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Richard Knight, ACSI

US-person exposure checker

Which US reporting obligations follow you to Thailand?

The United States taxes its citizens on worldwide income wherever they live. This is a plain-English triage of which reporting regimes your situation is likely to engage.

Answer on the right. It flags what to look into, not what to do.

Your situation

US citizen or green-card holder?

Foreign accounts over US$10,000 combined?

Hold non-US funds, bonds or pensions?

File a US return each year?

What likely applies

  • FBAR (FinCEN Form 114): a US person must report foreign financial accounts if their combined value tops US$10,000 at any point in the year. A Thai bank or brokerage account counts.
  • PFIC (Form 8621): non-US pooled funds, including many offshore funds, UK OEICs and investment bonds sold to expats, are treated punitively under US law. This is one of the most common and costly traps for Americans abroad.
  • FATCA (Form 8938): specified foreign financial assets above the filing thresholds are reported with your US return, separately from FBAR. The two overlap but are not the same form.
  • These are reporting obligations, not necessarily extra tax, but the penalties for missing them are severe. US-qualified input is required for specifics. Standard UK-oriented advice does not cover this layer.

A guide, not advice, and not a substitute for a US-qualified professional. Thresholds and forms change; confirm your own position before acting.

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A retired expat reading the playbook in Thailand

Free guide

The 2026 expat in Thailand tax and pension playbook.

Richard Knight ยท richardknightuk.com

Free ยท About 12 minutes to read

The 2026 expat in Thailand tax and pension playbook.

The 2024 Thai remittance rules changed how pension income is taxed. What that means for you, what a QROPS really does, and the moves that compound over the next five years.

The guide opens on this page. No follow-up unless you ask.