KhunHeineken

As we all know, "Opinions are like a**holes, we've all got one." You have your opinion, I have my opinion, and everyone else has there opinion, and we are ALL entitled to our own opinion. What I am about to post is a "statement" and not an opinion. Statement start: "The Thai government announced these tax changes, so they must have a plan for them." Statement end. I have already commented on my statement in previous posts. I re-post my statement for the purpose of drawing attention to the FACT that anything and everything is possible come the 31st March 2025. That could be anywhere from NOTHING, all the way to SCREWING foreigners. Time will tell.

You have to see what will happen to tax residents of Thailand AFTER the 31st March 2025 before you can make a comment like that.

I'm ex SAS, and not a tax professional, but still happy to discuss Thailand's tax policy.

Out of 70 million Thai's, what percentage do you think "remit" funds into Thailand? Out of all the western foreigners living in Thailand, what percentage do you think "remit" funds? Most Thai's couldn't care less about "remitted" funds" as it does not effect them.

It's not that they "should not enforce income tax" but it's up to every "snowbird" to ensure they do their winter escape to Thailand in a tax effective manner. Example: It could be November and December in one year, and January, February, March and April the next year, or September, October, November, December one year, and only January and February the next year, give or take a few days either side, but no more than 179 days inside Thailand within a calendar year. Snowbirds should be fine. It's the snowbirds that are considering retiring to Thailand full time in the future that may need to reconsider their position.

Addressed in another post. Who says "I switched?" You did, not me. I went on a short holiday. That's why it's called a "re-entry permit." So, "haha dream on" about the Thai's capability to detect i have cash (under the declarable of course) AND prosecute me for some form of tax "evasion."

I didn't know this, mainly because I am insured, however, it is not surprising. Since when did farang living in Thailand actually think they had even close to the same rights Thai's have? A foreigner could live here, have a Thai wife, have two kids, a business, a house, a car, two motorbikes, a farm etc etc, but you will always only have a "permission" to stay which is just as good as the current 60 visa exemption stamp.

Explained in another post. Most Thai's live in the cash economy. Do you agree? Yes, or no? Go on the record. if you agree, then you have contradicted yourself in your post. If you disagree, the stats prove you wrong.

I can explain it for you, but I can't understand it for you.

I hear you, but that would definitely be beyond Thailand's, and most other country's, capabilities to enforce, with the caveat on the declarable amounts, but I have NEVER suggested to try to bring in over the declarable amount, thus, drawing attention to one's self, both in Thailand, and one's home country. Given around 17% to 20% of Thailand's GDP, possibly a bit higher, relies on tourism, there's no chance they will be searching foreigners at every boarder for cash amounts under the declarable amount. Try to bring in a suit case full of cash, sure, one would have problems, but I've never suggested that. One can remit an amount that is either under the taxable amount, or to a point they can afford to pay their tax liability, or personally feel it's still worth it for them to pay it, and any shortfall can be made up with a "cash run" and come back in as any other tourist does with some cash.

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.