KhunHeineken

Depends what you call "overseas travel" doesn't it? Overseas travel coul be a flight to Vietnam with budget airline Vietjet which is very cheap. Thai Airways charge more. I've been minimizing my remittances since early 2024, opting to bring in some cash, and have some cash brought in for me. Once again, for "overseas travel" to minimize your tax here, it would have to be decent "overseas travel." Everyone should be trying to minimize their tax here. It's just another bill to pay, so why not try to keep it as small as possible, whilst still remaining legal. You read too much into my word "dodging."

Skype will be difficult to replace, especially for the elderly who chat with their kids and grand kids, due to the ease of set up and use. I would be interested in the percentage of people that migrate to Microsoft Teams, past their last Skype credit. If comments on this forum are anything to go by, it appears not many will. In many ways, Microsoft is a like the Nokia phone company on this one. They had a huge market share, and thought they always would, so never invested in R & D. Along comes Zoom and Microsoft still did nothing. Microsoft is always one step behind its competitors, thus, when they have a failing product, their only answer is to shut it down.

Funny how the "brother" that was working as a motorcycle taxi driver in a Southern Thailand tourist area moves back to Issan when his "sister" and her farang move there, and he "visits" a lot. and has no job.

Some members may need to have a prepaid sim card posted over to them from their home country.

After a brief look around on the internet, this company seems to be ok for Aussie expats looking to call back to Australia with unlimited minutes. Calls to other countries are very cheap, so it may be ok for expats from other countries with international rates starting at $0.0050 per minute. https://crazytel.com.au/residential/voiphomephone/ Unlimited calls to Aussie local and national numbers, as well as mobile numbers, for $8 per month. Calls to 13 / 1300 numbers $0.25. I had a quick look at Microsoft Teams and I don't think I will be migrating. I will find another VOIP provider. There must be some companies rubbing their hands together and gearing up for the deadline in May. The owners of some previously little known VOIP companies may end up multimillionaires. Microsoft Teams will not see a cent out of me, and I have been buying Skype credit / Subscriptions for decades.

Shutting down Skype is a crime against humanity.

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?

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?

Thailand - tax free????

Is the sewer smell authentic?

I'm trembling in my boots.

And if you need to file, but don't get sent a tax form, so go to a TRD Office to file, only to be told, "You no need file." Interesting times ahead for those people.

They just post on AN that any message they don't want to hear is scaremongering. That usually happens after a link has been provided to prove an AN poster wrong. Some members are struggling with the concept that this Thai tax policy is coming after their nest egg. Some members use their keyboards several times a day to try to convince other ostriches that there are no predators coming for their nest egg. It's all part of human nature, and funny to watch.