1: Forming a Company

To set up a limited company in Thailand, the following procedures should be followed:

A . Corporate Name Reservation

The name to be reserved must not be the same or close to that of other companies. Certain names are not allowed and therefore the name reservation guidelines of the Commercial Registration Department in the Ministry of Commerce should be observed. The approved corporate name is valid for 30 days. No extension is allowed.

B . File a Memorandum of A s s o c i a t i o n

A Memorandum of Association to be filed with the Commercial Registration Department must include the name of the company that has been successfully reserved, the province where the company will be located, its business objectives, the capital to be registered, and the names of the seven promoters. The capital information must include the number of shares and the par value. At the formation step, the authorized capital, although partly paid, must all be issued.

Although there are no minimum capital requirements, the amount of the capital should be respectable enough and adequate for the intended business operation.

The Memorandum registration fee is 50 baht per 100,000 baht of registered capital. The minimum fee is 500 baht, the maximum 25,000 baht.

C . Convene a Statutory Meeting

Once the share structure has been defined, a statutory meeting is called during which the articles of incorporation and bylaws are approved, the Board of Directors is elected and an auditor appointed. A minimum of 25 percent of the par value of each subscribed share must be paid.

D . R e g i s t r a t i o n

Within three months of the date of the Statutory Meeting, the directors must submit the application to establish the c o m p a n y. Company registration fees are 500 baht per 100,000 baht of registered capital. The minimum fee is 5,000 baht; the maximum is 250,000 baht.

E . Tax Registration

Businesses liable for income tax must obtain a tax I.D. card and number for the company from the Revenue Department within 60 days of incorporation or the start of operations. Business operators earning more than 600,000 baht per annum must register for VAT within 30 days of the date they reach 600,000 baht in sales.

 

2: Reporting Require m e n t s

Firms must keep books and follow accounting procedures specified in the Civil and Commercial Code, the Revenue Code and the Accounts Act. Documents may be prepared in any language, provided that a Thai translation is attached. All accounting entries should be written in ink, typewritten, or printed.

S p e c i f i c a l l y, Section 1206 of the Civil and Commercial Code provides rules on the accounts that should be maintained as follows:

The directors must cause true accounts to be kept:

1.

Of the sums received and expended by the company and of the matters in respect of which each receipt or expenditure takes place;

2.

Of the assets and liabilities of the company.

A . Imposition of Ta x e s

Companies are required to withhold income tax from the salary of all regular employees.

A value-added tax of seven percent is levied on the value added at each stage of the production process, and is applicable to most firms. The VAT must be paid on a monthly basis.

A specific business tax is levied on firms engaged in several categories of businesses not subject to VAT, based on gross receipts, at a variable rate ranging from 0.1 – 3.0 p e r c e n t .

Corporate income tax is 30 percent of net profits and is due twice each fiscal year. A mid-year profit forecast entails advance payment of corporate taxes.

B . Annual A c c o u n t s

A newly-established company or partnership should close accounts within 12 months from the date of its registration. T h e r e a f t e r, the accounts should be closed every 12 months. The performance record is to be certified by the company a u d i t o r, approved by shareholders, and filed with the Commercial Registration Department, Ministry of Commerce, within five months of the end of the fiscal year, and with the Revenue Department, Ministry of Finance, within 150 days of the end of the fiscal year.

If a company wishes to change its accounting period, it must obtain written approval from the Director General of the Revenue Department.

C. Accounting Principles

In general, the basic accounting principles practiced in the United States are accepted in Thailand, as are accounting methods and conventions as sanctioned by law. T h eInstitute of Certified Accountants and Auditors of T h a i l a n d is the authoritative group promoting the application of generally accepted accounting principles.

Any accounting method adopted by a company must be used consistently and may be changed only with approval of the Revenue Department.

Certain accounting practices of note include:

D e p re c i a t i o n . The Revenue Code permits the use of varying depreciation rates according to the nature of the classes of assets which have the effect of depreciating the assets over periods that may be shorter than their estimated useful lives. These maximum depreciation rates are not mandatory; a company may use lower rates that approximate the estimated useful lives of the assets. But if a lower rate is used in the books of the accounts, the same rate must be used in the income tax return.

Accounting for Pension Plans. Contributions to a pension or provident fund are not deductible for tax purposes unless these are actually paid out to the employees, or the fund is approved as a qualified fund by the Revenue Department and is managed by a licensed fund manager.

C o n s o l i d a t i o n . Local companies with either foreign or local subsidiaries are not required to consolidate their financial statements for tax and other government reporting purposes, except for listed companies which must submit consolidated financial statements to the Securities and Exchange Commission of T h a i l a n d .

S t a t u t o ry Reserve. A statutory reserve of at least five percent of the annual net profits arising from the business must be appropriated by the company at each distribution of dividends until the reserve reaches at least 10 percent of the company’s authorized capital.

Stock Dividends. Stock dividends are taxable as ordinary dividends and may be declared only if there is an approved increase in authorized capital. The law requires the authorized capital to be subscribed in full by the shareholders.

