KhunHeineken

I am well aware it's not about what they know, it's about what they can prove. I am simply saying there are many people, and I am not accusing the members on this forum, because only they know the facts, that are abusing the system for financial gain. We have all seen in the news, on many occasions, the guy on sickness benefits, claiming a bad back from a car accident that he has a compensation claim running on, caught out working on a construction site by insurance investigators. I am simply saying, claiming you are separated when you actually are not, is fraud, and therefore, a crime. Just because it's difficult to prove, or the government lacks the resources to be able to do so, doesn't mean it's not a crime.

Coming from someone with over 20,000 posts.

You beat me to it, and that's his second AN username.

Wrong, as usual. https://retirementessentials.com.au/news/centrelink-age-pension/centrelink-welfare-crackdown/#:~:text=Reports last week reveal that,cameras and audio bugging devices. "Reports last week reveal that Services Australia (the department responsible for Centrelink) is in the process of hiring private investigators to gather evidence on claimants who are suspected of wrongdoing. The planned surveillance is believed to include both cameras and audio bugging devices." https://www.news.com.au/national/federal-government-to-continue-to-use-private-investigators-in-crackdown-on-welfare-cheats/news-story/eea5f19cb6565e90f29c53d06640bbb0 Many articles about it.

Don't quote me on this, but I think that's if you are over 60 years of age. The OP is in his 50's.

People can be prevented from leaving Australia, and I have provided two creditable links setting out the government's policy. Are you saying it's fake news? Are you saying the government is bluffing? Bottom line is, I am saying they can be stopped from leaving Australia unless they pay, or make arrangements to pay. Read the links again. Still waiting on a link from you about a dollar value the ATO will not chase. Requested said link many time, yet nothing. It's just your opinion. We have one member's account of a $600 debt from 8 years ago. Things change over 8 years. Say the member flew back to Australia 7 years ago, perhaps that ATO may have caused him some issues. Still waiting on that link.

Claiming one is separated when they actually are not is fraud, thus, criminal.

I think you will find graduates are well aware of the policy and know their passport is tracked, so there are no news links of someone being detained at the airport. You keep telling me and I keep asking you, what dollar amount of debt will the ATO not bother chasing? This is your claim. Do you have any links? You say they will not chase small debts. What dollar amount is "small?"

As I said, the subject has been mentioned in several new threads, not started by myself. I have referred the OP's, and other members, to the thread where it was discussed at length, and with many links posted. A lot of the plans the OP's have, and the information requested by them, relies a lot on their tax residency status, so they should check out the discussion in the other thread.

I agree. I have asked members who have said they have lived in Thailand for years, but are still a resident for tax purposes, what argument would they put forward to the ATO when their letter arrives? How can one argue they are a resident for tax purposes when they have been living in Thailand for years? The days of being able to say I am just on a 3 year holiday and have the "intention" of returning to live in Australia are coming to an end.

I agree, but some time ago we had a lot of funny comments from those not willing to face the prospect that they may need to consider a Plan B for the future. The "That's just for guys like Paul Hogan" was one of the funniest, and more memorable. As discussed, expats who are non residents for tax purposes should already be paying the tax. These are not new taxes being proposed, just new laws that make enforcement a lot easier for the ATO.

Here's a couple of links. https://www.smh.com.au/money/tax/what-you-need-to-know-about-your-student-debt-before-heading-overseas-20180430-p4zcf7.html This guy has an interesting story. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-03/qld-hecs-help-ex-pats-indexation-university-debt/102427526 See this line: "Now, the ATO uses passport matching to track who leaves the country with a HECS debt." Do you really think the ATO tracks passports ONLY for HECS debt? Do you have any links showing the amount the ATO will not chase? Is it $1000, $5000, $10,000? As you said, the ATO can do pretty much anything to recover debt, so why wouldn't they?

Perhaps you can explain how an expat who has been living in Thailand for the last 3 years, or longer, can argue with the ATO in the future that they are still a resident for tax purposes. Things are changing. It's been discussed at length in the other thread. Having a house, bank account etc will not be the criteria the ATO will be using to classify you in the future. You will be deemed either resident or non resident based on time and physical presence, not domicile and "intention." Currently, anyone can say they have the "intention" of returning to Australia, and for those who still have a property, can show they have a "domicile" in Australia. The reality is, most have no intention of living in Australia again, whether they own a property there or not. The proposed changes will address this loophole for everyone, not just the wealthy.

