KhunHeineken

They already had my ID. which is my passport, which is obviously my nationality. Why only Kasikorn doing it????

Yeah, pretty sure. I've never seen a Thai passport with a Thailand visa in it, have you?

Why? According to some, we can all just say our income is not assessable. Simple as that. And the TRD knows all this how???? Once again, I am speaking in general terms. Not everyone has an LTR. True, but the TRD knows NOTHING about our individual circumstances, accept that we have remitted FUNDS over the threshold. Can you see the need the TRD may have to establish the source of one's income? If so, how do you think the TRD would go about doing so?

I'm giving Thailand a chance this year. I could have vacated for 6 months in 2024, but decided to be in the game for the first year. Depending on how this unfolds, it will determine whether I remain in Thailand for the second half of 2025. Your decision ensures you have nothing to worry about, and can sit back and laugh at it all. Good for you.

Take my country, Australia, for example. The pension is $1047AUD. Aussie aged pensioners lose their supplements if they live overseas. $1047 x 26 (fortnightly) = $27,222AUD. $27,222 x 21.5 baht (current exchange rate) = 585,273 baht. Here's Thailand's tax brackets. There are some deductions for over 65 and married, but still some tax to pay. Can you post some figures showing some pensions that do not go over the threshold, that are not covered by a DTA, like Australia's? Thailand Income Tax Rates Thailand’s personal income tax rates are progressive, ranging from 0% to 35%. Taxable Income (THB) Tax Rate 0 – 150,000 0% 150,001 – 300,000 5% 300,001 – 500,000 10% 500,001 – 750,000 15% 750,001 – 1,000,000 20% 1,000,001 – 2,000,000 25% 2,000,001 – 5,000,000 30% Over 5,000,000 35% https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/how-much-age-pension-you-can-get?context=22526 Per fortnight Single Couple each Couple combined Couple apart due to ill health Maximum basic rate $1,047.10 $789.30 $1,578.60 $1,047.10 Maximum Pension Supplement $83.20 $62.70 $125.40 $83.20 Energy Supplement $14.10 $10.60 $21.20 $14.10 Total $1,144.40 $862.60 $1,725.20 $1,144.40

The way the game is currently played is you are a farang, with no rights here. Why do you think farang will get such an easy free pass?

So, that's it then. No need for any foreigners to file. Mods, please close all the tax threads. The conclusion is no foreigners have to file because the TRD have no way of knowing, or finding out, the "true" source of a foreigners income. Actually, they can't even make foreigners file because it's a "self assessment" system. Pre 2024 savings. No need to file. Job done. Geez, the Thai's really dropped the ball on this one. All that easy money sitting there for the taking and they have NOTHING in place to force foreigners to prove the source of their remittances. I wonder how long before they stop this simple loophole?

Correct, but I opened the account with an Australian passport, and updated my ID when I got a new passport. The bank/s are well aware I am not American. Also, why only Kasikorn, why not all of the Thai banks?

Most on this forum are retired, as I am. They couldn't care less about the Department of Labor. I've given examples of departments communicating with each other but you refuse to accept it happens. Not much more to discuss on the matter, is there?

Or, the same reason, taxation.

What's there to like about ANY paperwork in Thailand????

It's an old DTA from the 80's. Australia is in the process of renewing their DTA's with other countries, but it could take some time.

Given the uncertainty surrounding this whole tax policy, do you see a problem with being "defensive?"

I couldn't care less what problems they have with each other. I only care about what problems they can make for me.

If that's the case, why did I receive an email from Kasikorn bank, as did many others, and I have to go in there and sign some forms related to nationality and taxation?

I agree, and it's been well discussed. For new retirees looking to set up their retirement in Thailand, transfer in your 800k baht, and whatever money to purchase a property, perhaps a car also. Buy everything, but only stay in Thailand for 179 days that calendar year.

Huh? Police work for the government. You completely missed the point. Here's another example for you. A Thai drivers license. Foreigners need a certificate of residence to produce to the land transport office. Do you not see there are occasions where you need a document from one entity / department to produce to another department? Sort of makes your posts irrelevant then, doesn't it? Or, immigration will not process their extension without a certificate from the TRD. Do you get it now?

I hear you. To date, just about every member bends over backwards not to breach any immigration laws, yet, many don't seem to see the TRD laws in the same light. Interesting. I'm sure the Thai government has more twists in the tail for foreigners in relation to this tax. 2025 will just be the start of its evolution.

Thai's don't need a visa to live in Thailand. A Thai bank isn't even a government department, but you need a document from your Thai bank at extension time. Or, a clever TRD sees it as and easy, cheap, and effective method to force foreigners into a TRD office.

Maybe because not everyone is living here on pre 2024 savings, and their fortnightly / monthly social security payments are not covered by a DTA. Example: the Australian old age pension is not covered by a DTA. Do you have any advice for the thousands of Aussie old aged pensioners living fortnight to fortnight in Thailand on their pension?

I like the terminology you used, "be defensive." I don't trust the Thai government, and I don't trust people who work in Thai government departments, particularly Thai police. I don't think I am alone. I will be defensive. I will file and declare. For me, it's not only that I have filed, but I need to be seen to have filed, and need proof that I have filed, to have some certainty about this tax policy. I am prepared to pay, up to a certain amount. for this piece of mind. I really do think there are more chapters to this book, and it will just be the gift that keeps giving, but file, declare, pay or no pay, have a document showing such, and you are done with it. Call it defensive, but it will work for me. I understand others do not hold the same view, and that's fine. I wish everyone good luck with dealing with this tax policy, and how it relates to their individual circumstances.

Why tell the truth if there is NOTHING in place to confirm the truth, unless.................................................. Or, because a junior staff member of the TRD said no need to file. Be sure to record the meeting.

This pension is covered by the DTA. For the benefit of other Aussie members, the old age pension is not covered by the DTA. Everyone's circumstance are different. Not everyone has a LTR. I am speaking in general. People MAY be redirected to a TRD office because whilst you know you receive a government service pension, and it is covered by the DTA, the TRD does not. All they see in the money remitted, not the source. If you think they do, perhaps you can post how you think they know you are on a government service pension. Good Luck with doing NOTHING about any of it. I'm sure NOTHING will come back to bite you, EVER. I use ten rental properties for example purposes. It could be shares, bank interest, superannuation, owning a business in one's home country etc.

Exactly. My point being that you had to go through the process. Get it?

It goes back to the old debate, how does the TRD know you are not required to file when they don't know the amount and source of one's income. This debate is at a stalemate. Some say, "my income is not assessable, so I do not need to file" and some say, "how does the TRD know your income is not assessable if you don't file and inform them?" There's no right or wrong answer. I can see both sides. We will soon all get to see how it unfolds.