D. Auditing Requirements and Standards

Audited financial statements of juristic entities (that is, a limited company, a registered partnership, a branch, or representative office, or a regional office of a foreign corporation, or a joint venture) must be certified by an authorized auditor and submitted to the Revenue Department and (except for joint ventures) to the Commercial Registrar for each accounting year.

Auditing standards conforming to international auditing standards are, to the greater extent, recognized and practiced by authorized auditors in T h a i l a n d .3: Types of Business Organizations

Thailand recognizes three types of business org a n i z a t i o n s :

A . P a rt n e r s h i p

Thai and Western concepts of partnership are broadly similar. Thailand provides for three general types of partnerships:

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U n re g i s t e red ord i n a ry part n e r s h i p s, in which all partners are jointly and wholly liable for all obligations of the partnership

R e g i s t e red ord i n a ry part n e r s h i p s. If registered, the partnership becomes a legal entity, separate and distinct from the individual partners

Limited part n e r s h i p s. Individual partner liability is restricted to the amount of capital contributed to the partnership. Limited partnerships must be registered.

B . Limited Companies

There are two types of limited companies, i.e. private or closely held companies, and public companies. The first is governed by the Civil and Commercial Code, the second by the Public Company A c t .

Private Limited Companies in Thailand have basic characteristics similar to those of Western corporations. A private limited company is formed through a process which leads to the registration of a Memorandum of A s s o c i a t i o n (Articles of Incorporation) and Articles of Association (Bylaws), as its constitutive documents.

Shareholders enjoy limited liability, i.e., limited to the remaining unpaid amount, if any, of the par values of their shares. The liability of the directors, however, may be unlimited if so provided in the company’s memorandum of association or the articles of incorporation. The limited company is managed by a board of directors according to the company’s charter and by-laws.

All shares must be subscribed to, and at least 25 percent of the subscribed shares must be paid up. Both common and preferred shares of stock may be issued, but all shares must have voting rights. Thai law prohibits the issuance of shares with no par value. It also stipulates that only shares with par value of five baht or above may be issued. Treasury shares are prohibited.

A minimum of seven shareholders is required at all times. Aprivate limited company may be wholly owned by aliens. However, in those activities reserved for T h a i nationals, aliens’participation is generally allowed up to a minimum of 49 percent. The registration fee for a private limited company is 5,500 baht per million baht of capital.

Public Limited Companies registered in Thailand may, subject to compliance with the prospectus, approval, and other requirements, offer shares, debentures and warrants to the public and may apply to have their securities listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).and registration of the memorandum of association of a public limited company, and the promoters must hold their shares for a minimum of two years before they can be transferred. The Board of Directors of a public limited company must have a minimum of five members, at least half of whom are Thai nationals. Shares must have a face value of at least five baht each and be fully paid up. Restrictions on share transfers are unlawful except those protecting the rights and benefits of the company allowed by law, and those maintaining a Thai/foreigner shareholder ratio. Debentures may only be issued with the approval of three quarters of the voting shareholders.

The registration fee is 2,000 baht per million baht of capital for a public limited company.

C . Joint Ve n t u re

A joint venture may be described in accordance with general practice as a group of persons (natural and/or juristic) entering into an agreement in order to carry on a business t o g e t h e r. It has not yet been recognized as a legal entity under the Civil and Commercial Code. However, income from the joint venture is subject to corporate taxation under the Revenue Code, which classifies it as a single entity.

D . O t h e r Forms of Corporate Pre s e n c e

Branches of foreign companies. There is no special requirement for foreign companies to register their branches in order to do business in Thailand. However, most business activities fall within the scope of one or more laws or regulations which require special registration, either before or after the commencement of activities. Foreign business establishments must, therefore, follow generally accepted procedures. It is important to clarify beforehand what constitutes income subject to Thai tax because the Revenue Department may consider revenues directly earned by the foreign head office from sources within Thailand as subject to Thai taxes.

As a condition for approval of an Foreign Business License to a branch of a foreign corporation, working capital amounting to a total of five million baht in foreign exchange must be brought into Thailand within certain intervals over a four-year period.

The branch may be allowed to operate for a period of five years, unless a shorter period is indicated in the application. Extension of the original duration of the license to operate may be granted, provided the working capital required to be brought into Thailand is met.

A re p resentative office of foreign corporations may also be established to engage in limited “non-trading” activities, such as sourcing of goods or services in T h a i l a n d for its head office or inspecting and controlling quality of goods which its head office purchases in Thailand. Other activities can cover disseminating information about new products and services of its head office, and reporting to its head office on local business development and activities.Working capital contributions in respect to branches apply.

E . Regional Operating Headquarters (ROH)

On August 16, 2002, the government introduced a new package to replace the one governing the establishment of regional Offices in Thailand. The package became effective following the announcement of Royal Decrees No. 405 and 406. T h e package on Regional Operating Headquarters provides tax breaks and incentives to attract foreign companies to establish regional headquarters in the Kingdom.

An ROH means a juristic company or partnership

o rganized under Thai law that provides services to its domestic or overseas affiliated companies/or branches. Such services are with regard to administrative, technical, management and other supporting roles, including research and development and training.

