KhunHeineken

Wow, such freedom to do what you want with your own money. What about the other 400k and other 6 months???? Would you call it a donation? If not, what is it? As most do, hence my comment about can you spend it. Most can't / don't, so it's practically "dead money." "but that's not the point here" either, is it?

The math / financials don't lie. Not only is it financially beneficial to leave the 800k in one's home country, but safer, also. The only debate here is the legality of it, which is fine, but not something I am concerned about. Each to their own, but just don't ell me your extension ONLY costs 1,900 baht.

Many times, the immigration officers set up the visa shop, and their family members / friends are the agents. It's a well oiled machine, and been going on for decades.

Can you spend your 800k???? No. It sits there like a white elephant, earning nothing, year after year, and for some, decade after decade.

How's this sub-topic relevant to you then?

I am well traveled. Also, I have lived and worked in some 3rd World Countries. Thailand is easy living. I like Thailand for the climate, and Pattaya for the nightlife, and how diverse the place is. Bangkok is well connected in the region. I go to the Singapore F1 every year. I also used to go to the Malaysian F1 every year as well. i am happily single. I didn't retired to Thailand to adopt an extended family from Issan, or be treated like a fool by the Thai government. If I have to leave Thailand at any stage in the future, it's no great loss to me, either emotionally, financially, or lifestyle wise. I like Vietnam also. I show Thailand the same loyalty Thailand shows me, zero. I make Thailand work for me, not the other way around. I understand many others here have a very different view than mine, and that's fine. Unfortunately, many people have returned to their home country broke, going onto welfare, or worse, taken a dive off a tall building. I certainly will not be heading down that path. Apart from using an agent for my extension, I abide by al other laws, and pay all my bills. I have never come under notice of police in Thailand for anything. That said, yes, I know prostitution is illegal. How many on this forum can say they have never paid a bar fine?

What makes you think I assumed that? Of course the other side is paying as well. Or, paid more, to more people.

Copy and paste it. Just a couple of mouse clicks.

All predictions / scenarios should be considered, especially because of "TiT" not just the ones that make people happy.

Ok. I use my Visa / MasterCard from my home country.

Question: As with all things immigration, do you think it's best to err on the safe side with this tax policy, even for just the first year?

What's interesting is, if he went to another TRD Office, they may have said to him, "No need to file." Anyway, he now has his documents, and he's done with it for the next 12 months.

You still don't get it, do you? I was NEVER transferring 800k into an unstable, 3rd World County, and getting paid a pittance for the risk of doing so. I have investments in more than one country, but admit, the bulk of my asset base is in Australia. I view any loss on exchange rates as an insurance policy on the 800k baht I didn't move here. It's nothing to me. You've gone "all in" on Thailand, and are just trying to justify it by criticizing those who haven't. The Thai baht is fools gold.

The bulk of my asset portfolio is based in Australia, the country of my citizenship. I also hold bank accounts and and assets in other countries. How did your 800k baht extension money go? Did you get a whopping 1.5% on it?

Errors can also be very costly for individuals who have convinced themselves this Thai tax policy is all a big NOTHING. They talked themselves into not shelling out anything, and perhaps will have to shell out what's owed, and more, in the future.

200 baht. The price of "democracy" in Thailand.

I accept this, but will it "fly" with your immigration office at extension time, or the immigration desk at the airport? The TRD gets your bank remittance details. Somchai at your local TRD says, "No need to file" because it's near his lunch break. Is it soooo left field that Somchai gave the wrong advice, and you may have problems down the track? Yeah, yeah, I know. In Somchai we trust, and it's just scaremongering blah blah blah.

Exactly. Yet, whilst many strictly adhere to immigration laws here, strangely, they do not see TRD laws in the same way. Remember Al Capone?

Who, Carl, or the TRD????

I can, you can, we all can. It's called a prediction. We can predict things based on the information at hand, at the time. No one is saying it's a fact, otherwise, there would be link after link backing up the fact. Nothing wrong with preparing and exploring options for all scenarios, based on predictions. Thai's and MONEY, I would say it's highly probably. Please post your case for why you think it will not happen. Yeah, yeah, I know. There's been no mention of it to date, blah blah blah. That's why it's called a prediction. Many members like you posting why it will not happen, but not posting why they have formed such an opinion. Go on the record. Post why YOU think none of this tax policy will be linked to annual extensions. I disagree. The future is ours to see, because we have the foresight and the freedom to do so. We all have options. I will live in Vietnam for 6 months if I have to. I have already picked the city and the condo block. What I haven't done is sit back and BS about how the TRD would have to hire 1 million more staff blah blah blah. The Thai's can smell money in this, and they will turn a baht out of it one way or another. It's not going to go away.

There are some members relying on Somchai's advice from their local TRD Office that they do not have to file. The Senior Legal Advisor from the TRD basically said disregard Somchai's advice, and go back with documents to demand a TIN and file, so you can get that magical piece of paper that many believe will be needed at extension time. Who to believe? Somchai, because it's easier, or the Senior Legal Advisor of the TRD, to cover your a**?

As said, while the 800k is making wayyyy more than the agent's fee, I'll pay the agent, and not have to deal with queues and immigration. Some years ago, I went to the immigration office to do something DIY. I think it was a Certificate of Residence. There was a long queue. Elderly retirees were outside under a tent, struggling with the heat. Their Thai spouses were wiping them down with a cool towel, or fanning them. It looked like a concentration camp. Any one of these elderly guys could have popped clogs there and then, in the heat, and for what, to say they only paid 1,900 baht for their extension, when their 800k baht loses around 30k baht because it's in Thailand. No, not for me. I'm no Elon Musk, but I know a good deal when I see one, and leaving the 800k in my home country, where it more than pays for the agent, and not having to deal with immigration, is a good deal for me.

So, to get a TIN you needed a certificate from immigration, but absolutely NO WAY in the future in order to get an extension you will need a certificate from the TRD.

I accept that, and agree, and that will be my way of dealing with this tax policy, through an agent / accountant, of course. The main thing is I will be in their system as having filed, and I will have proof of doing so. which goes a long way to having no nasty surprises down the track. Members on another thread are telling me how it's "illegal" to use an agent for extensions. Yes, it is illegal, but TiT. In relation to this tax policy, it's funny how some members say it will never happen, because of TiT, but if it does happen, they will use TiT to their advantage to deal with it. I don't have a problem with using TiT to deal with things here, but it's funny how some will change from being "legal" and criticizing others, to using TiT and being "illegal" when it suits them.

And possibly tax evaders, in the future.