wwest5829

We married this year and the tax year for US citizens is drawing to a close. This year I will be doing the extensive IRS reading concerning a change in reporting status but I am soliciting input from Americans married to Thais (who are not US citizens or having a Green Card).

Da is a Thai citizen. We have no intention of living in the US nor her gaining any residency/citizenship in the US. Things in Thailand go to Da on my death. Things in US go to my Sons (separate wills - no co-mingling).
 

So, tax filing status advice? I am sole support, her Daughter is a h.s. student living with us. Tax status advice … Married Filing Jointly, Married Filing Separately, Head of Household? Any thinking on good, fair tax reporting agencies (I am in Chiang Mai)?
 

bill

On 12/23/2021 at 9:58 AM, Jeffrey346 said:

Trust me, I'm not looking to make waves. But if there are rules I"m not aware of.. I want to know

I am thinking you just are running into the simplify, simplify, simplify mode of everything needing to be of one model, one accepted bureaucratic way of doing things . Unfortunately, for us, depends on the office, their boss, etc. Last eve I was once again on the phone with the US IRS … demand for an additional 2018 tax return interest payment … I will not bore you but this had all been done and dusted months ago … or so I thought. Bureaucracies the world over …

The rhyme, that comes to mind is: if you cannot afford the fine do not commit the crime. Here is your out … her car is not insured for you as a driver … would that work? I do not face the same issue as I enjoy driving and find the wife’s driving overly concerned with driving too slowly …

On 12/20/2021 at 8:58 AM, Paulaew said:

No, it was an awkward moment -- she was waiting for a wai from me that was not forthcoming. I was expecting a wai from her. It was more or less a breakdown of wai expectations.

 

What followed was a delayed and sort of fumbled co-wai. Neither she nor my wife looked happy about it.

 

Paul Laew

Paul, I understand your thought on the wai protocol. I only say, when my Stepdaughter’s Teacher comes to our home, I immediately offer the wai, without question. The wai, at the same time, from the Teacher has always been offered upon entering our home. Yes, if we wanted to get down to particulars, I am the elder, I am the retired Professor but a mutual wai is preferable to me. Just my take after a decade here, easier to be mutually respectful. Had I offered the wai and it not be returned … yes, that would lower my opinion of the person affronting me.

Just wondering … most popular or most well known …

My O-A application was through the Royal Thai Chicago Consulate in 2011. I submitted a letter from the local city police department and another from the county Sheriff. That said, I would encourage looking at entering Thailand Visa Exempt, then changing to an O Visa. When I can, I will exit Thailand to void my O-A and apply for the O in Thailand. In my case avoiding the need for medical insurance for every year.

2 hours ago, Finlaco said:

As of December 1st, the maximum you can send in a single transfer will be 49,999.99 THB. The change is due to new regulations introduced by the Anti-money Laundering Office (AMLO) and Payment System Office (PSO) for Thailand and applies to all money transfer companies.  Azimo

 

I received this email from.one of the peer to peer transfer companies earlier this month.  I check with Wise and they say no limit for them to Thailand.  I haven't done a tlf since the new laws.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have continued my monthly Wise transfers in excess of 65K baht for retirement visa without incident into Bangkok Bank since this idea was first posted.

On 12/19/2021 at 4:23 PM, transam said:

Isn't the 'class' thing from a bygone era....?

Valid question but I would say no, limiting my outlook to the USA. There are different ways of looking at “class”. In the USA a judgement is very heavily influenced by income. There are other measures, such as class mores. Thus we see the “Beverly Hillbillies”, suddenly having money but remaining far removed from the class of people living in Beverly Hills. Fiction? Yes, the idea of the “nouveau riche” remains valid, however. Should I mention the likes of Trump contrasted with the “old money” upbringing and outlook by such families as Rockefeller, Wanamaker, Rothschild, etc? The latter are of quite a different “class”. I can speak only for myself but I was not raised knowing a proper “place setting” if there was more that a plate, glass, knife fork and spoon (the poor might not even have that and the wealthy are aware of the correct red wine, white wine, water, champagne aperitifs, etc. glassware.

I was raised blue collar in the USA. Dad was a welder and Mom went to work as a hospital lab receptionist after my Brother and I went off to college. I always refer to myself as part of the retired working middle class, having joined millions of other American Expats out-priced in the USA. We can enjoy a higher living standard of a working middle class retirement in a lower cost country. In the US, class is oft determined by income. My highest earning year was $55,000.00 USD. Education level - post-graduate degree. Poor financial choice … teaching in Kentucky (OK, and not a “yes man” when my knowledge and experience dictated giving reasons in opposing wrongheaded administrators).

13 hours ago, chang50 said:

This will wreak havoc on those who use the 65k income method for their retirement extensions.

