19 hours ago, Jumbo1968 said:

...Bangkok Bank rep. the best rate I can receive is 1.5% over a year no withdrawals...

I've been using fixed bank deposits for about a decade, mainly Bangkok Bank, as the often offers the best interest rate – at the moment 1.5% p.a. for 12-month – never had any questions about it. The Bangkok Bank 12-month account let you withdraw at any time, but you loose the interest of the amount you're withdrawing; i.e. your quoted "no withdrawals". For the purpose of immigration, your deposit is a guarantee for income and expenses, and shall therefore be possible to withdraw.

I cash out my interest every year – i.e. 12,000 baht minus 15% withholding tax, net 10,200 baht to be withdrawn when the fixed rate is 1.5% p.a. – so I have a clean 800,000 baht deposit, and no other transactions; easy to check for the immigration officer. Therefore I also have a normal savings account, with my foreign transfers, and ATM and other withdrawals, which I include in the annual letter and statements, to show that I have additional funds for my living expenses, and foreign transfers states that I'm not working in Thailand for my living.

I'm not in Jomtien, so if the immigration office have special requirements, I cannot say.

Well, to be honest, I once did have a question from an immigration officer that said, that my deposit had not matured the required three month, until I made him aware of the year, the deposit had actually matured more than 12-month...????

21 hours ago, Suradit69 said:

IF:

1. a condo is owned by a farang in his own name, not by a business,

2. the condo has been owned for more than 10 years.

 

how would taxes and transfer fees be calculated when the owner sells.  I realize that some fees might be shared between buyer and seller, but am interested in finding how the total of taxes and fees is calculated  regardless of who ends up paying,

 

Using a simple example with nice round numbers, let's say the condo was purchased for Baht one million and will be sold for around Baht 2 million.

Often, or normally, seller pays tax at the Land Office, and buyer pays transfer fees, but it a question of negotiations, and can be stipulated in the sales agreement. (See SamuiForSale link in a post above).

The personal income tax for selling, if the price is 2 million baht, and the property owned 8 years and longer:

Sales price 2,000,000 baht

50% deductions, i.e. -1,000,000 baht

Amount for taxation 1,000,000 baht.
Divide with holding of 10 years, each year equals 100,000 baht

First 100,000 baht, 5% = 5,000 baht.

Total personal income tax is 5,000 baht x 10-years = 50,000 baht

There is a link here, "Property Transfer Tax and Fee", with further details, and here is a "property transfer and tax calculator" that states your total taxes, fees, and income tax could be 100,000 baht.

????

To my knowledge: Since you both are foreigners and not married in Thailand, and the marriage not registered in Thailand, it's not a case about Thai law, but rather how it works in your home country. With that decision in hand, it might continue as civil case in a Thai court; if for example the business ownership should be split 50/50 according to the foreign divorce procedure, and one part don't agree.

33 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

From Immigration Orders:

 

(6) An alien who entered the Kingdom before October 21, 1998 and has been
consecutively permitted to stay in the Kingdom for retirement shall be subject to the following
criteria:
(a) Must be 60 years of age or over and have an annual fixed income with fluids
maintained in a bank account for the past three months of no less than Baht 200,000 or have
a monthly income of no less than Baht 20,000
(b) If less than 60 years of age but not less than 55 years of age, must have an annual
fixed income with funds maintained in a bank account for the past three months of no less
than Baht 500,000 or have a monthly income of no less than Baht 50,000

 

Yes they could increase the lump sum requirements, but as previously, they would in my opinion 'grandfather' the lump sum requirement for those existing long term stayers aged over 60.

That's what one always shall remember, the lump sum could increase with inflation. Looking at history, the changes came in larger jumps, I read some time ago that it increased from 400,000 baht to 800,000 baht for extension based on retirement. That's why one shall remember to set aside, or save up, for that situation, that eventually come one day.

