KhunHeineken

A very crude solution, and not one that I would opt for, but it would work. https://www.ebay.com/itm/223830711186?hash=item341d599b92:g:9t8AAOSwVm5Y9e1n

I also click on "Accept All" but clear all cookies at the end of a browsing / surfing session. This way, the cookie is phoning home days, weeks, months into the future.

Maybe try a different speed test website also.

Have you considered setting up the Business PC as a Plex Server? You can then watch your content on any device on your local area network, including phones and tablets, and if you buy a Plex Pass, anywhere in the world. https://www.plex.tv

I gather if you bought a larger SSD, say 1TB, even with dying or dead sectors, it could still last for years longer, because you have bought more storage than you really need. Would this be correct? Any idea what causes controllers to fry? Do you mean electricity surges? If so, use a surge protector, but I am not sure it does much in a 2 pin power point that Thailand has.

OP, can you give more information on this? No offense intended, but if your condo / house has a router, it will most probably have 4 LAN ports on the back of it. If that's the case, one port has an ethernet cable going to your desktop, and you just need to buy another cable and plug it into a vacant LAN port in the back of the router and into your TV. If that's not the case, definitely get a simple plug and play switch. Make sure it's an unmanaged switch, but they are usually quite expensive.

Can you explain how this VPN Add-On works? Does it give Kodi the VPN IP address but the rest of the box / phone is on the IP address of physical location, or this add-on VPN's the whole device?

When HDD's get old they get noisey and eventually stop spinning and die. What do SSD's do at the end of their life? Do "sectors" slowing start dying and you lose capacity to the point it's unusable, or does one sector die causing the whole SSD to die suddenly?

Maybe it's your internet connection, not the websites. Have you done a speed test? Go to this website and click on "Go" and post what speeds you are getting. Maybe unplug your router for a minute and then plug it back in and do the speed test 5 minutes later. www.speedtest.net

As OneMoreFarang said, maybe you just need to give the machine longer to do the updates. I remember a while ago I had a similar problem. The updates were taking a long time, so I thought the machine was frozen and I would restart the machine and start the whole process over again, I did this a few times. On the last attempt, I went to bed and left the updates running and in the morning they were installed. It just took way longer than I thought. It was an old laptop with a low powered processor, but it got there in the end. What CPU has your machine got?

I think you are right. At some stage in this mess, the Australian dollar is going to have to take a hit, and that's not good news for expats.

A Singapore bank account may be a good option for you. Like anywhere at the moment, it won't earn any interest, but at least the Australian Tax office can't touch it.

Checking out of Australia is not the best solution for everyone. I haven't done it as yet, but I know a lot of guys who have. I envy them. They must sleep well knowing they have rid themselves of the Australian Tax Office forever. ????

No problem. Did you get it sorted out?

I understand the point you are making, but my comments are directed towards the future. Compulsory superannuation started in 1992 with a 3% contribution. Given wages were low in 1992, and 3% of a low wage doesn't amount to much, and the higher cost of living in the 2000's to the present year, I agree with you that many people in the work force in this period will not have enough superannuation and will require an aged pension to survive. indeed, some Aussie expats in Thailand may fall into this category and I agree with you they may slip through the net. Superannuation then went to 6%, is currently 10% and they want it to go to 12% or higher. The point I am trying to make is, if you are currently in your 40's, and been on the 10% for most of your working life, there will still be hundreds of thousands of dollars in your superannuation fund at retirement age. I assume during one's working life that a mortgage has been paid off, and the worker also owns a property at some stage of their life. The employment or skill set doesn't have to be a lucrative one to accumulate this nest egg over a working life of 50 years, and to pay off a mortgage over 30 years, but granted, paying off a mortgage is easier when married and having two incomes. Someone who has been working full time in retail, or hospitality, which are not high paying jobs, will still accumulate hundreds of thousands of dollars in superannuation. It's not just doctors or lawyers, but of course they will have more money in their fund. I just can't see the government giving an aged pension to a 65 year old who has just retired and has access to hundreds of thousands of dollars in superannuation. I actually think the opposite, the government will want to get their hands on that money, and this is why I say for Australians retiring to Thailand with a superannuation nest egg, the government may deem them to be non residents and tax any earnings they make on that nest egg and / or renting their house out. I am really only talking about superannuants, not aged pensioners. There will be a time in Australia's future where the the vast majority of working Australians will not qualify for an aged pension, due to having a lump sum in a superannuation fund. These are the people I am talking about. Basically, self funded retirees. We call them pensioners by age, but they are not receiving any government age pension, they are using their own money. There would be some cases, like a messy divorce, or, someone working in the black economy all their life, who may retire at 65 and show no savings / superannuation and will be given a pension, but they are in the minority. You only have to chat with some Aussie expats you meet in a bar in Thailand and ask "What did you do for a crust back in Oz" and just about all of the expats I meet have had some type of career. It's that career, combined with compulsory superannuation, that will see many ineligible for an aged pension in the future. As a crude example, the average Australian wage is $62,500 a year. 10% of that is $6,250. Over a 50 year working life, that's around $312,500 in superannuation to retire on. I can't see the government giving out an aged pension to someone who has access to over $300,000. If I won $300,000 in the lottery tomorrow I would be asking my accountant what's the best way to keep the tax man's hands off it. Superannuants face the same issue, and more so, if they are expat non residents.

