KhunHeineken

Squeezing money out of farang always seems to get the support of all political parties in Thai government.

Read this. See the huge list of countries. Looks "global" enough to me. Scroll down to Thailand. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_taxation

Tax in Thailand is like being the Prime Minister of Thailand, but in reverse. One day you are the PM, next day you are not. One day you have no tax to pay, the next day you have to pay tax. This Is Thailand. (TIT)

Are you suggesting all the Thai government announcements about it are AI generated deep fakes by online trolls?

Enforcement of the laws you mention are labor intensive. It involves police, check points etc. Or, fire inspections etc. For foreigners remitting money into bank accounts, computers will do the job. Big difference.

Can you post a credible link that sets out the frequency and duration of these permissible "trips abroad?"

I'd feel bad if I was living in Australia also.

It's been proven the aged pension is deemed an income at law. It's been proven the age pension is taxable. When the proposed changes are passed, if you are outside of Australia for 183 days, which is the majority of expats living in Thailand, you will be deemed a non resident for tax purposes. No application for review, no appeals. Immigration records will show this in black and white. Non resident tax brackets start from $0, no tax free threshold. As for discrimination and racism, that's the "pensioners will be up in arms" argument. I asked the question in the pension thread, not one member said they went to the Australian Embassy and voted at election time. Why would pensioners living in Australia care about a policy that doesn't effect them, especially if the government "spins" it that by passing such a tax pensioners in Australia will receive more money and / or better services. On the above point, I can't see this being an election issue, despite at any one point in time there being approximately 1 million Aussies living / working overseas. (link previously provided) I say this because Liberal proposed it, and Labor didn't scrap it, and in fact, Labor took it to the consultation stage. So, it will eventually sail through parliament regardless of what party is in government. The current tax residency laws are 90 years old with more holes in them than Swiss cheese. Myself, and some friends here, are using some of these loopholes. The current laws are no longer fit for purpose. They will be changed to a physical presence and time based model, like many other countries have, even Thailand. What's interesting is expat pensioners are taking seriously that Thailand can / will tax their pension as a tax resident of Thailand after 180 days, yet see it as an absolute impossibility for Australia to implement a similar policy that taxes their pension as a non resident of Australia tax purposes after 183 days. Foreign resident tax rates 2020 to 2025 Foreign resident tax rates for 2019–20 to 2024–25. 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

Not much difference, but the rate is now down from 32.5% to 30% for non residents for tax purposes.

I addressed this myth some time ago on the pension thread. Basically, currently, all that pension money goes to support a foreign country's economy. In this case, Thailand's economy. The Australian government would like that money circulating inside the Australian economy, after all, it's their money. The two main reasons for this is the Australian government/s gets a lot of it back in fees, GST, excise, car rego, licensing, insurance, stamp duties, council rates etc etc. It also creates employment, and what do employees pay, income tax, so there is a flow on effect throughout the Australian economy to have more people spending money in it. Medical is the one issue most rely on for this argument. The myth that it's cheaper for the Australian government to have the elderly living overseas. The Australian government isn't going to recruit and pay an extra 1000 doctors to cater for returning expats. All that will happen is the Medicare waiting list will get longer. They have to pay for Medicare anyway, and couldn't care less how long the list is, history has shown this. In the same way Thailand wants that pension money inside its economy, so does Australia, and if they can't have it al inside Australia, at least they can get 30% of it.

World wide income is a a global tax policy, not just a Thai tax policy. Thailand is falling into line with global tax standards. For tourists, and expats for that matter, bringing in cash, it will not be able to be tracked and taxed, unless it's over the declared amount when bringing it in, hence my F1 / cash run to Singapore. For anyone transferring funds into a Thai bank account, once Thailand get their ducks in a row, how do you propose they avoid paying tax? The money goes through a central banking system and makes its way to the retail banking system. Source, amounts, dates, rates, and deposit is tracked all along the money's journey. Your assessment is because it may force some expats to leave Thailand for 6 months a year, the Thai's will not implement it, but world wide income is a global policy, spreading across many countries. What they may lose in expats leaving for 6 months they can pick up in taxing the expats that remain.

How old is the laptop? What processor does it have?

Who said the sky is falling? It's Thai tax policy. It's the law. Why do you think you can stand outside of it? True, but in my opinion, that really would push the boundaries of Thailand's capabilities, especially when you consider the amount of tourism here. That said, banks, through various tax departments in different countries, are now communicating. Why is it so difficult for people to accept that the days of tax havens, tax free residency, and hiding money, are slowly coming to an end? As norbra said, it will still be a cheap party for many here, just no longer a free party. Just like many western countries, you can't keep the tax man at bay for ever.

