khunPer

In principle any foreigner staying should be registered with a TM30. If it's a private guest – not a paying customer – it should not be a problem doing a TM30-report.

Nothing new, "30+30+30 year leasing" has never been legal...

I presume great selfies are mainly a question of the right (expensive) smartphone anf choice of filter... I.e., I always choose the "Young and handsome"-filter, which seems to work very well... 👍😎 – my selfies are better than how I look in a mirror – and the shared selfies are at least well enough to interest multiple single ladies with cool sexy profile photos wishing to befriend me on Facebook...🥰

Not really, as it is about who stays where on April 1st, not who is registered where in a house book.

Just do it, then it's done and you can sleep well... However, there is one difficult question underway, where it might be important to hit the right answer in the roll down menu...

It is not about custom's duty and tax, Trump is calculating on trade surplus.

A wound in a foot, which easily can get infected, is a serious matter. I've tried it. I didn't care enough instantly, and later, when the foot began to get a awful dark blue to black colour, I had to spend three days in a hospital on antibiotic-drop. Luckily it helped. I sincerely hope that hospitalization and antibiotics also might help Jonathan Leo's father. However, when moving to Thailand for a happy retirement, you need to take risks into consideration; hereunder health, possibility for heath insurance, funds for self insurance, and not the least, what burden might place on family back home. I.e., in short terms, will you be prepared to died in Thailand? Us expats – when we live here more permanently – don't have any free repatriation to our home country, where we some of us benefits from free health care system. Health, funds for same and what you are prepared for, is probably one of the most important questions, before you settle abroad for longer period than a snowbird with travel insurance and covered repatriation.

For monthly income method you shall use a non-O visa from abroad, you cannot change a visa exempt to non-O without a Thai bank 800k baht deposit. And yes, only your name in the bank account for the monthly not less than 65k baht transfer.

If $1,500 to $2,000 is budget retirement, then yes: That is possible, and depending of your lifestyle – and eventual investment in a home – you can have a great time for that level of money, especially if it's around 60,000 baht per month. However, budget retirement for some is a government pension and nothing else – for some countries it can be as low as 30,000 baht per month – and that might in some cases be a bit of a problem, depending of health and risk of living with a low-level healt insurance or none insurance at all.

Unfortunately on Samui, many young foreigners – assumed to be mainly tourists – drives around on motorbikes without any protection, including no helmet, and takes huge risk by driving fast and overtake in a traffic culture they might not fully understand.

Not good... Actually, extremely bad – "Car Reservations Surge by 29%" – I just bought a new car, and I really looked forward to drive around for a month or so with temporary red number plates, and make a huge lot of face, by showing everybody that I can afford to drive a brand new car... But, they are selling too many new cars and ran out of red plates... So, I have to wait for my white number-plates and not making face at all...

Yes...

The "law" might well be depending on where (in Thailand). My Thai lawyer taught me, that an island might be so far away from Bangkok, where the write the laws; so, laws on an island are different administrered, often more in order with what locals used to do and use to do... I'm living next to a beach-resort. When I built my house there were quite a number of quite attractive younger – or young – east European ladies staying in the resort, and most of them were topless on the beach. I had SCG's "Roof Experts" to make my roof. Again and again some "important persons" came down from Bangkok to check the roof construction and take photos, and always together with the group of local management, often 5-6 important people. The were however only three workers making the roof. Numerous photos were taken, but mainly of the beach... The three hard working SCG roof-workers... The island where I live was in the beginning a hippie-destination with numerous girls perhaps diving too deep in magic mushrooms, so they often forgot their top. It's said that you still find many young ditto ladies on the neighbouring island's beaches...😎

I did notice that the text said "...the brakes overheated and lost pressure..." – can I imagine that the driver did not use a low gear? – but, it is quite often that Thai news writes about traffic accidents and brake failure. However, when reading news from my home country I never see the cause in traffic accidents as "brake failure". Is it only in amazing Thailand that "brake failure" happens so often, or do news-articles in other countries just not mention it?