I take your point, however, just how many people have had messy divorces? I mean, to work all of your life, up until pension age, and still be able to qualify for the pension, these people would not be in the majority. In any case, all the government has to do is tighten the criteria to qualify, like the amount of cash you can have, or the value of your home. Basically, force you to use your own money first, and even force a downsize your property, only then put your hand out, all the while hoping you die before eventually becoming eligible for a pension. I never suggested pensions will come to an end, just the criteria to qualify for the pension will see the majority of people unable to immediately qualify. Basically, why would the government give someone with hundreds of thousands of dollars in superannuation, or two houses, or a lot of shares, an age pension? Another matter to consider is, the government needs that age pension money circulating in the Australian economy, not benefiting Thailand's economy. They may simply stop portability, not the pension itself, thus ensuring the money circulates inside the Australian economy. I've just started a thread with a recent news article showing the huge amount of debt Australia is in. Maybe some long term expats are not aware. For sure some tax enforcement, new taxes, and government savings, are not far away.

Aussies might find this article interesting, and disturbing. Some eye watering figures. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-drives-up-debt-to-menzian-levels-with-no-end-in-sight-20211228-p59kg1.html I can only imagine what new taxes and cost cutting awaits the present generation, and many generations to come. With a country of only 25 million people, having only around 12 million people in the workforce, it will take generations to pay back the debt. How could a country with such an abundance of resources be so mismanaged, for so long?

For the purpose of this discussion, maybe we better define the term "pensioner." When you use the word pensioner, do you mean someone receiving an age pension from Centrelink, or do you mean anyone over the age of 65? If you mean someone receiving a Centrelink age pension, and living in Thailand, I think a few clips in the news media telling how Aussie expats in Bali, Thailand etc are living it up on the tax payer's money might gather a bit of support for cutting them off. As I said earlier, the days of people being eligible to receive an age pension are coming to an end. People retiring in the next 10 years will most likely not be eligible, due to superannuation, property and asset ownership, and having cash. People receiving an age pension in the future will most likely be people who have never worked and have always played the system and been on Centrelink. if you are talking about someone over the age of 65 years of age, living in Thailand, who has worked hard all their life and has considerable assets like rental properties, shares, and cash in a bank earning interest, then he would be an easy target, and worth a few dollars each year to the ATO to scoop him up in the expat 180 day drag net. Either way, the Australian government saves money, or makes money, so why wouldn't they target "pensioners?" Australia is broke. It was broke before covid. They will be chasing every dollar they can, and the 180 day rule, for expats still generating an income in Australia, makes them soft targets.

If you don't want to pay tax in Australia, then have nothing in Australia than can be taxed. Sell all your assets, and move all the proceeds offshore. A bank based in Singapore is a good option. You can have a credit card with an Australian finance company, as well as a pre paid or even post paid sim card, a bank account (with next to nothing in it) and a driver's license. None of these attract tax, and can be used by you either outside of Australia, or inside Australia. Obviously, you will have an Aussie passport as well.

