KhunHeineken

Thailand has people from many different nationalities living here full time. Most are retired expats. The majority, including myself, derive an income, and that also could be a pension, from their home country. The majority have never paid 1 baht in tax here, other than VAT, and some property taxes. Like I said, all you have done is make a "donation" to Thailand. Do you want a medal? I'm not poor, but not stupid enough to pay tax when I don't have to.

Do you think your personal circumstances are indicative of the majority of expats living here? How many expats have ever paid a baht of tax in Thailand before? How many expats have filed a tax return in the past? Not scaremongering. If the TRD tell them they have to pay "X" amount, how many of them do you think have the courage, and financial means, to appeal, all the way to a Thai Court, to have pre 2024 "savings" recognized as being non taxable, for example? I am suggesting people will just shut up and pay up.

Not really. One can have all the money and bank accounts their want. They can have multiple properties, a couple of cars etc etc, just don't stay inside Thailand for more than 179 days a calendar year. Find a second home in a neighboring country for the other 6 months of the year.

The whole discussion is about the ifs and buts. We all don't know what will happen after the 1st January 2025. No harm in discussing all possibilities. It's the Thai way to make a scapegoat of the first person that goes against the system. Do you have the moral and ethical fortitude, and the financial means, to take the TRD on in a Thai Court, whilst hoping for a fair hearing, with the eyes of the world watching, or will you just shut up, pay what they say you should pay, and go along like a good farang? Who's willing to risk it all and be the test case for all farang going forward? Are you up for it, CM? No, I didn't think so.

So, what do you think will be their threshold then? 1 million, 2 million, 3 million, 4 million, 5 million baht? Who sets the figure of what will be chased and what will not be chased? Given computers will be doing all the work, why wouldn't they chase every baht off every person, just like western countries do? I have posted a youtube video about the myth that a DTA only ensures your money is taxed in one country only. I suggest you watch it.

At the same time whilst it's generating a new revenue stream, which did not exist before.

So true. One either accepts it, or leaves. At least with the Thai tax law you can do 179 days, basically 6 months a year inside Thailand, and have no tax residency issues. The certainty of this is good for planning a strategy.

She may or may not remain as the head of the TRD, but the easy money that's just sitting there waiting to be tapped will still be there, no matter who is in charge, and it will be too tempting, and too easy, for whoever is in charge to walk away from it.

I understand what you are saying, but in the near future, and that does not mean next month, most countries will go online with similar laws, and taxing world wide income. Basically, it's becoming more and more difficult to be a tax resident of "no where." Should they "change destination" it's only a matter of time before they face a similar issue elsewhere.

Thailand has no proper pathway to permanent residency for foreigners. What does that tell you? Dual pricing has been in Thailand for decades. Yes, it's discrimination. Do you think they care? Big announcement to make without a plan, don't you think?

Fail. That's that's the poorest troll / baiting / personal attack I have ever read. Try harder next time.

Clearly, the ex SAS post was a joke. I did put an emoji. You are hiding behind Thai's for a tax that is more easily targeted at you. I have no idea why you feel safety in doing so. Since when did you every think, even for just 1 minute, you had the same rights, privileges and freedoms as Thai's? This forms the basis of your argument, and it's ridiculous. You are a 1 year tourists, like the rest of us. Your retirement visa / extension gives you ZERO more rights than someone flying into Thailand for their first time on a holiday on a 60 visa exemption stamp. Happy to hear what you can do on a retirement visa that they can't do on a visa exemption stamp. Deal with your own personal tax liability, as a farang, within the Thai laws, because you will NEVER have the same rights, privileges and freedoms as a Thai. The money you remit to Thailand is going to be "taxed" in one way or another, either in 2025, or eventually. The writing is on the wall. When you pay that tax, EVERYTHING in Thailand has become more expensive then when you didn't have to pay ANY tax. Yes, I know, rocket science.

Do you know who owns XXXX Gold? Hint: it's not an Australian company. Do you like Kirin?

I have touched on this point before. Whilst you are correct by the letter of the law, have you allowed for "TIT?" Would you be prepared to take on the establishment, in Court, or just pay a bill they throw at you? Serious question, because that's maybe what it may be in 2025.

As I have said in the past, "a little out of a little can be a lot to some people."

And the "tax" for that has gone up in 2024.

A very small percentage of Thai's submit tax returns, so that makes for the majority of Thai's living in the cash economy. To answer your question, not every Thai buying a car is a bar girl or a corrupt official. Those examples were for illustration purposes. However, do you agree that those examples pay no tax? Yes or no? If you don't know the stats for Thailand's cash economy, why refute it? Come back after you have done some research.

Arms manufacturing companies, and their subsidiaries, would seem to be a safe haven over the next 12 months.

The gold always "glitters" in a bar girl's pants here. That's why so many people "invest" in it. Of course, 99% lose, but they enjoy some "gold" while it still "glitters."

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."