KhunHeineken

Are you suggesting it is of no value at all? It neither clarifies or confirms anything.

What Aussie pension are you on? They won't "come calling." You will redirected to a TRD office at extension time. Fair enough. Not everyone is living in Thailand on a meager pension.

See the word "most?" Did I say "all?"

Many members on pensions seem to think the TRD will treat them the same way as they do Somchai, the rice farmer, in an Issan village. They are not going to chase Somchai for zero to little tax. Foreigners, on the other hand, can be "forced" into a TRD office, in the same way they are forced into an Immigration office, where their remittances can be questioned. The TRD may ask for a bank statement. It will be over the threshold. They will make deductions for over 65 and if married, then give you a tax figure. Good Luck arguing with them it's non assessable income, pre 2024 savings, you have a DTA, it's a loan, blah blah blah. Pay, or no certificate for immigration. Do I have a link to show this is the way it is, or the way it will be, NO, but I have no problem discussing why members think it will not go down this path, eventually, provided it's more than just wishful thinking.

I just addressed this in a post. It's the same old debate. How does the TRD know your remittances are not assessable income unless you prove it to them? The only way to do that is to file, declare, have them officially acknowledge you have zero tax to pay, get a certificate of clearance showing so, then you have completed the process. Similar question to you. If everyone does NOTHING, because their plan is to say their remittances are from non assessable income, you don't think the Thai government will close such an easy loophole?

So, say a retired expat is living in Thailand and owns ten rental properties back in his home country, thus, no pension for him. He remits say 1.5 million baht a year into his Thai bank account. He lives in Thailand full time, so over 180 days a year. He does NOTHING about this tax, zero, zilch, nada, and continues on living in Thailand as if none of it ever happened. If questioned, his plan is to say "the money I remit is not assessable" and YOU seem to think that will fly. That's it, simple as that, say the money is not assessable and there is no further action. So, the Thai banks, the TRD, and Immigration, will have absolutely NOTHING in place to stop such an easy loop hole. Really???? Most pensions from around the world go over the Thailand tax threshold. It goes back to the debate, how does the TRD know your income is not assessable unless you prove to them it is not? Then, you would want some proof that you have proved it to them, and that will be a certificate showing zero tax to pay, which I predict, will be needed by immigration in the future. It will be interesting to see how it unfolds, but I'm sure it's not going to be as easy as saying "my remittances is non assessable income."

It will be amusing for some, tears for some, and a shock for some, but I am sure this tax policy has something for everyone. That's true of citizens, all around the world, the problem for farang in Thailand is, we are not citizens, and remit our money. Link it to extensions and Cha-Ching. Of course, there's no way the Thai's would link it for enforcement purposes. They are two separate departments and don't communicate with each other.

What do you think the difference would be?

Dr. Sarawoot - "If they find you avoid make the tax payment, it could be big trouble." Just what every expat needs, "big trouble" in Thailand. For those who have spoken to a junior staff member at a TRD office, and been told they have no need to file and no tax to pay, I wish them good luck. I'm sure the Senior Legal Office of the TRD, Khun Patharaphon, has got it completely wrong.

One's been entrenched in the system for decades, the implementation of this tax policy is new. One expat speaks to one TRD officer, at one TRD office, gets told "if you get pension, no need pay tax" and that is relied upon by the expat. No discussion about what country they are from, the DTA, their age, their marital status. A visit where no ID is shown, no record of the inquiry is kept, no record of the officer spoken is made, no documentary prove the visit ever took place. Yeah, I call relying on information given at such a meeting, risky.

If that's the case, how did the famous saying about "death and taxes" come to be? Next time you walk into a 7/11, is it in "your hands" to pay the VAT on what you buy? No, I didn't think so. Tax departments all around the world continually assess their tax policies and seek to block any loopholes that people use. Thailand is no different. This policy will evolve. 2025 is just the start of it. The Director General was tasked with broadening Thailand's tax base. I can't see him giving foreigners a free pass. As far as consequences are concerned, the consequence of staying in Thailand 180 days is you become a resident of Thailand for tax purposes. This means you are now in the tax game, and for those who chose to do nothing, when they should be paying tax, I can see some negative consequences for them in the future.

