KhunHeineken

Very true. All will be revealed in 2025, and I dare say, in following years, they will close the loopholes that they discover many have been using. Basically, this policy could evolve to tighten up. I expect these tax threads to keep evolving in the same way. What's allowed in 2025, may not be allowed in 2026, and what's allowed in 2026, may not be allowed in 2027. Times are changing. Computer data bases are now talking to each other, not just domestically, but internationally. It was inevitable, and Thailand has now got onboard.

Who will ask this question, when, and where, and what enforcement may follow? Not saying it can not / will not happen, because as I have said, it's going to be funny in 2025 with all these foreigners having 800k in the bank, but nothing else appearing to be flowing through their bank account. Just interested in how you think the Thai authorities will go about it.

Can and will immigration be able to sort the cash runners from the tourists, particularly if they go hard at this policy, many expats may move onto tourist visas? Serious question?

Or, brought in 15k USD a few times each year on trips to neighboring countries. A debatable topic.

I disagree. There have been many companies and wealthy individuals that have taken on tax departments in Court and won their case. It happens all around the world, with many end up being test cases for those to follow. They scare those without the financial ability to take them on in Court, but many companies and wealthy people have had judgements in their favor at Court, and the tax payer has had to pick up the legal tab for the public servant's incompetence, because the loser pays. I'm Australian, and at one point in time, this guy was Australia's richest man. When the government found out he paid little to no tax one year, it hit the media. He sums it up perfectly, and expats in Thailand should be thinking the same way, particularly as we have no rights here.

We know this, but what about re-establishing residency before applying? As I asked in another post, is it really that easy to fly back into Australia before your birthday, after 20 years away, apply, receive, and fly out again with portability. If so, I would be somewhat surprised, but hey, Australia has an easy welfare system.

I also noticed this in the post. If someone wanted / needed an Aussie pension, why wouldn't they return a week before turning 65 or 67 to apply for it, then, I thought the member may have had a unique set of circumstances prohibiting him from doing so, thus, I didn't bother asking. Out of curiosity, if one was to live outside Australia for say 20 years, then fly home a week before turning either 65 or 67, depending on their birth year, are you stating they can apply for the pension, receive it shortly after, and fly out to Thailand with a portable pension soon after? If so, I am a little surprised it would be that easy, to simply arrive before your birthday, and you can fly out with a portable pension. I would have though one must at least appear to re-establish residency with some documents and an appearance of staying before applying.

Geez, and home many of them do you think there are???? Ohhhh, yeahhhh, and it's on it's way, and not just in Thailand. It's going global.

No, they just don't want to accept the reality that they very well may have to pay tax. They just want to continue on with the same routine they have had for years, and anything out of that square box they shoot the messenger, and bury their head in the sand. Are you suggesting not 1 baht must be paid by "most" expats for "something" in relation to this policy? I have posted what that "something" may be, and it's not necessarily tax, or a bribe, but tax is possible. Why would the Thai's be handing out free passes to falang, any falang?

I'm giving them a chance this first time around. If they tax me to the point I think they are ripping me off, It's Thailand for 179 days in 2025, and Vietnam for the other 6 months.

Try a different browser and post back if it's still happening.

If that's the case, what is the purpose of you starting this thread?

I wouldn't accept such important information verbally. I would be requesting the relevant information be emailed to me, so I can have a record of the correspondence.

Australia now has working homeless people. These people have full time jobs, but sleep in their cars. Government policy over the last few decades has created the Australian housing market Ponzi scheme, and the social damage is now there for all to see, with the pain being felt by many.

A lot of that Aussie humor from decades ago would be banned from TV now. Just goes to show what direction the country is heading in. Those old British comedies the same. Eg. Benny Hill, Love Thy Neighbor. Sexist, racist etc. Just all PC, Woke, whatever, BS. The only place with freedom of speech and humor now is on the stand-up comedy show stage.

So, what will you post when others apply and are issued a TIN? Is the staff member they saw incorrect for issuing them a TIN, or the staff member you saw incorrect for not issuing you a TIN? TIT, but we will all get to see if a TIN is needed early next year.

Rocket science, isn't it? Roll up and say "I am a pensioner, but I need a TIN." TRD staff say, "No need." "Ok, bye." Then, come on this forum and post how you were told by one TRD staff member, at one TRD office, at one given time, that you don't need a TIN, and declare a TIN is not needed.

If things worked so corruptly, you would be in Thailand.

Yes. It may be just another BS piece of paper that all foreigners will need at extension time, but backed up by laws that they can call in at any time for high net worth individuals, Thai and foreigners, but for most expat retirees, it MAY just be pay some money for the document, and that's your "tax" paid for the year. Like I said, we may end up laughing at it all because TIT.

But no way will they ever link that system to the ATO's for non resident tax purposes.

So, you are on a pension, or part pension. That means I'm feeding you, not the other way around.

Hardly a game changing amount, but a little out of a little can be a lot for some people's circumstances, but I believe the member's point is, doesn't that mean you now have less than 65k baht a month to live on, thus, the hint that the 65k baht may increase in the future. I have always said the 800k and 65k can't stay forever. These figures are already decades old, but this is for another thread.

Firstly, I am not upset. Everyone is entitled to their opinion on this issue. I just give more weight to posts that set out how one reached their opinion, which may include links, quotes, youtube videos etc etc, rather than just throw away lines like, "The Thai's would never do that" or "Not gonna happen." You have probably read me posting that we will all have to pay "something." I have not suggested that the "something" is always going to be tax. I have also not suggested that the "something" will be a bribe, either. In your own post you have said some might have to pay for document translation, or maybe agents. Is that not a new cost for them, thus "something" more to pay next year? All this discussion about assessable income, savings, gifting blah blah blah. As I have said, for most, including pensioners, it could be as simple as paying 500 baht for a document from the TRD at extension time. Yes, we will all laugh at it, because for those who shouldn't be paying anything, they have to pay 500 baht, and for those who should be paying a lot more, they are only paying 500 baht. It's the same for the Certificate of Residence. Time will tell, but when MONEY is involved, you rarely see Thai's walk away from it.

When news of this policy broke, many, including myself, gave a thought to how they would enforce this policy. Many members posted things like, "I can't see them chasing foreigners all over the country." I, and some other members, post that they MAY require a document from the TRD at extension time, thus, no chasing, as it brings the foreigner to them, where "something" may have to be paid. I have also put forward that just like there is an overstay desk at boarders, there may be a TRD desk, where you will have to pay "something" to be able to leave. Once again, no chasing, they can just sit back and wait for the foreigners to come to them. No one knows at this stage, but why chase the sheep when you can make the sheep come to you? It's such an obvious and simple solution for Thai authorities that I would find it hard to believe they haven't considered it and / or will implement it.

Sure, but money in a Thai bank, earning interest, could meet the criteria of being an "investor." So, whilst prohibited from working, the hold of a retirement visa is still earning money in Thailand, no matter how big, or how small. Like I said, go to a different office, at a different time, with a different member of staff, and you may get a different result.