Thanks for your comment, you are welcome. In reply to your question about 300,000 baht foreign income for a person younger than 65 years of age: 100,000 baht expenses deduction, calculated as 50% of 300,000 baht income, but not more than 100,000 baht. 60,000 baht personal deduction. ----------- 160,000 baht deductions in total +300,000 baht income –160,000 baht deductions ------------ =140,000 baht taxable income –150,000 baht tax free bottom level (0% tax) ------------- = No taxable income In reply to: "In paying taxes on the remittance(s), do you need to file a full tax return (like in your own country) or only declare the remittance(s)?" Yes, you need to file a tax return, according to Samui Revenue Department's director and the general information from Thailand's Revenue Department. That is what I mention about in the opening post, it is fairly easy peasy with the online E-filling, if you don't need to pay Thai income tax and don't need deductible income tax from your home country. In reply to: "At any time, did you need to inform Thai Tax Authorities on your financial status in your home country?" If Thailand has a DTA (Double Taxation Agreement) with one's home country, the two states exchange tax information. If you wish to deduct already paid income tax from your home country, you need to show proof. In my case I show my annual home country's tax calculations. I also got a general statement from my home country's revenue department, stating that I am fully taxable of retirement pensions to my home country. If you are living from savings before 1st January 2024, you need to show proof of that. I haven't seen anything official about what "proof" is needed, but I would presume that a full tax-statement per 31st December 2023 including all savings – if one's home country revenue department registers them – would do. I've kept a statement of my savings per that border-date and shows what I transferred of my savings in 2024, as an attachement to my tax report in paper; the latter because I deduct already paid tax from home. In general, I would recommend to keep a statement and notes of, what is transferred of savings, in case some "taxman" at one point would be interested. At present, you don't need to file a tax return when living from savings. However, my Danish home country is World-record holder for high and strict taxation, so for me, it is not at all unfriendly to keep tax-documentation in order... And by the way: A few years ago the Thai "taxman" – in form of two friendly kind ladies – unannounced visited my Samui home. They wished to check if I paid due taxes in my home country. It was by agreement with my home country's revenue department, so they already had some tax information about me. Furthermore they had my Thai tax returns (luckily I had began to file such things). They were also checking all my known country fellowmen on Samui; they actually showed me a list with 20+ names. Danes in other parts on Thailand also mentioned about a visit from Thailand's "taxman". The kind tax-ladies said, that the were doing it by country , beginning with Danes and expats from Finland, as the tax exchange information was so easy to obtain... In reply to: "... a bonus question, if you are feeling generous with your time. I have heard the rumours that Thailand will, in the future, require expats to declare their global income to Thai tax authorities." This was a suggestion from (I think) a politician, hitting the news. So far, it's not in the present political agenda. However, a bit scary for those os us, legally having untaxed home country-income, when we resides abroad. Im my case capital gain, interest and certain feesare not taxed in my home country. So, as long as I keep the money outside Thailand, they are untaxed; and was even savings when they are earned before 2024. The thing is – which makes the suggestion valid – that many countries tax all income, also foreign income, even it is not transferred to the tax residency country. My home country is one of those that does that. For some, a change like that would make Thailand questionable as fully tax-resident destination. For some, the taxation change of what savings are, has already made Land-of-Smiles questionable. It is of course very individual, what the effect will be – in case this scary suggestion becomes real... – but if you are in the high gain level, you might need to consider other solutions. But "always look on the bright side of life": I need to make 5 million baht as income in a year to hit the highest income taxation level of 35% in Thailand – in my Danish home country the lowest income tax-rate is 38%...

That is correct for Thais with income below the tax limit. But you are tax liable when being a tax resident alien with foreign transfers that are not savings from before 2024. According to the revenue department director on Samui, aliens shall file tax report, even when are below tax limit or has paid income tax abroad – presuming that the revenue department's director is more updated in alien's income tax than an accountant – if you live elsewhere in Thailand, I don't know what the local revenue director says... It's not a big deal to get it sorted out and sleep well... And by the way: Overseas rental income shall be filed in section 40(3). Can you imagine if strict Samui Immigration begins to ask for copy of tax-receipt when extending permission to stay for retirees and other non-O entries, just like you need to show salary and income tax documentation when extending stay based on a work permit...😟

And that is where the speed test makes sense, as it tells you what happens on the line to various connection points. Long dropouts will even be visible in the speed-graphics. Using wireless connection – like 5G – can avoid local cable problems; events like squirrels' dinner taste, falling trees and mistaken cut of cable. With a speed between 100 Mbps to 200 Mbps you are generally covered well. You need 20 Mbps for HD-streaming and 40 Mbps for 4K; however, more if several users at same time.