Well, geez, such a difficult question, but I'll have a go at answering it, may be, just may be, because it forces the people that do have to pay some tax to do so. It catches everyone in the tax net. No, but it may be a requirement that you produce a document from the TRD informing immigration you have no tax to pay. I have suggested that the tax certificate may cost 300, 500, or 1000 baht, just like the certificate of residence, NO RECEIPT. So, they get to tax those that should pay tax, and a nice earner straight in the pocket for those that do not have to pay tax. Time will tell how this unfolds.

I've always said, Thailand is an unstable, 3rd World Country, so yes, I have seen some back flips. How many policies have they reversed that sees them lose money? The DTV was just another visa class. What's your point? Simple. Attract or keep a foreigner, means you keep their money in the Thailand economy, and keep their tax, including VAT. Money Number One. Why do you think they announced going for this tax if they knew they couldn't do and make a baht out of it? You asked me in another post, "show me one place where is says tax will be linked to retirement extensions." Can you show me one place where it says all of this tax policy will just go away and retired expats will not have to do anything?

Sure, but what we both need to do, like it or not, is the Thai legal way. I can't, but never said I could. For me, and many others, we see the "link" is the easiest, quickest, cheapest, and most effective way to force foreigners into a TRD office. Surely you agree with this. It's perfect for them. I have never claimed to be an expert, and I am not "surmising" I am predicting, and I'm not the only one to put it forward. From Day 1 when the news broke of this tax, I was one of the first ones, if not the first, to say they will use foreigner's need for visas / extensions to assist with enforcing their tax policy. I said it then, I say it now, and I stand by my prediction. Why are you so confident they will not "link" the two?

Sure, but I still think the Thai's have more install for farang with this tax. Just a gut feeling.

Can you elaborate on this?

How did it go?

I have no problem with TRD staff saying, "no taxes to be paid" but I want a document from the TRD stating exactly that. Otherwise, all I have is some young Thai who's parents bought them a government job, and I'm left to hang out and dry should sh*t hit the fan. Quite a few members are relying on what one member of staff told them at one TRD office. Risky.

It might be some Windows Updates. Let it run for an hour and see what happens.

How so? Is the decision on visas / extensions in your hands? No.

Link please? It's on the way, for sure. BTW, what's a non standard thing?

A couple of other members have posted that they now feel better after filing, declaring, paying, and receiving a "receipt" from the TRD. (document) As much as no one likes to pay tax, but knowing how Thailand is, I am prepared to pay some tax, and I'm almost at a point where I want to pay some tax, to get this done with, and to move on with my life. Yes, sounds crazy, but I would rather have that piece of paper from the TRD than not, and I'm prepared to pay for it. Reason being, it removes uncertainty. I have files, declared, paid, and can prove it. As I have said, I do not want to be one of the first ones to be made an example of by Thai authorities over this tax policy. 1 baht, 10k baht, 20k baht, whatever. I have always said I will give Thailand a chance this year. There are many accounts of expats going to the TRD and being told they do not have to file. It would be great if they would issue a document in the applicant's name stating zero tax to pay, but that's not how Thailand works. A big part of the unease around this tax is not so much the amount of money that may have to be paid, but whether or not immigration will demand a document showing clearance from the TRD. In my opinion, that's on the way, either this year, or in the future. I accept others have the view that this may never happen, as we all hope it doesn't. Also of concern is the information coming out of individual TRD offices. As I have said, go to a different office, you may get different information. Anyway, I am certainly not in the "do nothing, it will go away" camp. More so lately, I am leaning towards doing what it takes to get that piece of paper from the TRD and not having to be concerned with any moves the Thai government may make against those who have not filed. Interesting times ahead.

If they are serious about implementing this tax policy, what some may chose to do is be in Thailand when their money is not, and be outside when their money is in Thailand. Basically, remit as much as you like, but don't stay 180 days, then stay 180 days, but don't remit anything.

A "good relationship" can be bought here, and I don't mean for just 1 hour.

Mmmm. Interesting. He must be sailing close to defamation.