Thailand Consumer Price Index index shows that October 2018 is 102.65, 1998 was around 75, so actually the 500,000 should be close to 700,000 today.

On 11/14/2018 at 3:15 PM, chickenslegs said:

This part of the notice confuses me. What are these one-year visas?

That is the newer One Year Retirement Visa you can get from the Thai embassy in Copenhagen (Denmark), same benefits as when applying for one-year extension based on retirement.

2 hours ago, jakow said:

From what I understand, starting a company with the sole purposes of a foreigner buying land is illegal, however buying land with an actual, operational company is perfectly legal. Is this not correct?

Yes.

11 hours ago, webfact said:

Every tourist’s worst nightmare

Presume only if you challenge life in a zipline...????

France is inside EU, whilst Thailand is 3rd country. It must be depending of double taxation agreement between UK and Thailand, if you can have your retirement income taxed in Thailand instead of country of origin.

I'm however not British, so I'm not familiar with UK-Thailand agreements, but we have some similar conditions in my Danish home country, where one can move to France, and have the retirement pension taxed in France at great tax-benefits compared to Denmark; whilst moving outside EU to a third world country, the retirement pension taxation will take place at origin, i.e. the country that gave you tax deductions when saving up for retirement, or from where one receive a government funded pension.

The Thai personal income taxation is:

Quote

Personal income tax rates applicable to taxable income are as follows
Tax rates of the Personal Income Tax

 

Taxable Income  (baht)	Tax Rate  (%)
0-150,000	Exempt
more than 150,000 but less than 300,000	5
more than 300,000 but less than 500,000	10
more than 500,000 but less than 750,000	15
more than 750,000 but less than 1,000,000	20
more than 1,000,000 but less than 2,000,000	25
more than 2,000,000 but less than 4,000,000	30
Over 4,000,000	35

 

Read more + source: Personal Income Tax (PIT)

I presume it's same rule for British citizen, as other EU citizens, that if your retirement income is taxed at source, you're not (also) taxable of it in Thailand.

Other foreign income are taxable in Thailand, if brought into the country the same year as earned, whilst brought in the following year(s) the money is considered as tax-free savings (not the exact wording, but understanding).

Britain might have other double taxation agreements with Thailand, for example dividends from stocks, where you might be able to be taxed by Thai norm, which is 10% dividend tax; however you might be asked to prove that you physically transfer the dividend into Thailand, to pay 10% dividend tax (and the money is otherwise not taxable in Thailand, see above). If you don't transfer the dividend into Thailand, you might be able to be taxed 15%, which is merely a general rule when living abroad (for example also for dividend originating from stocks in USA). I'm however not aware of how much you actually pay in dividend tax in Britain, if it's a benefit to be taxed after Thai rules, or not.

????

Has anyone of you Samui-residents ever applied for a pink Thai ID-card for aliens..?

9 hours ago, webfact said:

...an EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) can be deployed only when invited by the host country.

I'm sure I read in another news article a few days ago, that someone important said that no election observers were needed, as everything would be done after the book – or something like that – so presume that they won't get in invitation...????

I will suggest OP to find a bilingual school, or so-called English Program (EP) school – if it's in any way possible to afford it; some of them are not that expensive. Not being a Thai citizen, there is not muh future in a Thai school, where teaching is mainly based on Thai language.

I had my own (half Thai) daughter attending an EP school from K1 (kindergarten) to P6, and many – if not most – Thais that can afford it, will send their child/children to either an EP school, or a private school, or even an international school; the last mainly from M1, equaling Year 8 international.

Quality of primary Thai government schools can be quite different, however probably better in Bangkok than some other places.

????

If it's a larger sum – equivalent to $50,000+ – you'll need to declare the transfer. I think you have a time gap to do that – I had it a number of years ago, when I transferred funds, a week I believe it was; at that time the limit was $20,000 – you'll later get an approved copy of the form back from the bank (might need to pick it up in your branch), which you need to keep as proof for the foreign transfer, and if you later wish to transfer similar amount out of Thailand. I cannot remember the name/number of the form, but the bank should know, and be able to prepare it for you.

