Thailand Crypto Tax: What Actually Applies in 2026
Thailand's crypto taxation shifted dramatically in 2025: a five-year capital gains exemption appeared for licensed-exchange trades. But the exemption has sharp edges — and the remittance rules now reach crypto too.
The baseline that never changed
Crypto has been a taxable digital asset since 2018:
- Transfer gains (selling/swapping above cost) → assessable income under Section 40(4)(i)
- Holding returns (staking, etc.) → assessable under Section 40(4)(h)
- Taxed on the progressive personal schedule (0–35%) — no separate flat capital gains rate
The 2025–2029 exemption (the big change)
A Royal Decree-based measure exempts personal income tax on capital gains from digital asset transfers executed through SEC-licensed exchanges, brokers or dealers, from 1 January 2025 through 31 December 2029. No gain cap.
| Scenario | Tax treatment |
|---|---|
| Sell BTC with profit on Bitkub / Gulf Binance (licensed) | Exempt from personal income tax |
| Same trade's 15% withholding | No longer applied for qualifying trades |
| VAT on licensed transfers | Exempt since Jan 2024 (Royal Decree 788), no end date |
| Staking/mining/airdrop income | Ordinary income — taxable |
| Trades on foreign/unlicensed platforms | Taxable at progressive rates up to 35% |
| P2P deals outside licensed venues | Taxable + no record-keeping protection |
Licensed Thai exchanges (Bitkub, Gulf Binance) issue transaction histories sufficient for Revenue Department purposes. Offshore trading means self-built records and full tax exposure.
The part most guides miss: remittance interaction
Sell crypto on an offshore exchange abroad, then transfer THB proceeds into a Thai bank? That transfer is a remittance of foreign-sourced income by a tax resident — assessable under the 2024+ rules even if the original gain predates them. The licensed-exchange exemption only covers trades through Thai SEC-licensed venues.
Genuinely still unclear
- DeFi yields/staking treatment remains guidance-thin
- The proposed foreign-income grace period (if enacted) would affect timing strategies
Last reviewed August 2026 against Royal Gazette items and Revenue Department guidance. Educational information — verify current decrees before acting; consult an advisor who handles crypto specifically.