R e q u i re m e n t s

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The ROH must have at least 10 million baht in paid-up capital on the closing date of any accounting period

The ROH must provide services to its overseas aff i l i a t e d companies and/or branches in at least three countries

At least half of the revenue booked by the ROH must be derived from service provision to its overseas aff i l i a t e d companies and/or branches, although this requirement will be reduced to not less than one third of the ROH’s revenue for the first three years

Any other requirements may be imposed by the Director General of the Revenue Department

Tax privileges

A 10 percent corporate income tax, instead of the regular 30 percent rate, only for the service income provided to affiliated companies and/or branches

A10 percent corporate income tax on interest income which the ROH receives as a result of re-lending its borrowed f u n d s to its affiliated companies and/or branches

A10 percent corporate income tax on royalty income that is derived from its affiliated companies and/or branches, including its related companies and which is generated from its research and development work performed in T h a i l a n d

Exemption of corporate income tax on any dividends received from its domestic and overseas affiliated companies and/or branches

An accelerated depreciation of 25 percent on the acquisition of buildings and permanent construction which the ROH purchases for its own business use.

Personal income tax

Awaive on personal taxes to foreign employees of the ROH sent to work in other countries

Foreign employees of the ROH can choose to pay a 15 percent flat rate of their personal taxes if they forego withholding tax credit of their interest and dividend income

When a permit to establish a regional office is issued, it may be subject to the following conditions:

The total debt financing used in the business shall notexceed seven times the portion of the capital owned by

shareholders or the owner of the business

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Money used in the regional office shall be remitted from abroad and shall not be less than a total of 5,000,000 baht. During the first year period, at least 2,000,000 baht of the total must be remitted, at least half of which must be remitted within the first six months. Then, no less than 1,000,000 baht should be remitted each succeeding year until the full 5,000,000 baht has been transferred. Documents verifying this transfer must be presented to the Department of Commercial Registration

At least one person who is responsible for operating the regional office must have their domicile in the Kingdom.

The Director-General of the Department of Business Development is also authorized to impose any conditions on a business permit granted under the rules.

F. Regional Trade and Investment S u p p o rt Off i c e s

In April, 1996, the Board of Investment announced the establishment of trade and investment support off i c e s would become a new category of activities eligible for investment promotion.

Projects in this category are eligible for BOI non-tax incentives, including:

Permission to own land for an off i c e

Permission to bring in foreign nationals to undertake investment feasibility studies

Permission to bring in as many foreign technicians and experts as required

Permission to take or remit foreign currency abroad

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No limit on number if shares owned by foreigners. The range of activities eligible for promotion are:

Controlling and advising affiliated companies

All types of consulting services, except those engaged in:

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Buying and selling securities

Foreign currency exchange

A c c o u n t i n g

A d v e r t i s i n g

Legal aff a i r s

A r c h i t e c t u r e

Civil engineering.

Note: Exceptions may be granted by permission from the D e p a rtment of Commercial Registration or concerned gov ernment agencies

Information services related to sourcing and procurement, but not brokerages or agencies

Engineering and technical services, except these related to architecture and civil engineering

Testing and certifying standards of products, production and services standards

Exporting of all types of products

Wholesaling of all types of products within the country, excluding local agricultural products, arts & crafts, antiques, and natural resourcesProvision of training on the use of machinery, engines, tools, and equipment

Installation, maintenance, and repairing of machinery, engines, tools, and equipment

Calibration of machinery, engines, tools, and equipment

Computer software design and development.

If there are any other activities deemed appropriate for investment promotion under the Establishment of Tr a d e and Investment Support Offices, the Office of the Board of Investment will consider them on a case-by-case basis.

Eligibility for regional trade and investment s u p p o rt offices

Applicants must be either companies established under Thai law, or companies planning to establish under T h a i l a w.

Conditions for regional trade and investment s u p p o rt offices

Operating licenses must have been acquired from all relevant government agencies

Operating expenses must amount to no less than 10 million baht per year, which shall consist of sales and administrative expenses, as set forth in the Revenue Code

Operating plans must be approved by the Board of I n v e s t m e n t

Majority or total foreign ownership is allowed

Non-tax privileges, only, will be granted.

G.

Regional Operating Headquart e r s

As part of the government’s effort to promote Regional Operating Headquarters (See Section E), the Board of Investment has revised category 7.9 of the List of Activities Eligible for Promotion.

While the tax benefits are being provided by the Ministry of Finance, the BOI offers an attractive package of non-tax incentives, including permission to bring in foreign nationals to conduct feasibility studies, permission to bring in foreign technicians and experts to work on promoted projects, and permission to own land, not only for factories, but also for residence of workers and foreign experts. BOI-promoted companies also receive a sweeping series of guarantees and protection measures.

Under the Royal Decree described in Section E, in order to receive BOI non-tax incentives, companies must supervise activities in three countries (down from five in the prior policy). Promoted projects are required to have a paid up registered capital of at least 10 million baht.

The requirement that companies invest a minimum of 40 million baht in real estate has been eliminated, as has the requirement to have operating expenses of at least 50 million baht per year.