KhunHeineken

Yes, and the price for expats to stay in Thailand has just gone up. If you re prepared to pay, then stay. If you are not prepared to pay, then stay less than 180 days per calendar year, or leave. Expats have no rights here. That retirement visa / extension is nothing more than a 1 year tourist visa. The Thai's say "jump" and you either ask "how high" or look for greener pastures. Simple.

Can you post some information about your old, or current laptop. That way, members can gauge what you may call "pricey."

No problem. He can't even post what they charge for 13, 1300 and 1800 numbers. Grain of salt.

Skype's the way to go. Buy $10AUD, get $10AUD. Local Phone in USD is an unknown price.

But you are a foreigner living in Thailand for over 180 days in a calendar year. The tax man cometh.

In the past, I've done all the things you have suggested. I even paid for a dedicated VPN, but the website knew it was from a data center, so blacklisted anyway. Never bothered with the extra expense of a dedicated VPN since, because it didn't work. The websites are nothing special. Main website is Foxtel for the sport. Yes, I do have a solution that works, but your post may be a little misleading to newbies starting out with VPN's to get around geoblocking. It's not as simple as just paying for a VPN with a "good" company. Commercial VPN IP address do get blacklisted. You never said what / who / how you are getting around geoblocking.

Here's a list of Thailand's 50 wealthiest people. I'm pretty sure they pay more VAT than about 99.9% of expats, INDIVIDUALLY, of course. https://www.forbes.com/lists/thailand-billionaires/

I've always used an agent, so no bother for me. My 800k earns more back in my home country than what the agent charges, so why would I bother having 800k baht in a 3rd World Country? Same with buying a condo here. For the price of a condo in my building, the exact same money back in my home country earns more than the rent I pay each month. Why would you put any money into Thailand, especially when they offer no reasonable pathway to permanent residency?

I disagree. All the Thai government announcements are generated by the desire for MONEY. No, many are just connected and corrupt. True, and that "real thing" is coming for your money.

I agree. My home country, Australia, has proposed similar changes to their current 90 year old tax residency laws. Change to tax residency laws, globally, is inevitable. As you mentioned, "TIT." Thailand is a very politicalyl unstable country. Just look at what's happened this week. On that basis, everything and anything is a possibility for farang here, when it comes to residing here. That could be anything from this tax, to the 800k seed money jumping up to 1.2 million, and the 65k jumping up to 80k next year. Personally, I am surprised both have stayed at 800k and 65k for as long as they have. As you point out, such an increase would ensure a more wealthy expat living here, or push people onto agents. Eeither way, it's a win win for Thailand / agents in baht. I accept all opinions regarding this tax, but as I have said, for those who think it will just all go away and nothing will happen in 2025, I'm not onboard. Just too much easy farang money sitting there, and they know farang expat retirees will pay, because they are too heavily invested in Thailand to walk away.

Yet, you refuse to address the basics that the aged pension is deemed an income. The aged pension is taxable. There is no tax free threshold in the non resident tax brackets. The first non resident tax bracket is 30% from $0. You are a non resident for taxation purposes because you are living in Thailand. Add all of these together, and it's better to call me a troll than address the real taxation issue that will soon face Aussie expat pensions. Ignorance is bliss.

Correct. Thailand's classification for tax residency is a physical presence and time based model. Over 180 days inside Thailand per calendar year = resident for taxation purposes. Less than 180 days inside Thailand per calendar year = non resident for taxation purposes. Simple.

Yeah, it does. I'm Australia.n It's a different DTA. So thats doesn't make me "wrong." Right? Have you heard of the country called "Australia?" Do you know where "Australia" is? Hint: It's not in Texas.

The best way to get a start on your youtube channel is to hang onto the edge of a cliff, just by your fingernails, filming it all, and hope you don't fall down and kill yourself. You really have to put yourself on the line for the Google company. Then, and only then, they MAY give you $0.0000000000000000001USD per view. Good Luck starting your channel, and remember, one hour of paid work in your home country, is probably worth about 3 million views, minus the 4 hours of work video editing.

I VPN back to a router in my house, in my home country. It will never be black listed. So no problem for me. What "ways" around blacklisting do you suggest, because I also have a commercial VPN and many sites have blacklisted their servers.

