Company formation for non-residents
We set up a Thai private limited company for trade, services, IT and market entry into Thailand. We prepare the Memorandum and Articles of Association, reserve your company name, arrange a registered address, handle registration through the DBD Biz Regist platform and obtain your Certificate of Incorporation. We also register your tax ID and VAT, and support opening a corporate account with a local bank. Most of the groundwork is handled remotely.
A quick overview of the corporate, tax and annual requirements of the Thai jurisdiction for non-residents.
A private limited company under the Thai Civil and Commercial Code. The most common structure for foreign-owned business.
As a general rule, non-residents may hold up to 49% of shares, with Thai partners holding at least 51%. Full ownership is possible through BOI promotion or the Treaty of Amity in certain sectors.
At least one director of any nationality and two shareholders. A foreign director is allowed. A local registered address is required.
The standard rate on net profit. Small companies benefit from a progressive scale of 0/15/20%. VAT is 7% on turnover once registered.
There is no strict statutory minimum, but hiring a foreign employee and obtaining a work permit requires THB 2m per person. The government fee is THB 5,500 per THB 1m of capital.
Annual financial statements and a mandatory audit for every company, with the corporate income tax return filed within 150 days of the financial year-end.
The final cost depends on your chosen package, industry, capital amount and any additional project requirements.
Information current as of July 2026.
From basic private limited registration to a full launch with a registered address and corporate accounts in both a Thai and a foreign-currency bank.
Company registration only
A fully registered company with a complete set of incorporation documents.
With registered address and account
A ready-to-operate company: registered address, bank account and tax registration.
With foreign-currency account
A fully operational company with a multi-currency account and priority support.
Important: bank account support does not guarantee that an account will be opened. The final decision rests with the bank after reviewing the company profile and its beneficial owners.
Thailand suits projects that need access to the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia, a local entity to work with domestic clients and a presence in the ASEAN region.
A company for trading agents, import and export. Run foreign trade through a local entity with access to Thailand's logistics and ports as a Southeast Asian hub.
A local entity to work with Thai clients, sign contracts and hire staff on the ground.
Development, SaaS and digital services. For priority technology sectors, BOI promotion is available with full foreign ownership and tax incentives.
Export-oriented manufacturing projects, based in industrial estates and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) with access to incentives.
Direct access to the ASEAN region and a market of hundreds of millions of consumers, with well-developed logistics and Asian supply chains.
Over 60 double tax treaties that reduce rates on dividends, interest and royalties in cross-border transactions.
For priority sectors - up to 100% foreign ownership, tax holidays of up to 13 years and exemption from duties on equipment.
Several legal routes to full ownership: BOI promotion, the Treaty of Amity for US investors and sector-specific agreements for service industries.
To register a private limited company you will need participant documents, at least two shareholders, the company's articles and a unique name ending in "Limited". Foreign documents must be notarised and apostilled, or consularly legalised, and we handle most of the preparation remotely.
The exact set of documents depends on your industry, ownership structure and the route to foreign participation. Non-resident documents require notarisation and an apostille, or legalisation in the country of origin.
As a general rule, a foreign founder may hold up to 49% of shares, with Thai partners holding at least 51%. Full ownership is possible through BOI promotion, a Foreign Business Licence or the Treaty of Amity in certain sectors.
At least two shareholders of any nationality and at least one director. A foreign director is allowed with no nationality restrictions. Shareholders may be individuals or corporate entities.
There is no strict statutory minimum, but hiring a foreign employee and obtaining a work permit requires THB 2m per person. At least 25% of the capital must be paid up at registration.
A registered address in Thailand appropriate to your activity. VAT registration and certain licences require physical premises, so a virtual address is not always sufficient.
The company appoints an auditor and keeps proper accounting records. Annual financial statements and an audit are mandatory for every company, and the corporate income tax return is filed within 150 days of the financial year-end.
Thailand taxes a company’s net profit at a standard rate, with a progressive scale for small businesses. Your overall burden depends on turnover, industry, available incentives and timely filing with the Revenue Department.
20%
the standard rate on net profit. Small companies benefit from a progressive scale of 0/15/20%.
