KhunHeineken

What a difference a few months make. Just a short time ago, ANY post mentioning even the possibility of some type of tax clearance document / certificate being needed by expats for their annual extension was branded as "scaremongering" by members, and deleted by Mods. Now, here we have a Mod, posing that very question, and real possibility of it happening. Members posted words like "tracking foreigners" and "tracing foreigners" and "chasing foreigners" etc etc. When other members, myself included, suggested if it was attached to visas / extensions, it would bring the foreigners to the TRD, so no need to "track" or "trace" or "chase" it was still "scaremongering" despite the very obvious simple solution for the TRD in relation to foreigners and making them pay "something." I have explained the use of my word "something" in other posts. As I have said, expats are asking the question "why would Thailand do it" when really they should be asking "why wouldn't Thailand do?" Answer is: MONEY, MONEY, MONEY, legit, or otherwise.

Where is "here" in Thailand, exactly? What do you expect from 300 baht a day staff? Perhaps do your own research on products, then just go and buy it, and not interact with the staff other than the purchase transaction. Seriously, what did you expect from them?

It's not that I never go away, it's just that the information that you post is, well, in your own words, your "interpretation" which is very misleading to readers. Can you tell readers why you come to this conclusion? If you watch between 16 minutes and 20 minutes, you will see the aged pension IS NOT exempt under the Australia / Thailand DTA. Are they wrong? If they are wrong, can you post why they are wrong, and not your "interpretation" but some links, quotes, youtube, anything, other than your "interpretation?" See above youtube video. Are you awake now? I note you did not comment on this video in the Australia Forum. Perhaps something to do with what you said was "tail between the legs." Now, you have changed forums and spreading your misinformation. I have produce many quotes, links, youtube videos etc etc. All you have posted is your "interpretation." I seek the facts and the truth, not to win. There are no winners when you have to pay tax. Only the government/s win. Please comment on the posted youtube video. Are they wrong???? I have posted the educational and experience credentials of the people involved. Can you post yours? Or, should members just believe your "interpretation?" Interesting. What happens if they do enforce it? Is it your "interpretation" that they will not enforce it? Go on the record with some links, quotes, youtube, anything, because your "interpretation" is worth as much on this forum as they are on the Australian Forum without them, and that is ZERO.

Yes, I know. You missed the point. Example: Owner / Landlord is British. Tenant is Australian. Tenant and Owner want to minimize their Thai tax liability. Owner and tenant come to an agreement that the Australian tenant will pay the rent into the British owner's UK bank account. The whole transaction it outside of Thailand, completely. In my opinion, if "gift" exemption is used by thousands of expats in 2025, that exemption will cease to exist in 2026. Just my opinion, but when the Thai government sees many using this loophole, they will close it. The idea is to NOT remit anything to Thailand. Sender, receiver, whoever. None of the parties should be receiving any funds in Thailand, to be safe from this tax.

You can not see what you chose to not see, however, it's pretty obvious what the information exchange is, and will be, going forward, between countries. Good luck to you with ignoring it. Do be sure to let us all know how it works out for you.

What about, "un-generally?" It's called World Wide Income. Google it, and educate yourself.

Isn't every retired expat receiving an old age pension the same? The pension is deemed an income. The pension is taxable. They are clearly a non resident for tax purposes as they have not been back to Australia for several years, and do not maintain a "domicile" in Australia. And here's the non resident tax rates. A lot of "Aussie criminals" living in Thailand. Guess what, the proposed changes to tax residency laws are not "just for guys like Paul Hogan." The proposed changes are about stopping the non resident gravy train, which I freely admit I am on, yet, many others on this forum refuse to admit they are on also, because hey, the pension is not taxed in Australia, and forget about the fact they are not living in Australia. For the record, I have other income that is taxed accordingly. Foreign resident tax rates 2024–25 Taxable income Tax on this income 0 – $135,000 30c for each $1 $135,001 – $190,000 $40,500 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000 $190,001 and over $60,850 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000

The best strategy is to at least consider the fact that it may be financially beneficial for you to to reside less than 180 days in Thailand a calendar year, until after the 31st March 2025. For many, it's already too late. For those considering moving to Thailand full time, they have the opportunity to wait an see how all of this plays out, but a word of caution, they should not rely on 2025 being the same as 2026. Have a Plan B for your retirement in South East Asia, because it just may not be financially beneficial for you to reside inside Thailand full time at a future date. Times are changing.

Why is that? Is it because you are the fool paying more tax than you should, and not receiving a bigger part pension than what you could be? A family member is living in my property, and we have an "agreement." They also holiday in Thailand, usually twice a year. Upon catching up, cash is exchanged for rent and utility bills. None of it's right down to the dollar. It works for them, and works for me. We both benefit financially. It's amicable. The property is just a bolthole for me. We are both happy with the deal. They get reasonably cheap rent, I get a "domicile" in Australia and some cash, and I haven't burnt all my bridges, and don't pay non resident tax rates. Where's the BS in this? I have quite a few Aussie friends doing the same.

