KhunHeineken

Funny how everyone takes ZERO risk with immigration laws, which is not a criminal offense if you breach them, but rely on TiT to breach taxation laws, which is a criminal offense if you breach them. Quite a disparity.

We are always only one pandemic, one war, one GFC etc away from "change."

No, but you've paid more for the air ticket. What costs more, dodging some tax, or paying more for the air ticket? Everyone has different circumstances.

No.

Affordability.

Just how much "nothing" do you think is allowable before it becomes unwise to do nothing?

You're the one trolling on multiple threads. Obviously, you are bored in the village.

What's it say, Olmate? Is it good news or bad news? Is Albo still looking after us all?

You have answered your own question. Border Force say you should declare and have a letter from your doctor. Don't declare, and do not have a letter from your doctor, may result in a fine, or worse, and you can be sure you will be searched every single time you return to Australia in future years.

OP, it's been well debated in the Australia Forum Pension thread. Article 18 and Article 19 of the Australia / Thailand DTA deal with pensions. Article 18 relies on the "provisions" of Article 19, and Article 19 deals with "Government Service Pensions." A Centerlink old age pension IS NOT a government service pension. A government service pension is a pension public service, such as a military pension etc. Therefore, a Centerlink old age pension is not covered by the DTA. That said, paying tax in Thailand, if any, could be the least of your problems. There are proposed changes to Australia's tax residency laws. It's all over the internet. Here's just one link from a private firm. https://hlb.com.au/tax-residency-changes-for-individuals/ You will note that Australia is moving from a "domiciled" residency model to a physical presence and time based model, the same as Thailand. For Australia, when these laws are passed, it will be 183 days inside / outside Australia. The pension is deemed an income. The pension is taxable. If you are outside of Australia for more than 183 days in a financial year you will be deemed a non resident for tax purposes. Immigration records will prove the ATO's case. There are no exemptions, means testing, or changes to the non resident tax free thresholds mentioned in the proposed changes. So the pension doesn't get a free pass. Non resident tax starts at $0 to $135,000 and is 30%. As a non resident you do not get the benefit of the tax free threshold. Tax is paid from the first dollar. If you are wondering which political party supports these changes, both do. A former Liberal government proposed them, and the current Labor government did not bin them. So, it's when, not if. https://www.afr.com/policy/tax-and-super/assistant-treasurer-flags-new-tax-residency-rules-20220826-p5bd1v You are concerned about maybe paying a few thousand baht tax in Thailand, but perhaps you should be more concerned having thousands of AUD withheld from your pension in the future. Remember, the pension payer, Centerlink (government) is also the pension taxer, ATO (government) and they will know you are outside of Australia for more than 183 days, Immigration (government). The system is already in place to cut off supplements to pensions when outside of Australia after 6 weeks. It's not much effort for them to tweak that system and withhold 30% of your pension after 183 days outside of Australia. I would suggest, Thailand tax is the least of your problems going forward.

Your post got me thinking. It was the words "never in our lifetime." If one was to not pay tax here when they should, is it possible Thailand will take that tax out of the deceased estate assets. Eg. cash at bank, property. In my home country, debt do not die with you. They are repaid by your estate, upon your demise. Does anyone know if this is currently the case for Thai Nationals?

Some members find "information" as "scary" and would rather shoot the messenger, in the hope the message goes away.

I just see it as another bill to pay for living full time in Thailand. Of course, I have been minimizing my exposure to this bill, but it's just another bill, never the less. It is what it is. You can run from it, and leave for 6 months of the year, but if you remain in Thailand full time, you can't hide from it.

Exclusivity is not guaranteed. Also, what's the difference between a prostitute with many customers, or a prostitute with one customer? Still a prostitute.

Walkers, observers, and people getting selfies don't pay the bill though, do they?