I agree, but it's just interesting that quite a few members have the believe that it will not happen, can not happen, is impossible to collect, is not enforceable, Thailand is incapable of doing it, it's scaremongering etc etc etc etc. Yet, they paid tax in their home country since they started working in their mid to late teens, but no way could Thailand have a similar tax policy.

Sure, but no harm in considering all scenarios, good and bad, right? Panicking, or preparing? There is a difference. As I have said before, I consider best case scenario, worse case scenario, and every scenario in between. Like most on this forum, I am already a tax resident of Thailand because I have been here more than 180 days this calendar year. So, I am in the game. This was by choice. I decided to stay and let Thailand get me this first time around, but I am minimizing my cash remits and topping up with ATM withdrawals with my home country Visa card. I will also do a cash run when in Singapore for the F1. If I feel the tax is an amount I do not wish to pay in 2026, I will spend 179 days in Thailand next year, and the rest in Vietnam. So, nonsense or fact, that's my plan. In my opinion, some of the "facts" put forward have some nonsense in them, and some of the "nonsense" put forward has some facts in them. We must also remember "TIT" and on that basis, anything is possible. The only way to prepare for TIT is to consider all scenarios, even the ridiculous, because that's Thailand. So, you have no skin in the game. Taking active steps to ensure one does not become a tax resident of Thailand may be the way to go for some, possibly many. We just don't know at this stage what the Thai authorities will do between the 1st Jan and 31st March 2025. Until then, I'll continue to consider all "nonsense" and all "fact" put forward by all members. Some I will dismiss quickly, some I will give consideration to. As I have said before, I just can't see all of this going away, but I hope I am wrong and it basically becomes non existent for the majority of expat retirees. Time will tell.

Why would it be so surprising to see Thailand go down the same tax path as many western countries who chase every dollar of tax from their middle class? The wealthy don't pay, the poor can't pay, so they squeeze the middle class. Certain classes of countries are designated as "developing nations." As the country "develops" they build a middle class, and the country's tax system develops with it. It was only a matter of time before Thailand started to track, trace, and tax funds. Perhaps 2024 / 25 is that year. Thailand has followed western countries in many ways, why wouldn't they adopt similar tax policies?

I agree, but if that's the case, why did they return the documents in previous years, but kept them this year? Could it be they are under new instructions? Makes you wonder if they will be requesting such documents at renewal time next year. Best to be prepared for the possibility.

The price of "peace" in Thailand went up in 2024.

An extension look near impossible then.

Apply again next week and you'll probably be issued one.

Since when did you think, as a farang, you have the same right to pay no tax as a Thai?

Not cringing. I had to refer back to your post with their rates, because the Local Phone website is down. So much for reliability. Now, can you tell me, EXACTLY, how much AUD will be withdrawn from my Aussie bank account when I pay the $10USD from my Aussie Visa / MasterCard? No, I didn't think so. How about calling 13 and 1300 numbers. You didn't answer my question. Could it be, you can't even call 13 and 1300 numbers with Local Phone? How would one call their bank, insurance company, utility companies, Super company etc etc? I really do "cringe" at the thought of not being able to call 13 and 1300 numbers with Local Phone. No problem calling these numbers with Skype. Why is Local Phone charging to call a Toll Free 1800 number? What a rip off. They are free to call with Skype. Looking at the entire packages from both companies on offer, Skype PAYG outperforms Local Phone on reliability and price. Simple as that.

You are correct, I had a VPN on that gave me US Skype prices in the post I worked the maths. In previous posts, the posts with the "AU" in front of the $10, those are the figures I should have worked. I see calls to landlines are about the same, but Local Phone is cheaper when you take into account the connection fee. I see Local Phone is slightly cheaper for mobiles. The thing is, when an Aussie customer buys $10AUD of PAYG credit with Skype, using an Aussie Visa or MasterCard, exactly $10AUD comes off the card. With Local Phone, you don't know how much money will come out. YOU can't guarantee the final price, can you? Banks take a conversion fee, even for a small amount like $10USD, then you get a lousy currency conversion rate. So, well over $10AUD is withdrawn from your account. On that basis, Skype may very well be cheaper.

I see you are hiding behind the OP. I am directing my post at YOU. It's YOU that is embarrassing yourself. YOU put forward both GBP and USD prices for local phone. Both currencies are subject to conversion rates from AUD. Thus, at the mercy of Visa and MasterCard conversion rates, and possible fees for converting. Skype PAYG deal in AUD, so you know exactly what you get, paying AUD, with a Visa or MastyerCard that is in AUD, unless one used their Thai Visa or MasterCard. You are dribbling now, because you can't even guarantee what the Local Phone customer gets in "credit" because it's up to Visa and MasterCard what rate they wish to give. If only Local Phone dealt in Aussie Dollars like Skype PAYG does.

As I just posted, so in 2024 they have decided the time has come. Why is it such a surprise? The party could last forever.