Thailand – Belgium question: the tax inspector sent me a payment for 2020 which is much too high
Questioner:
I am Belgian. Live in Thailand. Have a pension from Belgium. To apply for my annual visa at the immigration service, I submit an affidavit that the embassy checks and validates my pension and thus I receive my extension. I pay my tax in Belgium as a non-Belgian.
Now the tax inspector has sent me a payment for 2020 which is way too high and which I was not aware of. I emailed them about this amount and said they had sent me a letter for information, but the letter has been sent back to the tax authorities.
I saw that my address was not complete and could not be delivered to me in Thailand (via email from the bell.) Now I had asked for a revision and now they send me an email that they needed different information to to change it. One is that they have proof of paying taxes in Thailand or no income.
I don't work here, I'm retired. I pay taxes in Belgium. Do I also have to pay tax on my pension in Thailand? I only transfer money what I need every month. I have no income here. They want proof from the tax authorities.
What to do and where can I find a tax office in Nakhon Ratchasima for the necessary papers? And what kind of papers do I have to apply for there because I am not registered there because I don't work. Then they won't think anything of me or of my wife who has never worked.
I remain with best regards,
valentine
Reaction Lung Addie
Dear Valentine,
The fact that you have received an exceptionally high assessment is due to the fact that the Tax Authorities are not aware of your current new situation after deregistration. It is not without reason that in my file on TB “Deregistration for Belgians”, I instruct the Council, upon deregistration, to inform the public services ITSELF of your new situation.
Due to a lack of information, the tax authorities treat you as a SINGLE person, which results in a higher assessment than if you are a MARRIED person. What are you to do now? Correct the situation and, if necessary, pay the assessment and, if your objection is accepted, receive a refund of the overpayment.
The letter you ultimately received is a form letter. I have noticed in recent years that this has become a 'normal procedure' for the tax authorities.
Make a note of the name of the 'File Manager' and always use it for subsequent contacts. One of the most important documents is:
Proof, from the Thai municipality, that you and your spouse are registered and live at the same address. Without that proof you will continue to be treated as single as you are considered 'De facto Separated'.
Send a document stating that you cannot obtain a TIN (Tax Income Number) in Thailand, just like a Thai national who has no income from Thailand. That someone who does not earn any income from Thailand also has NO TAX File. Because in the absence of such a file, the tax authorities in Thailand cannot or do not want to issue a supporting document.
That you are staying here on the basis of a NON IM-O visa and that it is strictly prohibited to exercise a professional activity (add a copy of the visa) without a work permit and that this is a different type of visa.
That the tax authorities can always check this information at the Belgian embassy in Bangkok.
This was always accepted in the cases I was handling.
An address of the tax office in Korat:
182 Atsadang Road, Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000
You can try to obtain a document there, but the chance that you will obtain this is small, but you can always try.
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