If my memory serves me right, there has been stories in the news before about tax evasion from shares in the Shinawatra family...

I would recommend none of these places, but we are all different, and you might seek or live a totally different lifestyle compared to me... Best advice is to check each of these areas out, yourself...

It is very individual and depending of numerous factors, like life-style, economy and relationship with a local. So, what others and I might suggest as "paradise", might be completely opposite for you. My advise is always to get around and visit various areas of interest – also if several others have recommended an area that might not be one's first choice – and get your own experience. There are different seasons; up north summer, rain and winter; down south only summer and rain. Preferable visit in each season to get the right impression, if you can live in that area, there can be relative huge difference in an area, depending of the seasons. And for what it might matter for you – and others – here is my own experience. First time I visited Thailand in 1987 I felt when coming to Chiang Mai in April that this was a place I could live, perhaps settle one day. 15 years later I began thing about a permanent move to Thailand. I visited several areas, including revisit to Chiang Mai. Today I'm happy that I chose to settle somewhere else in Thailand, but that is only me, many foreigners have chosen to live in Chiang Mai. I found my paradise on an island – be aware that islands can be great for a holiday, but might be too isolated for living permanently – I've been here since 2005 and have been very happy, and still is, and have no intentions at all about moving anywhere else, if I can avoid it. My primary choice was for "all year summer" and "barefoot Xmas"; living costs, party life, ladies and other benefits were just cool extra benefits...😎

