KhunHeineken

Thanks. It's not rocket science, though, is it?

What has that got to do with previously paying tax in Thailand?

It's really funny you have paid tax when you did not have to, but the Thai government thanks you for your donation.

Most Thai's live in the cash economy. Do you agree? Yes, or no. Go on the record. For example, that attractive bar girl with 5 "boyfriends" do you think she pays tax on what all 5 of them send her every month? Another example, that government official on a 20,000 per month salary, but owns 3 houses, a shop, 2 cars, and has a "mia noi" on the side, do you think he is paying tax on his "supplementary income?" Wake up.

There's a difference between tax evasion and tax avoidance / minimization. Tax evasion is illegal. Tax avoidance / minimizing is legal. On what legal basis do you you say this "tax evasion?" What tax law, exactly, has been broken?

I haven't read all of his posts. A quick Google shows Norway taxes world wide income. I could understand him not wanting to be a tax resident of Norway, but he could do that and still not pay tax in Thailand, like thousands here receiving rental income, share dividends, interest etc from their home countries. https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/norway/individual/taxes-on-personal-income "Norwegian tax legislation distinguishes between full tax liability for resident taxpayers and limited tax liability for non-resident taxpayers. Residents are liable to income tax on their worldwide income, whereas non-resident taxpayers are only subject to income tax on specific types of income from Norwegian sources."

What could possibly go wrong?

As I said in another post, we don't know how this will all unfold. The TRD MAY not be interested in your pre 2024 "savings" or any other exemption or threshold. Time will tell.

Correct. It amazes my why many expats sell up in their home country and move their life savings to Thailand, a country that only offers them the equivalent of a 1 year tourist visa, has no proper pathway to permanent residency, no proper foreign ownership of property laws, and is terribly corrupt, but hey, everyone else is doing it, so it must be fine.

True. It's an axe that could fall at any time and thousands of foreign condo owners will be left holding the can. Of course, like cannabis and tax, Thailand would never do it.

I live here also and have paid no tax since living here full time. Why have you paid tax in Thailand? English is my first language.

I would agree with that, but the wealthy Thai elite most likely pay more VAT than many expats combined.

I think what the member is suggesting is that the money remitted into Thailand to purchase the car is taxed early next year, thus, the car has costed you more than a Thai. Example: A Honda dealer is selling a new Honda for say 1 million baht. The Thai pays 1 million baht for it, and the foreigner pays 1 million baht for it. No two tier pricing at the Honda dealer. However, the 1 million baht the foreigner remitted into Thailand MAY make up part of the foreigner's tax liability with the TRD between 1st Jan and 31st March the following year. Should that be the case, it's only logical to factor in that tax liability to the total cost of the vehicle for a foreigner, which then make the vehicle more expensive for the foreigner to buy than the Thai. Or, are you suggesting remitting the money from your home country directly into the Honda dealer's bank account? Just on this point, we are using a car as an example because it is a large purchase, but if you have a tax liability, basically, living in Thailand in general has become more expensive, because to buy that beer, or that meal, or those groceries etc etc, involves remitting funds in order to be able to do so. Another one to consider is medical. One could have a medical episode that require immediate major medical intervention. It could cost hundreds of thousands of baht, or into the millions. The money remitted to pay for it MAY attract tax the next year, thus, basically making the operation / treatment more expensive for the foreigner than the Thai. Yes, we can all bang on about "savings" the previous year, and pensioners paying minimal tax, thresholds and gifts blah blah blah. but we don't know how this will play out. Maybe the TRD will not be interested in any documents you have showing savings from your home country. Maybe they will just give us all a flat rate tax bill based on the total money that was deposited into your account/s. Pay it, and continue to pay it, or leave Thailand for 6 months of the year. Interesting times ahead.

You are correct, but the money remitted to buy the vehicle, that's different.

Why would catching "foreign criminals" be negative press? That's the spin they will put on it.

It's not a "right" it's a "permission" and one that can be revoked either individually, or on mass, at any time.

You mean, a "firesale."

Yes. Also interesting for the company that owns the land condo blocks sit on. The extra "x 30 x 30" is not enforceable at Thai law.

That day was always coming, and when it arrives, many will be left holding the can. The "Thailand for Thai People" nationalistic thing, but hey, everyone else is doing it, so it must be fine.

Isn't that how Thailand works though? One law for the lower class, no law for the wealthy? Thailand implements the tax, in one form or another, and appears to be modernizing on the global stage, and similar to western countries, meanwhile, Thaksin repatriates his billions using whole accounting and law firms to ensure he pays no tax, just like billionaires do in the west. Just on this point, why would Thaksin bring back all his money when he could be arrest and charge with anything at any time and his money confiscated. He would be better leaving his money outside Thai jurisdiction, similar to the way wealthy Chinese get their money out of China.

I thought this forum was open to all nationalities.

I understand English is not your first language. Do you understand my question? Why have you paid tax when you didn't have to? I can't make the question any more simple than that?

I agree with you, but when there's money to be made out of foreigners, all political parties here seem to like heading in the same direction, no u-turns. This is an easy earner for them from the small fry, and they can also pay more attention to high net worth individuals to tax some serious money out of them.

Why the need to fly back to one's home country? As I said in another post, people have been doing tourist "visa runs" to neighboring countries for decades. There may be a new industry pop up offering "cash runs." I'm sure the casinos in the boarder towns would be happy to offer such a service, for a commission. Nothing illegal. One would only be bringing in under the declarable amount. I am going to Singapore for the F1 and will be bringing back a wad of cash.

Many have invested heavily both financially, and emotionally in Thailand. They have sold up in their home country and moved to Thailand. They have nothing back in their home country to go back to. This is the demographic I say "can not leave."