CNI News

15 December 2023

Myanmar embassies in South Korea and Singapore have stated that when Myanmar expatriates renew their passports at the embassy concerned, they must pay the income tax at the same time. 

The Myanmar Embassy in South Korea has stated that Myanmar expatriates holding PJ (passport for job) holders and PB (passport for business) holders who will renew or have already renewed their passports could pay the income tax for the periods that they wanted to pay.

" A passport is essential to you when you are in a foreign country. People are not very satisfied when they have to pay the income tax suddenly. They are not satisfied with the one-sided statement that was released without study and inquiry in advance. But the passport is essential. They need to renew their passports. They must hold the passports. Only if they have the passports, will they get visas. They have to pay the income tax every six months. They have to pay 32,000 or 33,000 wons for a month as the income tax, I think but I'm not sure. Anyone doesn't come to the embassy separately to pay the income tax." said Ko Khant Nay Kyi, in charge of the center for supporting migrant workers in Busan, to CNI News.

Myanmar Embassy in South Korea

Myanmar embassy in Singapore has been collecting the income tax from Myanmar nationals there since 12th December and only if they have already paid the income tax, will they be able to renew their passports and to carry out other cases, said the statement. 

If Student Pass holders can submit a letter of proof that they are currently attending school, they will be exempted from income tax. Moreover, if taxpayers' spouses, parents and children can present a household list, birth certificate and marriage contracts, they can extend as dependents.

Those who will go back to Myanmar will need to bring letters of recommendation that they have already paid the income tax or that they are dependents or students, said in the statement released by Myanmar Embassy. 

So, Myanmar embassies in other countries will issue statements to ask income tax, said the people helping Myanmar migrant workers.

However, some Myanmar migrant workers are working in Thailand with their passports while others are working without passports but with other documents. So, those with passports are asked to pay the income tax and those without passports probably will be collected in another form, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development (FED), told CNI News.

While seeing Myanmar migrant workers

" Baht pink cards which allow you to stay and work are attached to CI (certificate of identity). CI must be applied up to now. CI is issued by the Myanmar government. So, Myanmar citizens need to pay the income tax. If you can stay and work with the documents Thai authorities have issued, you might not pay the income tax. Migrant workers demanded to get a pink card or work permit not very long ago, saying that it would be convenient for them if they had those cards." he said.

U Myint Naung, Union Minister for Labor, explained to Myanmar migrant workers about remittance of 25 percent of the salary to their families in Myanmar and paying 2 percent of the income as the income tax when he met with Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand on 9th December Myanmar migrant workers have to pay the 2 percent of the basic salary to the government as the income tax. 

Moreover, if you renew your PJ (passport for job) and PS (Passport for seaman) or apply for a new passport, you will need to present a certificate of tax clearance in Myanmar, according to the department of internal revenue.