Have you noticed quite a few recent threads, not started by myself, mention resident / non resident for taxation purposes? Some members, and I am one of them, state they haven't been back to Australia for years, yet are still claiming to be a resident for taxation purposes. The proposed changes that have been discussed will close this loophole not only for the wealthy, but for everyone, because as it stands, there are no exemptions, or non resident tax free threshold mentioned in the proposed changes.

The good think about root canal therapy is you have a nice smile afterwards.

Do you holiday to Thailand together also? We are discussing a level of criminality now.

Yes. They just play sleep overs.

I agree with everything you have said. Australia used to ride on the sheep's back, now it rides on a property market ponzi scheme, and the only way to keep it going is to import wealthy migrants, because housing is now out of reach for many young Australians. Coincidentally, this was in today's news. Like I said, they have to keep the slaves working for longer. https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-employment-white-paper-aged-care-pension-changes/a00d9e59-ccff-4dd3-8d05-85b0a2fa3380

8 years ago is a long time. Many state and federal data bases now communicate with each other. Links have already been posted about students with HECS debt not being allowed to leave Australia, and someone posted about an airport alert on unpaid child support as well. The ATO has the ability to place a departure prohibition order on people with a tax debt. Would they do it for $600, who knows? Does a computer care if it's $10 debt, or $10,000 debt? It's not the criminal intent that some may have surrounding any tax debt that I am discussing, it's about how and what the ATO can and will do to recover it, and if you have any assets, or generate any income in Australia, including a pension, then they can take action against you, regardless of what country you are living in. Then, there is the issue above where you may have to return home to Australia for family or medical reasons, and you might not be able to leave until the debt has been repaid. If, or when, the proposed changes to non resident tax comes in, many expats will be accruing debt to the ATO, putting them on the merry-go-round with the tax man.

You are talking about the tax free threshold, and it's not just for interest, it's all forms of income. The tax free threshold does not apply to non residents for tax purposes. It's 32.5% from $0 to $120,000. One should not just be relying on a single rental property for living in Thailand, and you forgot that the rent received also decreases a pension. Once again, your figures are based on being a resident for tax purposes, which many living in Thailand are not. This has been discussed to death in the other thread. Yes, you, me, and many on this thread are currently using 90 year old legislation that says if you maintain a "domicile" in Australia you can remain a resident for tax purposes. As discussed in the other thread, with many links provided, the previous Liberal government put forward proposed changes, and the current Labor government are aware of them, that basically sets out the criteria be changed from "domicile" to a time based criteria, and based on physical presence. This will have implications for you, me, and many on this thread. Basically, immigration know you are not in Australia for 183 days, and they inform Centrelink and the ATO, then, you are treated as a non resident for tax purposes. All done by computer data bases. Simple, cheap, and no loop holes. No appeals, no reviews. Inside Australia 183 days, resident, outside Australia for 183 days, non resident. It means you will be paying 32.5% tax from dollar number one on all income, including a pension, and yes, a pension is deemed to be an income. Links have been provided for this. So, can you maintain your current lifestyle in Thailand with 32.5% less money?

Most expats can't even go to the fridge to get themselves another beer. You know the guys I am talking about. The, "I get the missus to do it" for everything, and I mean everything. Even paying an electricity bill. They have lost all independence, mostly out of laziness.. Need a security license for that, thus a course to do, and it's not cheap. Not to mention, no criminal history etc etc., and it takes months. Then, what pub is going to employ a 60 year old over a 35 year old doing it as a second job? Maybe an RSL, if lucky, but those jobs would be tied up already. Those going back to Australia for their 2 year qualification period are going to have some tough times, unless they have some cash behind them, but in my opinion, as far as employment goes, they can just about near forget it.

You can have a trade or a profession, but the only person that will employ you is yourself, so that's the whole sole trader / company business set up. Then, there's probably some more "certification" or "tickets" needed to get back into the game. More courses, more money, more BS. No one is going to employ anyone over 60. Sure, you'll get an interview to make the company look like they are equal opportunity employers, but over 60's will not be getting the job. Think about it. Why would they, especially for a guy who's been living in Thailand for several years?

How many of the above jobs fit the employment profile of Aussie expats that have been living in Thailand for some years?

Yeah, but it's all about "The Voice." Focus on "The Voice." Don't be distracted by the real issues.

They need to keep people earning an income, thus paying tax, basically, keeping the slaves for a couple of extra years. Immigration has always been a touchy subject, but basically, Australia needs immigrants, and a lot of them, it's as simple as that, but not a great election policy.