Residence
worldwide income for residents, with foreign income taxed when remitted.
150 days
to file the corporate income tax return after the financial year-end.
PND 51
an advance corporate income tax payment mid-way through the financial year.
The standard corporate income tax rate in Thailand is 20%. Small companies benefit from a progressive scale of 0/15/20%.
A resident company is taxed on its worldwide income, with foreign income becoming taxable when the funds are remitted to Thailand. A company is resident from the moment it is registered.
VAT is 7%. VAT registration is mandatory once annual turnover exceeds THB 1.8m.
Withholding tax applies to dividends, interest and royalties paid to non-residents, with rates reduced under double tax treaties.
Keep accounting records under Thai Financial Reporting Standards (TFRS)
Prepare annual financial statements and undergo a mandatory audit, required of every company
File tax returns through the Revenue Department’s e-filing system
File the corporate income tax return within 150 days of the financial year-end
Make the half-year advance corporate income tax payment
File the annual return and list of shareholders with the DBD
Stay compliant with VAT and withholding tax obligations
The progressive scale for small companies applies where paid-up capital is up to THB 5m and annual turnover is up to THB 30m. Foreign companies have additional withholding obligations on dividends, interest and royalties.
Данные актуальны на июль 2026 года
The right banking route depends on your company's activity, payment geography and beneficial owner profile. Depending on your goals, we select Thai banks for baht settlements and solutions for accepting payments and working with marketplaces.
For day-to-day operations and baht settlements within the country. We match a bank to your company profile, with options including Kasikornbank, Siam Commercial Bank and Bangkok Bank.
For retail sales and working with platforms. Accept payments via PromptPay and e-wallets, with Opn Payments and 2C2P as payment gateways for integration.
We prepare your company profile before submission, so that the bank's requirements and currency-control checks are addressed in advance.
We will assess your activity, payment geography and bank requirements before any submission.
We support your project from the initial review through to receiving your corporate documents and completing any agreed additional tasks. We act as your corporate agent under Thai requirements.
We review your ownership structure, participants and intended activity, and check foreign participation limits and client due diligence requirements before we begin.
We clear the company name, prepare the Memorandum and Articles of Association and handle the filing with the DBD through the DBD Biz Regist platform.
We help appoint the director and set up the shareholder structure, and arrange a registered address in line with your chosen package and activity.
We register your tax ID with the Revenue Department, register for VAT where required and put the company on the tax register.
The process covers an initial review, name reservation, preparation of incorporation documents, registration with the DBD and tax registration. We handle most stages remotely under power of attorney.
Thailand does not solve every task. In some cases it is more honest to consider another jurisdiction, and we will help you find the right one.
As a general rule a foreigner may hold up to 49% of shares; full ownership requires a route through BOI promotion, a Foreign Business Licence or the Treaty of Amity, which does not suit every project.
Worth considering: Hong Kong, Singapore, BVI
A structure with Thai shareholders and hiring a foreign employee require a local address, capital from THB 2m and Thai staff on the payroll. A virtual address is not always sufficient.
Worth considering: Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia
Thailand requires a mandatory annual audit for every company, proper bookkeeping and regular tax filing. For projects with minimal activity, simpler structures are a better fit.
Worth considering: BVI, Seychelles, Belize
Registration involves preparing incorporation documents, registering with the DBD and tax registration, and takes several weeks. For a quick launch, other jurisdictions are simpler.
Worth considering: Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia
Not sure whether Thailand suits your project? In a consultation we will honestly assess your case and recommend the best-fit jurisdiction, even if it is not Thailand.