Yep, which means most on this thread / forum will be effected. Only a matter of time before they are going to be in for a big shock. As you said, it will simply come down to how many days an expat is outside Australia, because it's the easiest to prove. Immigration know when you left Australia, and you can't dispute it, only mount a defense for the purpose of leaving, and length of time away. The "please explain" letter will target $1 as well as $1,000,000. Same letter, only the individual's net worth differs, and the return for the ATO. The ATO will not differentiate. They'll gladly take the $1 as well. I disagree. Pensions have been decreased after 6 weeks of the recipient being outside of Australia. This is proof of data bases communicating. The immigration, Centrelink, and ATO data bases talk to each other. Yep, that's domestic, and annually, around tax time. What I think will eventually happen is the data base will spit out a list of thousands of Aussies that are abroad for more than 180 days, then match that up with tax returns, or lack of them, and then contact them with a "please explain." This will particularly be the case for those with income generating assess in Australia. The days of people receiving a pension are coming to an end. Superannuation, and various deeming laws for assets have already seen to than. I am not saying the ATO will be on us next week, but it's only a matter of time before they turn their sights to lucrative and easy targets, such as Aussies not living in Australia for 180 days, but still generating income in Australia. Eg. rent, interest, dividends etc.

If / when you withdraw your super, any money earned by that lump sum, be it rent because you bought a property with it, interest from a bank or term deposit account, dividends etc will be taxed at the high non resident rate. It's not just taxes and fees involved for the withdrawal of your super, it's also what it earns in Australia after you withdraw it, unless you are moving it offshore.

Why would you need to access the MyGov website then?

The 180 day rule is more than a guide. It is one of the criteria relied upon at law for the determination of an individual's residency status for tax purposes. I travel a lot whilst outside of Australia. I attend motor racing events in Malaysia and Singapore, and follow various festivals, concerts, sporting events etc in different countries. I also visit friends in different countries around South East Asia. I make sure I have, and keep, a record of all travel. I think I could mount a good defense, should the ATO deem me a non resident, but I do agree, there's a chance I may not be successful. For those that remain in one location in Thailand, without maintaining a domicile in Australia, and ties to it, like utility bills etc, I think there would be little they could offer by way of a defense. Yes, residency has been done to death, and everyone has their own information they are relying on, and a system that is working for them. I am not saying my system is the best. I am more than happy to listen to what has been working for others. I have no doubt that the Australian government will be chasing every dollar they can in the future, and immigration data bases showing citizens outside of Australia for 180 days is an easy target, and difficult to fly under the radar with. I would suggest all Aussies expats get their ducks in a row, because it's only a matter of time before we are all contacted by the ATO for a "please explain."

I do similar to ozfarang. I maintain a "domicile" (house - property) in Australia to get around the 180 days outside of the country rule for non resident for taxation purposes. I visit Australia once a year and have a free annual medical check up on Medicare to remain active in the Medicare system. My tax agent submits a small return for me every year to remain active on the tax system. I NEVER EVER NEVER tick the box on the airport depart card that says Australian Leaving Permanently. As far as the Australian government is concerned, I just have a long overseas holiday every year, but still call Australia home. The big problem will come, and I am sure it's only a matter of time before it does come, is when the Australia government changes the law to no longer have any exemptions to the 180 days outside of Australia rule. That will mean, any Australian citizen outside of Australia for more than 180 days a year will automatically be deemed a non resident for taxation purposes. At something like $0.49 in the dollar, from dollar number one, no sliding scale, it will net the Australian government big money. When that time comes, I will either have to stay in Australia for 180 days every year, or sell up and ship out, completely, moving all funds offshore, most likely to a Singapore bank account, and leave nothing in Australia than can be taxed. I will just have an Australian passport, driver's license, sim card, bank account with $10 in it, and a Visa or Mastercard credit card or debit card. There's a lot of conflicting information about residency status among expats in Thailand, but I know one thing is for sure, you do not want to be deemed a non resident for taxation purposes, but I can see the day when the Australian government will chase money from everyone outside Australia for more than a legitimate holiday length of time.

Aldi Mobile Pay As You Go from the Aldi supermarket. $15 for 365 days validity. Uses the Telstra mobile network. Turn on international roaming. Top ups can be done online once a year with a credit card, or you can set up auto recharge. Handy when back in Australia also as the calls are cheap. https://www.aldimobile.com.au/collections/payg