This might be important if you have foreign income and not yet filed your tax return for 2024. I filed my tax return form today in paper at the Amphor's tax office in Nathon. No income tax to be paid; so, the kind cashier looked through the paperwork, typed a bit and out came my 0-baht tax receipt. "You need to file tax return again next year", she said with a smile. Sure, I know, it's not my first time, even I'm staying here as retiree. The reason I file on paper and not use online "E-filing" is that my transferred taxable income is over the limit, but I've already paid tax in my home country. Unfortunately you cannot use E-filing is you wish to claim already paid foreign tax deducted in your transferred foreign income – it might be a system or programming fault, or never the intention to include it. I had a meeting – or rather two – with the director of Samui Revenue Office about foreigners and income tax, especially for those of us that have already paid income tax in our home countries. There has been several AN-threads about income tax with statements both as "if you have already paid tax abroad, you don't need to file a tax return form", and that "I don't care and I'm not planning to file a tax return". However, the director said that all foreigners staying 180 days or more during a calendar year need to file for tax return, if the have any income from abroad, even if it has already been taxed. I cannot talk about other provinces and how they might do it with this new tax-thing, but this is the official status for Koh Samui or Surat Thani Province. I noticed that someone staying in Roi Et, last year posted about an affidavit for extension of stay based on retirement, where you should declare you pension details, including bank account number. This made me think that if the Thai government is serious about foreigner's income tax-thing, it might be a future issue when applying for extension of stay. So, you better get it done, it might be easy to do. Tax free allowances If you are 65 years old and your annual taxable income is under or close to 500,000 baht per year – don't forget that savings from before 1 January 2024 still can be transferred free from tax – you don't need to pay tax; but you still need to file a tax return. You have: 60,000 baht in personal deduction, 100,000 baht in expenses as 50% of income but no more than 100,000 baht, 190,000 baht deduction as being old, 65 years or more, 150,000 baht non taxed income, thereafter in steps beginning with 5%. If you don't have a TIN (Tax Identification Number) – which is same number used in yellow house book and on pink ID-card – get one. You can get it on 2nd floor in the Customs House in Nathon, opposite the SeaTran-pier. You can easily file your tax-report online with E-filing, link here to copy: https://efiling.rd.go.th/rd-cms/tax I use a browser with translation function, so I can translate the forms to English. However, if you need a text from a roll down menu, it is in Thai language. You can snap a screen shot of the roll down text and paste it in Google Translation in the Image-tab, and get a translation that way. Income shall be filed in P.N.D. 90/91... You can save (record) everything while filling in the forms and return later to continue. In the screen shot above I have a "1 Sketch". There are different sections to file in, 40(1) is for salary and retirement pension, 40(2) is for other fees and freelance work, 40(3) for rental income, and 40(4) for foreign stock dividends... When you file an income, you need to tick "Overseas Payer". To be able to do that, you have to enter 0 in "Withholding tax"... So this is here we foreigners that have already paid income tax in our home country face an issue. We cannot claim tax deduction for that online. If you tape any other value than 0 in "Withholding tax", you cannot mark "Overseas payer", but are promted a Thai withholding taxpayer number. If you are 65 years or older, you can click on "Income exemption rights" at the bottom, after you filed your income, and deduct extra 190,000 baht... Furthermore in Part 3 you will have you personal deduction and other deduction, like spouse without own income, child deduction if you are married to the Thai mother, or eventual insurances... Thereafter in Part 4 you will get your tax calculation... If you end up with paying Thai income tax and have already paid tax in your home country – like me – you cannot use the online system to claim already withheld foreign tax refunded deducted from due Thai income tax of the same income. You will instead need to file a P.N.D.90 tax return form on paper, all in Thai language, and attach documentation for withheld tax. The latter shall be translated to Thai langue here on Samui, even that it's officially is said to be in English or Thai. If you cannot do that yourself and need to buy help from an auditor or tax-serve-agent, it might be worth just pay a smal amount of tax, if it is a few thousand baht, rather than paying for service and the troubles with documentation; it's however an individual choise. You need to check if Thailand has a DTA (Double Taxation Agreement) with your home country and find the article, or articles, covering your foreign taxed income. It is said that all DTAs are slightly different, so there is no general rule, apart from you will not be double taxed, if there is a DTA, but you might have to pay the highest of the taxes. Link to DTAs: https://www.rd.go.th/english/766.html If you are Danish, you can read more detailed about filing Thai tax return in Danish language here: https://samesame-butdifferent.dk/doc/flytte-og-bo/PND90.php

Same-same, if the network is slow or overloaded you might lose packages, or have long response time between same. You can see the difference in Latecy in the two posted images.

Funds for 800k deposit needs to be transferred from abroad, when applying for non-O domestically. It might be much easier to apply for an non-O E-visa abroad, your friend can use his 800k baht deposit for that; in some provinces it can be a bit of a challenge to apply for non-O domestically.

Interesting. I had a meeting with the local Revenue Office's director, and he stated that all tax-resident foreigners need to file a tax return form, even when retirement pensions are taxed abroad ans there is a DTA...

No problems here in Maenam – I'm on 100-200 Mbps AIS 5G wireless LAN-router, no wired connection – but occasionally some foreign sites can be slow or temporary down due to server load or routers on the some times long distance between the user and the server. AN can often be little slow – but much, much better than before – and sometimes even Facebook and Messenger has problems. I'm not a WhatsApp-user, so cannot comment on that. Don't forget that you share the network with other users, so with more and more tourists on the island sharing their holiday pictures and travel-videos, the general communication speed slows down. Best thing is to check speed of different sites. You should check speed, not up to the nearest connection point, but to the destination-area where you face problems, ro check if it's en-route, there are speed problems, or it's a server load issue. If you use a Speed Test – like: https://speedtest.ink/เช็คความเร็วเน็ตais/ – you will automatically be connected to a nearby test-site (image: My speed right now)... If you click on the flag next to the automatic chosen server – in the shown image: [TH] Phuket - 10 Gb/s - AIS – you can select a test-connection both around Thailand and outside in the wide World's web... Now I chose Rennes in southern France – only because it catch my eyes, as I've been there and it's an exciting area – which has 100 Gb/s connection by ISP Orange. Rennes had long response times, and as you can see it's much slower than Phuket, even that the "cable" in Rennes can handle 10 times as much traffic...