 

No problem doing my monthly 65K+ transfer via Wise into my Bangkok Bank account.

15 hours ago, Chivas said:

I recall this came up recently here using Transfer(wise) where the monies were returned as equated to more than 50,000 Baht

I cannot address this one bank. I can say there is no issue with my Wise transfers into Bangkok Bank to meet my 65 K+ monthly deposit.

I have long since acknowledged I do not have enough knowledge to distinguish real gemstones. Sad as I would like to buy at a fair price.

2 hours ago, khunjeff said:

The concern wasn't about Covid in Thailand, it was about a member of the traveling press testing positive - meaning many other people in the party, who generally all travel on the same plane, were also exposed. The report isn't clear, but it would seem that either the US side, the Thais, or both, didn't want to risk bringing potentially Covid-positive officials to high level meetings in Thailand.

Agreed ...

Yes, and I want to win the lottery. 52 million tourists over the next two years and all of them, well at least the overwhelming majority high value, high spenders. Good luck … meanwhile the sorry likes of myself retired to a Thailand a decade ago and have steadily spent approximately one million baht a year. Sad excuse for a high value “tourist”.

2 hours ago, OJAS said:

Will probably be even worse than that, I fear. On the basis that these older people already subscribe to valid 40k/400k policies they will almost certainly be required to submit applications for fresh new 3m policies which no insurer will be prepared to consider solely on account of their ages (even if significantly increased premiums were, in theory, affordable in their cases). Hence their only option once their latest permissions to stay are near expiry will be one-way flights back to their home countries (assuming, of course, that they are not eligible for any other extension of stay reason such as marriage to a Thai national). 

My alternatives, as I cannot afford to live in retirement in my own country, is to switch to a different Visa.

3 hours ago, overherebc said:

No worries. It will all have a happy ending.

While doing “undercover” work?

I have begun watching on Christmas themed movie a night. Will finish up with the classics of "Its a Wonderful Life" and "A Christmas Carol" (my preference, George C. Scott). "Diehard I", "White Christmas", 'Miracle on 34th Street" ... Last night was "Love the Coopers", have "The Santa Clause" series, likewise "The Christmas Chronicles", "The Grinch" is in the mix, as is the "Home Alone" movies. About 16 in all will keep me busy ... a kid at age 74.

Ironic, I am watching right now! The Santa Clause, Home Alone, The Christmas Chronicles, It’s a Wonderful Life, there are more, including The Grinch but the most dear to my heart … Charles Dickens, “A Christmas Carol” with George C. Scott. The Spirit of Christmas Present … “Ignorance and Want … upon their brow is written doom”.

Just now, Joules said:

Drop the damned restrictions.  I was about to go off to a national park (to hike outside and stay in a remote cabin) -- until I discovered that that park employees were going to meet me at the gate to ram one of those covid swabs down my nose.  Not in this lifetime.  Good luck with your economic recovery, Thailand!

Hmmm, was not aware of this, am I excepted if I show my vaccine status?  Upon mention of a national park ... nope, not until the double pricing is dropped for those of us on long stay visa extensions.

13 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Yup, will be booking ours with the hotel direct tomorrow, looks like they have reduced their prices, noting that a week before the "We travel together" 40% discount came into effect, they put their prices up 40%, and it looks like no one went....LOL

 

So tomorrow we will be booking for 5 nights in January, in this 5 star hotel that we have stayed at before on the oceanfront for 2,245 baht per night with breakfast included after the 40% discount is applied, how cheap is that.

 

Good thinks come to those that wait.

 

Working middle class retiree but the price you cite is within the price range I look for. Want to share location?

Typical massage, coffee or a meal ... 20 or 40 baht. I am a year round retiree (working middle class, so not wealthy).

35 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Are you sure that wasn't $2100 for a year not a month.

Plan Selection/Cost:

 

Elite Plan  1,000 Plan  2,000 Plan  5,000 Plan  10,000 Plan

 

 

 

  $5420  $3611  $3131  $2492  $2168

 

10,000 Plan
Deductible U.S. (In Network)	$10,000
Deductible U.S. (Out of Network)	$10,000
Deductible Outside the U.S.	$10,000
Coinsurance Maximum (Inside the U.S. only)	$10,000
Quote (per month)	$2,168.00

Options:

Prescription Drug Upgrade: No 

• + Add Rx Upgrade

Dental/Vision Benefits: No 

• + Add Dental/Vision

U.S. Benefits:   

 No U.S. Benefits Basic U.S. Benefits Comprehensive/Full U.S. Benefits 

• What is covered under the Basic U.S. Benefits rider?
• What is covered under the Prescription Drug rider?
• What is covered under the Dental/Vision rider?