Are there any Australian tax or pension reduction implications for trading like this?

Are you suggesting that someone who has never stayed in Thailand for more than 180 days in a calendar year, thus, are not a resident of Thailand for tax purposes, still needs a TIN?

I agree. Thai banks have to record such data. What has changed is the need for foreigners to report this, as an individual. That's not to say they have a tax liability, but they have "earned" some money in Thailand, thus, are now in "the game."

Somewhat interesting for Australian's, don't you think? I doubt it's much different for many other other western countries. https://www.ato.gov.au/about-ato/commitments-and-reporting/information-and-privacy/your-privacy/when-we-collect-information-from-others Treaty partners Just as we disclose information to treaty partners overseas, authorities in other countries share information with us under international tax agreements.

This is so strange, because you posted in the Australia Forum that you will not need to pay any tax due to the Australia / Thailand DTA. I remember you posting that we should all forget about Article 19 in the DTA because the relevant article is Article 18. What's changed?

Did I say it was empty? Perhaps, I have a cash agreement with a friend or family member. Perhaps someone who's going to fly in cash for me to Thailand when they holiday, paying their rent to me in Oz, and also minimizing my Thai tax liability. If you are renting out an Aussie property for $32,500 per year, I gather you are not getting the the full pension, nor, the $300 electricity cash that I am. How stupid is that? You are getting less than everyone else on the forum.

Not necessarily. Could be a desktop PC with a sim card USB dongle. No phone involved.

No. I have to pay the electricity bill anyway, so that's $300 I don't have to pay, so it's as good as money in my pocket, more so, when you take GST into account on the $300. I am just on a long holiday, remember, because the current 90 year old laws allow me to say it's my "intention" to return to Australia to live. Unlike many others, I haven't burnt all my bridges back home. I actually do have a property I can go back and live in, should I want to, or need to. Why do you think Australia wants to move to a physical presence and time based model, like Thailand, and many other countries? Geezzzzz, if Thailand has it, how stupid does Australia look without it?

Have you considered the owner of the property, the landlord, may be a foreigner, say from the USA, UK, Australia, Germany etc etc. If one was to pay rent into their home country bank account, what rent money has been remitted to Thailand? The whole transaction has bypassed Thailand. It's been going on for decades with those working as property managers here without a work permit, and for those using AirBnB etc. Wake up.

I am still "domiciled" in Australia, so picked up the $300 electricity cash. A few hundred dollars behind the aged pensioners pick up, but as Olmate says, "Thanks Albo." Not to bad for non voters, hey?

Many feel that using an agent is a waste of money. They soon find out the hard way after being f*cked around by Thai authorities. Add up all the time waiting, travel back and forth, photocopies, frustration etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc, or you can pay an agent and go back to their office tomorrow and pick up your passport and the job's done. I laugh at those who say their extension only costs 1900 baht. I ask them, "And how much does lost interest on 800k baht in a Thai bank that pays next to nothing cost you a year?" The 800k baht left in my home country, earning over 5%, more than covers the agent's fees, and it's safe, in a country where I have rights.

Catch 22. Can't open and transfer 800k or 65k a month into a Thai bank account without a retirement visa, and can't get a retirement visa without a bank account with 800k or 65k a month, agents aside. Do you see the issue?

Oh my, what will you do? I mean, you feel the need to impart your superior western tax knowledge on Thai tax policy, yet, refuse to accept any other point of view. My advice is to ignore every member, and disable notifications, that way, you and yourself can always be "right."

Nah, no need for a new thread about it, just because you are trolling. It was just interesting to me that the legal definition of "domiciled" was different to the legal definition of "domiciled" under Australian tax residency law. There are people of all nationalities reading this thread, and many other threads, about the tax situation facing us all in 2025. As another member said, the UK's legal definition of "domiciled" day's are numbered, as they are in Australia. Australia is certainly heading towards a physical presence and time based tax residency model, being a "bright line test" of 183 days inside / outside of Australia. The UK may not be far behind.

Interesting to me how the legal definition of "domiciled" in the UK is different to the legal definition of "domiciled" in Australian tax law.

Why would it have to be a "last and subsequent change?" You know what it's like here, they change things like the weather, even their governments. I accept that, and that's why I have said, in my opinion, we will all have to pay "something" with "something" not necessarily being one's correct amount of tax, but "something." I expect many creative, but legal, ways for foreigners to minimize their tax liability to be discussed in 2025, based on however the Thai authorities implement this tax policy. Minimizing tax is not illegal. That said, if they make it a flat fee for a document for an annual extension, some may pay when they shouldn't have to be paying anything, and others may pay less when they should be paying more, but either way, it's a new earner that for Thailand, legit or otherwise, that didn't exist in 2024. No, I don't forget that. It's just that the Thai government will take every baht form everyone, and no free passes for farang. As I have said many times, everyone is looking at this policy as if it will be implemented to the letter of the law. It could very well be like the Certificate of Residence, and we all just have to pay a flat fee for a document for the annual extension. Time will tell.