If Thailand does not fully fit on structure, access to foreign ownership or running costs, compare the alternatives on the key parameters.
| JURISDICTION | BEST FOR | TAXES | MAINTENANCE | BANKS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Hong Kong | BEST FOR International trade, IT, holdings, working with Asia. | TAXES 8.25% / 16.5%, territorial basis. | MAINTENANCE Moderate, annual audit. | BANKS Banks and fintech, but strict compliance. |
 Singapore | BEST FOR Holdings, IT, fintech, Asian headquarters. | TAXES 17% rate, incentives for startups. | MAINTENANCE Moderate, transparent requirements. | BANKS Banks and fintech, strict compliance. |
 China | BEST FOR Manufacturing, trade, access to the domestic market. | TAXES Standard rate 25%, incentives for high-tech. | MAINTENANCE Strict, mandatory annual audit. | BANKS Local banks, strict currency controls. |
 Malaysia | BEST FOR Regional business, trade, services. | TAXES Standard rate 24%. | MAINTENANCE Moderate cost. | BANKS Regional banks, moderate requirements. |
We will help you compare jurisdictions on taxes, banks, annual costs and structural requirements for your specific case.
Every project is unique - we tailor the solution to each client’s specific task, jurisdiction and business model.
Thailand For several years the client worked with Thai customers as an individual but kept hitting a ceiling: without a local company he could not sign proper contracts or hire staff. He needed an entity and a baht account.
Solution: We registered a private limited company with the DBD, put it on the tax register and helped open a corporate account. Most of it was done remotely, the client only travelled in to finalise the bank.
Before, everything ran on trust and card-to-card transfers. Now I have a company, contracts and a proper account, clients take me more seriously, and I sleep better too.
Thailand They sold goods on Thai platforms through an intermediary and were losing money on fees and delayed payouts. They wanted their own entity, to accept payments directly and stop depending on someone else’s account.
Solution: We set up a private limited company, connected PromptPay and e-wallets and arranged a corporate account in baht. We also helped pass the bank’s review based on the shop’s profile.
The bank seemed like the hardest part, but the team prepared all the documents in advance and explained what to expect. Payments now come in directly, payouts are faster, and the middleman is gone.
Thailand The client ran foreign trade with Asian suppliers, but settlements went through third parties. They needed their own company in Thailand to act as a trading agent and settle with counterparties directly.
Solution: We selected the right activities for import and export, registered a private limited company, completed tax registration and opened an account for foreign trade operations.
I put it off for ages because the paperwork looked daunting. In reality almost everything was done remotely, and settlements with partners became clearer and cheaper. I only wish I’d done it sooner.
If you cannot find the answer to your question, leave a request and we will look at your situation personally.
Get a consultationWith a complete set of documents, registering a private limited company takes around two to four weeks: name reservation, preparation of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, registration with the DBD, issue of the Certificate of Incorporation and tax registration. Regulated industries with sector licences take longer. Opening a corporate account is handled separately and is not included in the registration timeline.
We handle most of the preparation and the filing with the DBD remotely under power of attorney. Non-resident documents are notarised and apostilled, or consularly legalised, in the country of origin. Your presence may be required when opening a bank account - the requirements depend on the specific bank.
The director can be of any nationality - there is no requirement for a Thai director. However, as a general rule Thai shareholders hold at least 51%, while full foreign ownership is possible through BOI promotion, a Foreign Business Licence or the Treaty of Amity. A local registered address is required.
There is no strict statutory minimum for a Thai private limited company. At least 25% of the capital is paid up at registration. Hiring a foreign employee and obtaining a work permit requires THB 2m of registered capital per person.
The standard corporate income tax rate is 20%. Small companies benefit from a progressive scale of 0/15/20%. VAT is 7% on turnover, and registration is mandatory once annual turnover exceeds THB 1.8m. Withholding tax applies to dividends, interest and royalties paid to non-residents, with rates reduced under double tax treaties.
For day-to-day operations and baht settlements within the country you will need an account with a Thai bank. We support the preparation of your company profile and the application, with options including Kasikornbank, Siam Commercial Bank and Bangkok Bank. The final decision rests with the bank after reviewing the company and its beneficial owners.
The company keeps accounting records, prepares annual financial statements and undergoes a mandatory audit - required of every Thai company regardless of size. The corporate income tax return is filed within 150 days of the financial year-end, with an advance payment made mid-year.
Not in every one. The Foreign Business Act restricts foreign participation in a number of sectors, with up to 49% ownership available as a general rule. Full foreign ownership is possible in priority sectors through BOI promotion, as well as through a Foreign Business Licence or the Treaty of Amity for US investors. We assess your activity before we begin.
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