Blumenthal Richter & Sumet Ltd.

September 22, 2025 Sumet Mingmolmolmitr (Senior Partner)  Companies in Thailand are encouraged to support their employees in pursuing higher education or other training programmes. Such initiatives not only enhance employees’ skills but also strengthen the company’s long-term growth and profitability. To promote this, the Revenue Department issued Order No. 122/2545, Re: Exemption of Income Tax Calculated from the Net Profit of Companies or Registered Partnerships Operating Businesses as Educational Institutions and Training Centres for Enhancing Employees’ Skills, and from Expenses on Education Purposes Made by Companies or Registered Partnerships dated 27 December 2002. Deductible Expenses Under this order, companies may fully deduct expenses incurred in supporting employees who: pursue further studies or training at public institutions or centres domestically or internationally; pursue further studies or training at private institutions or centres domestically or internationally; or participate in in-house-training sessions organised by the company itself or by an external service provider. These expenses are not considered prohibited under Section 65 Ter (13) of the Thai Revenue Code. To qualify for the deduction, however, the company must be able to demonstrate that the expenses were incurred for the company’s benefit, and the supported employees are required to return to work for the company. Additional Tax Incentive In addition, companies that provides financial support for employees to study or train at:  Government-established institutions or training centres, or  Institutions announced by the Ministry of Finance in the Royal Gazette, are also eligible to fully claim a tax exemption on its income equal to the amount paid for the employees’ education or training. This incentive is granted under the Royal Decree issued pursuant to the Revenue Code Governing the Exemption from Revenue Taxes (No. 437) dated 15 October 2005. These provisions highlight the Thai government’s commitment to encouraging workforce development while offering companies meaningful tax relief. To further navigate the rules and maximize available benefits, companies are encouraged to consult with a qualified tax counsel.

Leading independent international law firm Blumenthal Richter & Sumet (BRS) has expanded its regional platform with the acquisition of law practice Legal ASEAN. This move further strengthens the firm’s capabilities in cross-border investments, real estate, foreign direct investment and regional legal consultancy across Southeast Asia.   Legal ASEAN’s founder, Mark D Alelio, joins BRS as a Partner, bringing with him over two decades of legal practice with multin ational law firms  in Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar. Mark is widely recognized for his strategic counsel to international and Thai clients on market entry, real estate development, foreign direct investment (FDI), and cross-border structuring. In adding his extensive experience across  a variety of matters throughout Southeast Asia, Mark brings deep regional insights that complement and reinforce BRS’s existing strengths. Mark’s practice additionally covers dispute resolution, with Mark having managed complex real estate and labor disputes, and represented clients before Thailand’s Department of Special Investigations (DSI). His work further spans across corporate, Board of Investment (BOI) promotion attainment, market entry advisory in the IT and technology sectors, and management agreement structuring between Thai developers and major international hotel brands. Known for his commercial approach, Mark remains dedicated to delivering practical solutions grounded in local knowledge and responsive to the evolving needs of global businesses. Mark’s team—comprising Senior Associates Sasathorn Dharakasem and Teerapun Jiamton, Associates Sireethorn Ruksachart, Pranchalee Maneerat, and Pitchayapa Rungrueng, along with dedicated support staff—has also joined BRS as part of the acquisition. The team’s addition effectively enhances the firm’s service capacity and regional practice depth, while simultaneously contributing to the firm’s rapidly growing practice. Reflecting on the move, Mark commented: “Joining BRS will enable me to offer my existing clients an even broader range of legal services, including access to the firm’s in-house dispute resolution, intellectual property, and tax & customs teams. Clients will also benefit from BRS’s dedicated Japan Desk and China Desk, further enhanc ing the regional support we can provide.” Echoing this strategic perspective, BRS Senior Partner and Head of Real Estate Robert Schuler remarked: “Mark’s extensive experience across Southeast Asia aligns with BRS’s long-term strategic vision to grow our regional capabilities and deepen support for clients investing and operating in ASEAN markets.” “The leadership at BRS sees this acquisition as a unique opportunity to further strengthen our offering to both domestic and international clients. We are pleased to welcome Mark and his team, and look forward to combining our expertise to better serve businesses navigating Thailand and the wider region, particularly in the real estate sector.”  

Sumet Mingmongkolmitr (Senior Partner) and Sataporn Samanyaporn (Associate)  Thailand’s Revenue Department is in the process of drafting legislation to amend tax rules for foreign income remitted to Thailand. The proposed amendment aims to reduce the tax burden on Thai tax residents who bring foreign income into Thailand, with the broader objective of encouraging the repatriation of overseas earnings and stimulating the domestic economy. Panuwat Luengwilai, Deputy Director-General of the Revenue Department, recently outlined the upcoming amendment to Thailand’s tax laws, which could provide significant relief to Thai tax residents. Under the proposed changes, Thai tax residents who remit foreign income into Thailand within the same calendar year in which it is earned, or in the following year, would be exempt from personal income tax on those earnings. For example, if a Thai tax resident earns foreign income in 2025 and brings it into Thailand in either 2025 or 2026, that income would not be subject to Thai personal income tax. If enacted, the amendment would overturn the current Thai tax rule that took effect on 1 January 2024. Under the current rule, any foreign income earned from that date onwards is subject to Thai personal income tax if it is brought into Thailand, regardless of the year it is remitted. Although the proposed tax exemption remains in draft form and has not yet been officially enacted, Thai tax residents with foreign income should stay informed of any future developments from the Revenue Department to ensure proper tax planning for their overseas earnings. Blumenthal Richter & Sumet’s tax team will continue to monitor developments on this issue and provide updates on any changes to Thai tax laws. For additional advice or questions regarding foreign income taxation, please feel free to contact our team for tailored guidance.    

Bangkok, 29 April 2025 — Blumenthal Richter & Sumet (BRS) has officially been appointment as the Overseas Intellectual Property Service Provider for the Shenzhen (Nanshan) – Thailand corridor. This designation reinforces BRS’s growing role in supporting Chinese enterprises investing and expanding in Thailand and Southeast Asia. The appointment was formalized at the launch ceremony of the “Go Global” International Service Center on April 29, 2025, attended by Tongxin Xie, Head of the Chinese Desk at BRS, and Ekkarat Ritthiplang, Partner of the firm. The Go Global Center is a strategic initiative led by the Nanshan District Government, aiming to support Chinese enterprises in their internationalization through a platform that integrates policy support, professional services, and global networks. As an Overseas IP Service Provider, BRS will provide legal and strategic support to Chinese companies—particularly those from Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area—in key areas such as cross-border IP protection, regulatory compliance, outbound investment, and international transactions. Through the Go Global platform, BRS will offer tailored legal and business services to help clients enter and expand in the Thai and broader Southeast Asian markets. “As one of the first professional service providers appointed under this initiative, we are honored to contribute to the success of Chinese enterprises abroad,” said Tongxin Xie. “Our aim is to deliver clear, effective legal solutions in IP protection, compliance, and dispute resolution for both Chinese and Thai clients.” Following the ceremony, the BRS delegation was invited to visit the Nanshan Intellectual Property Protection Center, a pioneering facility that integrates administrative and judicial mechanisms to streamline IP dispute resolution. Under the leadership of Senior Partner Andreas Richter, BRS’s China Desk has long advised Chinese clients across sectors such as manufacturing, technology, energy, and infrastructure on establishing and expanding operations in Thailand. BRS also supports Thai companies seeking entry into the Chinese market, further enhancing its role as a cross-border legal bridge between the two countries.