Hope some poster that is more up-to-date on large foreign transfers can give you better details...????

7 hours ago, AhFarangJa said:

I tend to agree with Aussieroaming above. Here is an English Dictionary definition of rape................

rape

¹

[reyp]

ExamplesWord Origin

See more synonyms for rape on Thesaurus.com

noun

1. unlawful sexual intercourse or any other sexual penetration of the vagina, anus, or mouth of another person, with or without  force, by a sex organ, other body part, or foreign object, without the consent of the victim.

But it's enough with one "Rape Island" only in the British news, probably therefore...????

Yes, agree with @lopburi3, normally aluminum windows and doors are made to order. There are a huge variety of work shops all over Samui island, and they gladly come and measure, and give you a quote. Often it's a good idea to visit the work shop, either before or after measuring the holes in your house, and agree on type of aluminum profile, and color (some has choices of natural, brown or white), handles, locks, slide system etc. if you care about what quality you end up with.

A good quality custom made aluminum door/window is about same price as a uPVC vinyl door/window, like makes from Windsor Vinyl (SCG HomeMart) or Hoffen (HomePro). However, the local manufactured aluminum door/window might be easier to have serviced later – including handles, or rollers in slide doors – than a vinyl make (I talk from experience).

????

The news report says...

Quote

Police have tracked down CCTV footage and found that the tourist was drinking before at a bar in Kata Beach with a Thai man until around 7am today. She allegedly asked the Thai man to take her back to a hotel in Kata but the men took her to the scene of the alleged crime, according to police.

Seems like there's more to the story than just a rape assault; however people – mainly men – should still behave properly so situations like rape, or what might be perceived as rape, does not happen.

11 hours ago, BritManToo said:

And yet, I've never had a problem with the government hospitals, if an emergency always seen immediately, if a non-emergency I waited in the queue. Once a hospital wanted a 5,000bht deposit after I was diagnosed but before I was admitted to the ward.

Nobody has ever asked me for money before seeing the doctor.

Bleeding wounds were always treated immediately on entry.

Agree, been driving people to government hospitals several times, and they always been taking care of immediately, just like when driving to a private hospital. I have only positive experience with the public hospitals I've been visiting...????

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The group admitted to littering and paid the man who left with the cash.

And now they will be fined additional 2,000 baht for littering by the real police...????

12 hours ago, thuisinthailand said:

Is it still about 1 week, or do they grant the 30 days as it should be nowadays?

I did mine in October, 2½ week before, no problem...????

@PoorSucker posted september 29th last year (2017):

Quote

The lady processing my extension told me that I should come one month before expiry date next year. 

On 11/5/2018 at 12:45 PM, peterb17 said:

So would it be more sensible just to put say 5 million into a savings account for any possibility?

If you have 5 million baht, are in good health and never had any insurance claims, and likely to pay $10,000, equaling some 300,000 baht a year, it might make sense.

Sheryl use to say that one need some 3 million baht or more for self insurance – probably when using private hospitals – and normally wisely asks, when that money is used, what are you then going to do..?

The alternative is to use government hospitals, but they can also be costly in some cases, and you might face waiting time.

Whatever you choose, in my opinion you should continue to set aside in a "rainy day account" the same amount as you would have been paying for an insurance – it might make more sense to be self-insured, if one cannot afford an unlimited insurance, but are limited with a maximum per planned operation, and per day hospitalization, and per incident, and per year, provided one has some level of "start capital" in the account; or in case one might not have a choice when coming from a country with free heath care, and realizing difficulty being accepted by any insurance provider due to age.

In theory, it's correct; if there are no problems, there are no need for observers...????

Glad I gave up smoking some years ago, because it already then started to be too difficult, to be a polite smoker. Even I enjoyed smoking, it was really not that hard – think it's a question of you want to give it up...????