Once again, reliant on whether one is a resident or non resident for taxation purposes.

Any content to contribute????

Over the course of many months, many threads, and many posts, and much debate, non resident pensions either believe, need to believe, or want to believe, or have to believe, their pension, which is an income, and taxable, will be treated in the EXACT same way as it would be as if they were living in Australia, yet, they are non residents for taxation purposes, and living full time in Thailand. When asked on what basis they draw their conclusions that their income, being the pension, will be treated the same way as a pensioner living in Australia, all you get is personal attacks. No links. No quotes. No youtube. Nothing. Indeed, some confused "portability" with being "tax free pension" as if they were residing inside Australia. "The Paul Hogan Syndrome."

If a tax resident of Australia, right? What if they are a non resident for taxation purposes? Do you think it's EXACTLY the same?

Are they in Australia or overseas? Different rates. The ability to "collect" or "withhold" will change in the near future. They can avail themselves of the tax free threshold, something that non residents for tax purposes can not.

You are correct. The aged pension is included in the "mix" of whatever, from wherever, you have some other income. It does not stand outside of other income earned. The pension goes towards what tax bracket you are in. Now, as a non resident for tax purposes, tax is paid at 30% from $0. If someone can post a link to any "offsets" for anything, including an aged pension, for non residents, I would be happy to read it, and no, it's not the DTA between Australia and Thailand.

Exactly, but there is no tax free threshold for non residents for tax purposes. It 30% from $0. The game changes with your geographic location.

You can personally attack all you like, but perhaps you can post on what basis you draw your conclusions. I'll simplify it. 1) Is the aged pension deemed an income at law. Is your answer yes or no? 2) Is the aged pension taxable? Is your answer yes or no? 3) Have you been outside of Australia (living in Thailand) for several years? Is your answer yes or no? 4) If you have been living in Thailand for years, do you think you are a non resident for tax purposes? Is your answer yes or no? 5) Is there a tax free threshold in the non resident tax brackets? Is your answer yes or no? I know you would like to think that receiving your pension in Thailand will be EXACTLY the same as receiving your pension as if you were living in Australia, where there is a tax free threshold and some concessions. When the proposed changes are passed, can you guarantee the pension you receive living in Thailand will be the same as if you were living in Australia, some supplements aside? Is your answer yes or no? The difference in tax law between resident and non resident is considerable. I would really like to know why you think your taxable income (pension) will be treated by the Australian government the same as if you are living in Australia, when you are living in Thailand? Now, I think we are past "that's just for guys like Paul Hogan" and "I still have a Medicare Card so I am a resident." Can you post why you think your taxable income (pension) will be treated the same as a tax resident, when you are clearly a non resident for taxation purposes?

It occurred to me some time ago that I am dealing with an American who has NEVER purchased $10USD credit from Local Phone using and Aussie Visa / MasterCard, thus, has no idea on the fees, nor the conversion rates at any given time, so can not state a final price to an Aussie customer on this forum. Thus, any, and all figures you put forward, are rubbery. Once again, with Skype, an Aussie buys $10AUD of credit, and ONLY pays $10AUD. Unlike Local Phone, where the amount withdrawn is unknown until the transaction has been completed, and by then, the "best" may not be the "best." A question for you. If Local Phone is so good, why wouldn't they offer payment in more currencies? I mean, YOU claim they are the "best" yet they only deal in three currencies. Still waiting for the answers to my questions in the previous post. We both know you can not answer Question 1, but how about Questions 2, 3 and 4? Should be simple enough. Asked it a few times. Still no reply.

It's very simple. 1) How much AUD does an Aussie customer of Local Phone pay for $10USD credit? 2) How much does Local Phone change for calls to 13 numbers? 3) How much does Local Phone charge for calls to 1300 numbers? 4) How much does Local Phone change for 1800 Toll Free numbers? Everyone knows you can't answer question one with an exact price / cost / figure. This is what makes your claim that Local Phone is the "best" questionable, which you can not prove. Once again, your personal attacks are wasted on me. Can you at least answer 3 out of the 4 above questions?