Do overseas clients withhold Thai tax on my translation work?

Overseas clients generally do not apply Thai withholding, but that income is still reportable in Thailand under residence rules — confirm with your accountant.

What withholding tax rate applies to a Translator?

Generally 3% when the client is a juristic person. For example, a ฿15,000.00 fee is withheld ฿450.00, so you receive ฿14,550.00.

Does a Translator issue the 50 Tawi themselves?

No. On your sales invoice the client withholds and issues the 50 Tawi to you; your job is to keep it as evidence to credit on your annual return.

Freelancer guide

Invoicing & tax for a Translator in Thailand

Document translation and interpreting for company clients is a service fee withheld at 3%; translation billed to overseas clients can have different tax treatment.

By the BillsOS team · Updated 8 Jun 2026

A worked example

Say you are a Translator invoicing a corporate client ฿15,000.00 for your work. The income type is “Service / hire-of-work fees”, withheld at 3%. The figures below come straight from the BillsOS engine.

Fee (before VAT)	฿15,000.00
Total invoiced	฿15,000.00
Less withholding tax 3%	-฿450.00
Net the client pays (QR amount)	฿14,550.00

The client withholds ฿450.00 and transfers you ฿14,550.00, handing you a 50 Tawi certificate as evidence.

Who withholds: On your own sales invoice you are the payee. Your client (the payer) is the one who withholds the tax and issues you the 50 Tawi — you do not issue it yourself.

What to watch for in this trade

A Thai juristic client withholds 3% and issues a 50 Tawi; overseas clients usually do not apply Thai withholding, but the income still goes on your annual return.

Documents you’ll need

Receipt — if not VAT-registered you issue a receipt (only VAT-registered persons issue tax invoices)
Quotation and invoice — before the work and when you bill
50 Tawi — received from the client and kept for every job, to credit on your annual return

Tools & guides for this

BillsOS issues invoices and receipts that compute the withholding for you, with an exact-amount PromptPay QR embedded so the client scans and pays straight into your own account.

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BillsOS only formats and computes documents for you. This is general information, not tax advice — please confirm with the Revenue Department or your accountant.