Thailand's Nominee Crackdown: Is Your Home at Risk? Lawyer & Accountant Explain

Is your home in Thailand held in a company name? Thailand's nominee shareholder crackdown is raising difficult questions for foreign property owners: why are company structures under investigation, who could be liable, and what options are being discussed for putting things right? In this episode of the Hua Hin Today podcast, we sit down with Janjira Sumanus of Hua Hin Accounting & MBMG Group and Jatupon Cherbangkaew of ACTA Law Firm. Together, they unpack the legal and accounting issues behind nominee companies, land ownership and the growing concern among expats in Hua Hin and across Thailand. We discuss: • What a nominee shareholder is, and why paperwork alone may not tell the full story. • How the DBD, Land Office and police feature in the investigations. • The Hua Hin enforcement case and questions about responsibility for owners, nominees and advisers. • Potential penalties, property sales and the company liquidation process. • Restructuring, genuine buyers and leaseback arrangements — and why replacing one nominee with another does not resolve the underlying problem. • Calls for a grace period and support for affected residents. • The US–Thailand Treaty of Amity, BOI and the difference between a real business and a home held for personal use. As the guests emphasise, this conversation provides general information, not legal advice. Individual circumstances differ: seek advice from a qualified lawyer and accountant before making decisions about your property or company. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction: Thailand's nominee crackdown 00:53 - Meet Janjira and Jatupon 03:33 - What is a nominee shareholder? 05:00 - Foreign ownership, company structures and land 08:19 - Correct paperwork versus the reality of ownership 11:06 - Why this crackdown is different 16:44 - The Hua Hin enforcement case 19:13 - Who could be liable: owners, nominees and advisers? 21:02 - Potential penalties and property disposal 22:22 - The impact on expat families and retirees 26:08 - Lease contracts and shareholder risks 28:26 - What options are available to affected owners? 30:42 - Correcting the structure and mitigating past issues 32:34 - Why a replacement nominee is not a solution 33:38 - Why company liquidation needs careful planning 35:16 - First steps and genuine restructuring 39:56 - Investor confidence, embassies and calls for a grace period 46:53 - Seek advice before making rushed decisions 48:02 - Treaty of Amity: business investment versus a private home 52:12 - Amity, BOI and business licensing routes 54:38 - Closing thoughts and a possible future Q&A Find out more about our guests' firms: ► MBMG Group: https://mbmg-group.com/ ► ACTA Law Firm: https://actalawfirm.com/ Have a question you would like us to explore in a future Q&A? Leave it in the comments below. #ThailandProperty #NomineeShareholders #HuaHinToday 🍍 Podcast Filmed at Ananas Video Studio https://ananas.video/ __________ Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this video, hit that Subscribe button and ring the bell 🔔 so you won’t miss our next update. ► Visit us online: https://huahintoday.com/ ► Follow us on Facebook:   / huahintodaynews   ► Our Newsletter https://huahintoday.com/subscribe/ Stay in the loop for news, lifestyle, travel and culture updates from Hua Hin and the surrounding region. Leave a comment below with your thoughts — we’d love to hear from you!