Thai company registration and VAT checklist
Registration does not end with the certificate; it ends when accounting, tax and employment actually run. This checklist therefore covers everything from pre-filing decisions to the first month of operations.
Quick answer
A workable order is: agree the shareholding and objectives, reserve the name, secure a registered address with the owner's consent letter, file the registration with the Department of Business Development, open a company bank account, register for VAT when the threshold or a counterparty requires it, register as an employer with the Social Security Office within the statutory window after hiring, then start the monthly filing cycle.
0 of 14 items ticked
1. Decisions before filing
2. Documents and the registration filing
3. After the company number is issued
The mistakes we see most often
- Using a registered address that cannot be verified, which stalls VAT registration or triggers an inspection
- Drafting objectives too narrowly and having to amend them later
- A signing condition that does not match what the bank expects, delaying account opening
- Issuing tax invoices before VAT registration is approved
- Missing the social security registration window after the first hire
Frequently asked questions
How many shareholders does a Thai limited company need?
The law sets a minimum number of promoters, and the structure you actually use should also account for control, voting and any future investors, so design the shareholding together with the articles from the start.
Can a virtual office address be used for registration and VAT?
Yes, provided the address genuinely exists, the owner gives written consent, a company sign can be displayed and an officer's site visit can be accommodated. Our service prepares the consent letter, map and site-visit support for exactly this reason.
When should we register for VAT if revenue is still below the threshold?
Decide from your counterparties: if customers need tax invoices for input credit, or you carry heavy input VAT from investment, registering early often helps — but you must then file PND/PP.30 every month even with no transactions.
Does a dormant company still file financial statements?
Yes. Every Thai limited company must prepare CPA-audited statements, present them to the shareholders and file them with the Department of Business Development on schedule, even in a year with no revenue.
How much can foreign shareholders hold?
It depends on the activity. Some fall under the schedules to the Foreign Business Act, and some can be structured through investment promotion or a treaty, so the real activity must be assessed before fixing the structure.
How are fees calculated?
Fees are quoted case by case based on complexity and document volume, and confirmed in writing before work starts.
Related services
Have our team review the file before you file
Send us the items you could not tick and we will tell you what is missing and the order that fits your case. Fees are quoted case by case based on complexity and document volume, and confirmed in writing before work starts.
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This page is general preparation guidance, not case-specific legal advice, and may change with the responsible agencies' notifications. Last updated 20 September 2026.