific licensing requirements; using a building outside its permitted class is a frequent source of disputes and administrative orders.
- Family cases here often involve parties of different nationalities, requiring documents that work in Thailand and abroad simultaneously.
Courts and authorities in Phuket
Jurisdiction and filing requirements should be confirmed for each matter, because practice and required attachments differ between offices.
| Court / authority | What it handles |
|---|---|
| Phuket Provincial Court and Phuket Municipal Court | Civil and criminal cases within Phuket province |
| Phuket Juvenile and Family Court | Divorce, custody and cross-national family matters |
| Labour Court Region 8 | Dismissal and severance cases across the Andaman provinces |
| Phuket Provincial Land Office and branch offices | Registration of land, condominium and lease transactions |
| Phuket Immigration Office | Extensions of stay, 90-day reporting and residence notification |
| Phuket Legal Execution Office | Seizure, garnishment and auction of local assets |
| Phuket Provincial Commercial Office | Local company and business registration services |
| District offices in Phuket (civil registration) | Marriage and divorce registration and civil status records |
What we handle in Phuket
- VAT registration and employer registration with the Social Security Office
- Monthly withholding tax and VAT filings
- Closing the books, preparing financial statements and liaising with the auditor
- Half-year and annual corporate income tax filings
- Payroll, employee income tax and social security contributions
- Advice on cross-border transactions and double tax treaties
- Responding to tax assessments and handling appeals
The local process, step by step
- 1Initial case assessment of the business structure and existing records
- 2Building a monthly and annual compliance calendar for the client
- 3Collecting documents each cycle, bookkeeping and checking tax invoices
- 4Filing on time and returning filing evidence to the client’s records
- 5Annual review with the auditor before the financial statements are filed
Documents to prepare
- Company affidavit, shareholder list and memorandum of association
- Input and output tax invoices and receipts for the period
- Company bank statements
- Employment contracts and payroll data
- Commercial contracts affecting revenue and expense recognition
Points to watch
- Late filings attract penalties and surcharges under the Revenue Code and are not automatically waived.
- Expenses without supporting documents may be disallowed on audit.
- Payments abroad usually carry withholding obligations; check the applicable tax treaty before remitting.
- Assessment outcomes rest with the revenue officer; we cannot guarantee the result of an appeal.
Typical timeframe
Monthly filings follow the Revenue Department’s deadlines for each cycle, while annual closing and submission of financial statements to the Department of Business Development follow the statutory windows after the accounting year end. Your company’s specific dates are set out in advance in the compliance calendar.
Timeframes are indicative and depend on the court calendar and the authority handling the matter in Phuket.
Areas of Phuket we regularly serve
เมืองภูเก็ตป่าตองกะทู้ถลางเชิงทะเลราไวย์กะรนกมลาบางเทาฉลอง
Laws that govern this matter — Phuket
Summarised for general understanding only. The application of each provision depends on the facts of your case.
Accounting Act B.E. 2543 (2000)
Sets duties to keep accounts, appoint a bookkeeper and retain accounting records.
Thailand’s double tax agreements
Relevant to tax residence and double taxation on cross-border income.
Example situations and how they are handled — Phuket
These are constructed examples used to explain procedure. They are not client matters, and no outcome is implied or guaranteed.
Illustrative scenario: an invitation letter from the Revenue Department
Situation: A company is asked to explain historical expense items.
Usual approach: Assemble documents item by item and period by period, and reconcile tax invoices, contracts and payment trails before attending. (Hypothetical.)
Advice for your specific situation — Phuket
Foreigners earning income in Thailand
- Days present in Thailand in a tax year affect residence status — keep an entry/exit log.
- Foreign tax documents usually need certified translation before filing in Thailand.
SME operators
- Separate personal and business accounts from day one — it greatly simplifies audits.
- Check withholding duties on every service payment — a frequent assessment trigger.
Every matter — what to do in the first 7 days
- Gather every original document in one place, keep scanned copies, and note the date you received each one.
- Write a dated timeline — the date you received a notice or learned of the event usually starts the limitation or appeal clock.
- Do not sign a settlement, debt acknowledgement or withdrawal before a lawyer reviews it — it may extinguish existing rights.
- Preserve digital evidence unaltered (full screenshots, original files, emails with headers) — edited files are easy to challenge.
Questions people in Phuket ask
Can a foreigner really buy a condominium in Phuket?
Yes, within the foreign-ownership proportion each building is allowed under the Condominium Act, and with bank evidence of funds remitted from abroad. Before paying a deposit, verify the building’s remaining foreign quota, any registered encumbrances and outstanding common-area fees on the unit.
Do long leases of land or villas in Phuket need registration?
A lease exceeding three years must be registered with the competent official, otherwise it is enforceable for only three years. A renewal clause does not automatically extend the term, so renewal and assignment wording should be checked before signing.
Marrying a foreign national in Phuket — what is needed?
The foreign party needs an affirmation of marital status from their embassy, translated into Thai and certified through the required steps, before registering at the district office. The order cannot be swapped — the registrar accepts only fully certified documents.
When must a company register for VAT?
When turnover reaches the threshold set by the Revenue Code, or where the activity requires registration by law. Some companies register voluntarily before the threshold to claim input tax; this should be weighed against the customer and supplier mix.
Does a company with no revenue still have to file?
Yes. Even with no movement the company must file for each period and submit annual financial statements. Stopping filings accumulates penalties and can affect the company’s standing.
Can you work with our existing auditor?
Yes. We commonly prepare and assemble the records for your certified auditor to examine, keeping the auditor’s opinion independent as professional standards require.
Same service in other provinces
Tax, Accounting & Employer Compliance — BangkokTax, Accounting & Employer Compliance — Chiang MaiTax, Accounting & Employer Compliance — ChonburiTax, Accounting & Employer Compliance — Khon KaenTax, Accounting & Employer Compliance — Udon ThaniTax, Accounting & Employer Compliance — Nakhon RatchasimaTax, Accounting & Employer Compliance — SongkhlaTax, Accounting & Employer Compliance — Surat ThaniTax, Accounting & Employer Compliance — Chiang RaiTax, Accounting & Employer Compliance — RayongTax, Accounting & Employer Compliance — NonthaburiTax, Accounting & Employer Compliance — nationwide
Other legal services in Phuket
Litigation & Court Representation — PhuketCivil, criminal, labour, family, succession and land disputesCorporate & Commercial — PhuketIncorporation, contracts, foreign business, BOI and complianceImmigration & Foreign Nationals — PhuketVisas, work permits, residency and lawful statusIntellectual Property — PhuketTrademarks, copyright, patents and enforcementLand & Real Estate — PhuketTitle due diligence, sale, lease and transfer at the Land OfficeFamily & Succession — PhuketMarriage, divorce, custody, wills and estate administrationMediation, Arbitration & Enforcement — PhuketResolving disputes outside court and making awards effectiveNotarial Services & International Documents — PhuketSignature and document certification, translation, consular and embassy legalisation
Discuss your Phuket matter with an attorney
Tell us the facts and we will explain which authority applies, what documents are needed and the realistic timeframe.