KhunHeineken

I 100% agree. I have been saying the same for quite some time. You should prepare yourself for being called a scaremonger, because some people believe if you shoot the messenger, then the message goes away.

So why are some members of this forum so confident in the words of Somchai at the TRD Office, "No need to file?"

More of a prediction, really. Is there anything wrong with that? They are discussing casinos in Thailand in another thread. Casinos haven't "happened" yet. What's the bother? It's just some discussion on an internet forum. Yes, and have a Plan B, Plan C, and Plan D.

That's the problem, it's the standard information from Somchai because he has no idea of the gravity of the situation for foreigners. It's out of Somchai's square box, so typical Thai way of dealing with the situation, say "Can not" or "Come back tomorrow" or "Need one more photocopy" etc etc. They will say anything to hide their lack of knowledge and / or incompetence, and let another staff member deal with it at another time. What do you think will happen to the people who should file, go to a TRD Office and told "No need to file" and leave happy, but the Thai banks report their remittances to the Thai government?

He couldn't really ask the hard questions because of Thailand "face." One has to remember he was interviewing someone quite "connected." He would know that he can't be seen to ask a question that takes the p*ss, or make him "squirm" even though that is one of the questions that should be asked.

Of course, you have never been in a bar in Thailand, have you?

Yeah, it was a good one.

I have a feeling it's going to be all about having a piece of paper from the TRD in the future. You will have yours, I will have mine, and for those who do nothing, because they think all of this tax policy will go away, well, they may be in for a surprise.

Do you have any content to post?

Do you have any content to post?

You are you are missing out on earnings. I did the long math, right down to the last baht, in a thread some time ago. Here's the quick math. I'll use another member's figures. 800,000 baht x 1.5% = 12,000 baht in interest. 800,000 baht at 5.3% = 42,400 baht in interest. You pay 1,900 baht for your extension. The agent charges 12,000 baht for the same extension. 42,400 baht - 12,000 baht agent's fee = 30,400 baht, which is more than double your interest, and no need to deal with immigration, and the money is in your home country, where it is safer, and you have rights. Can you see how you have 800,000 baht that you can not / do not spend, it earns a pittance, is in a 3rd World Country, you are still bringing in monthly transfers, and you have to deal with immigration, all so you can think you ONLY pay 1,900 baht for your extension, and not 12,000 baht? Indirectly, your extension is costing you soooooooo much more than the 12,000 baht agent's fees. Can you point out the downside, other than legality, with earning more from the 800,000 baht, which more than covers the cost of the agent, the money being in a safe country, and not having to deal with immigration?

Can you spend your 800k? If I gave you 1000 baht tomorrow, but told you that you can't spend it, what good is it to you? Ahhhh, but you can invest the 1000 baht I give you at 1.5%, but then do decide if you transfer the 1000 baht to the UK, you can get 5.3% on it. Yes, rocket science.

You missed the point, completely. Ok, let's say an Aussie expat in Thailand is on a military pension. It's a government service pension, thus covered by a DTA. The pension is paid into his Aussie bank account, and he transfers it to his Thai bank account. Pretty standard for many expats. Now, the Thai bank just sees the "cash" transfers. The Thai bank doesn't know it's from a military pension, do they? The Thai bank just reports to the government the flow of funds through our Aussie vet's account. Let say our Aussie vet goes over the tax free threshold in Thailand. Not difficult to do.. This is where it gets interesting. Our Aussie vet knows his pension is covered under a DTA, so, using the self assessment method, does nothing. However, this still leave the Thai government with the question, what is the source of this Thai tax resident's funds? Can you see how they MAY use immigration laws to send him off to a TRD Office for them to "go through him" and then issue a certificate of clearance so he can get his extension? Is the above soooooooo left field that it's impossible? Also, the Aussie old age pension is not covered by the DTA. Do you have any advice for the thousands of Aussie aged pensioners?

The Thai government knows all the bank account of foreigners. One would have to submit bank statements to the TRD. Calculations and deductions will be applied. A bill may or may not be presented. Some members have already posted of their TRD experience, and that's pretty much the way it went. Do you really think it's going to be that easy to say, "I don't remit assessable income" and it all just disappears for you?

Just a money grab. No end in sight to the "squeezing" of people back there.

There will be chaos, but at the end of the day, the Thai government will turn a baht out of it. Nothing surer.

So, you agree it's possible, but not probable. Is that correct? If so, is the possibility worthy of some consideration, and perhaps discussion on the forum?

It's possible immigration MAY require a certificate of clearance from a TRD Office at extension time. No, I am not. I am saying the Thai government could use immigration laws to ensure tax compliance. Basically, just another piece of paper needed at extension time. I find it laughable that you don't even consider the Thai have even thought about it. As I said, they may need a TRD document at extension time, just like they need a bank document, but feel free to ask the immigration officer "why" when they inform you of this. Tell him, "You are immigration, not TRD." His reply will be, "I am not bank either, but you need bank paper."

Immigration will see you are outside of Thailand for 6 months, so will not require a certificate. As for this living off money prior to this tax policy, I have said many times, it may go down the path as the Certificate of Residence. It should be free, but most pay 300 baht for it. So, one may not have to pay "tax" but MAY need to "buy" a TRD certificate for immigration. As I said, it's already happening with the Certificate of Residence, so please don't call it scaremongering. Yes, and if they visited another TRD Office they may have had to pay some tax, however minimal, but at least they walk away with a certificate. This scenario is called "The Somchai Syndrome." No. That's because immigration know they have been outside of Thailand for 6 months. Not everyone, only residents for tax purposes. Those that owe tax, will pay it. Those who don't, MAY have to pay 300, 500, or 1000 baht for a certificate. Cash - no receipt. They are already paying the staff, so why not get them to collect more money. Many believe the reason none of this tax policy will ever happen is because they think the TRD would have to employee 5000 more staff. No, the queue just goes out the door, and down the street. Watch this space. In one of the youtube interviews this was mentioned by the TRD guy. Yes. We must consider ALL options available to the Thai government, and individually plan for different scenarios, according to our personal circumstances. What we shouldn't do is simply brand a scenario as scaremonger and completely disregard it. Did you see the post about the expat who went to a TRD Office, handed over some documents, answered some basic questions, paid a small amount of tax, and got copies of the documents proving he has paid? Imagine the same guy going to a different TRD Office and being told by Somchai, "No need to file." No proof of even attending a TRD Office, who he spoke to, and what they told him. Interesting times ahead.

Do you really think it will play out that way, either in 2025, or in the future? Do you remember where you are?

I agree. So many guys come to Thailand and get blinded by "the dream." They lose touch with reality. Unscrupulous Thai's prey on it.

Yeah, but my real estate agent / developer "is different."

I agree. For all we know, the hospital staff could be Pro-Palestinian.

I'm just so surprised by people like yourself that deny even the possibility that it can / will happen.

They are probably doing a rekkie in another country, preparing for 6 months outside of Thailand every year.