- UK Citizen
- Statutory Residence Test (SRT) passed so that my Tax residency maintains to be in the UK. (Spend 16+ days in the UK in a given tax year where I was a UK tax resident the previous year) (Pass the Third automatic UK test by working during the 16 days in the UK)
- Continue to pay tax in UK, tax code remains unchanged to employer and use UK bank account to send money to Thailand to withdraw cash.
- Work from my apartment on a 60 day tourist visa + 30 day extension --> Fly back to UK to meet SRT criteria --> repeat 6 month tourist visa again.
- Able to rent apartment on tourist visa.
- Eventually apply for the LTR thai visa (which I meet the requirements for) once working / living like this is proven to work well.
Realistically, how feasible is this plan? Are immigration officers going to turn me away on my second 6 month tourist visa? Will I get people knocking at my door to pay tax in Thailand after the 183 day point?
How is everyone else managing this? or is everyone just hopping to a new country every 2 months?
Any other advice welcome, this is my final choice before I quit my tech job and go down the TEFL route…
>How much actual time have you spent in Thailand…?
I’ve visited several times for trips of varying lengths up to a month or so. Rented condo’s and basically lived as if I was living there the last trip, so I know what I’m in for. I don’t like beaches and would be working from my condo so there’s no issues there.
>Why would you give up a high paying job you can do anywhere for a low-paying one…?
I don’t want to give up my job, but I have enough savings that my only priority is to live in Asia now. I’m past the point of caring what I’m doing as long as I can get there. I’ll work my current role until I get caught / fired and then I’ll either find a new remote role and repeat or go down the teaching route for more security.
>No-one will care unless you explicitly tell HMRC you are out of the country.
So there’s zero risk of my tax code changing even if I spend the full year abroad? I thought these SRT tests are done automatically once you leave the country and some timer starts.
>Why would you do this…? Do you have a Thai bank account…?
I don’t, I thought getting one and transferring money to it on tourist / education visa would raise suspicion of where these funds are coming from and that I may working in the country.
>You have vastly over-thought this.
Not really dude, I don’t want to country hop every few months, I want to basically settle longish term in one city whilst paying tax in the UK and living normally in Thailand without getting caught and jeopardising me getting a work visa or visiting in the future.