khunPer

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.

On 4/3/2025 at 10:42 AM, wildoates said:

Yes I have a Thai bank account in my name only I think I still have. was planning on moving funds in June was going to use the monthly income method does that still require my name only? 

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...

On 4/1/2025 at 2:38 PM, Humpy said:

From Press reports I understood that expats recieving income abroad were to be taxed.... yes or no ?

Yes...

On 4/1/2025 at 9:32 AM, Don Giovanni said:

I'm back in Thailand for a few days for a friend's wedding and we are at a beach resort.

 

As I was walking to the restaurant along the beach I saw a tatted up farang woman with her knockers out. I must say she had a decent set on her and I had to restrain myself from saying hello...

 

But it got me thinking - was this woman breaking the law just now?

 

The Don.

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...😎

9 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

A fully loaded 22-wheel lorry carrying stone lost its brakes...

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?

5 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Hi KP et al

 

Long time, no yap! 

 

Yes, I stopped posting on the Forum a long while ago, and I doubt that I need to explain why. That said, I do pop in occasionally to the Samui sub-section for local info where I saw this thread.

 

KP; I know that you do your research, so perhaps you could answer a simple question or two from me; over the years I have developed a great loathing for dealing with official Thailand.

 

I understand that there is a tax on remittances from outside the country, and although I ain't fond of taxes, I can live with them if they ain't too unreasonable. I had enough money in-country that I did not need to remit anything for the tax year 2024 (and perhaps tax year 2025 as well; I am very frugal), so I chose to wait a year or two to see how this all plays out.

 

I also understand that the Tax Man generally does not give you a Tax Id Number (TIN) unless you actually are paying taxes, and that is okay with me. Finally, I understand that there are several deductions (age, marriage, etc.) one can make to bring assessable income down to zero, i.e. no taxes paid on remittance(s).

 

My questions are these;

• How much could an unmarried man, age 59 (and/or 60), with no work/income or investment in Thailand, remit into the country before it triggered a tax event? For example, if I transferred in 300,000 Baht to cover my costs for 2025, would that trigger a tax event and a need to file? Is there a number?
• 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)?
• At any time, did you need to inform Thai Tax Authorities on your financial status in your home country?

And 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. 

• Did this come up when you were in Nathon?
• Do you know anything (concrete!) about this?

It would be with great sadness, but should Thailand demand that we declare global income as expats, I'd likely move on, notwithstanding the double Taxation Treaties.

 

Many thanks in advance for your answers, and I will NOT hold you accountable for any comments. I will be seeking professional advice at some point, but I am a believer in being prepared before doing so.

 

Thanks and Cheers

SB

 

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%...

Quote

Less than 150,000 THB: 0% 

150,000 – 300,000 THB: 5% 

300,000 – 500,000 THB: 10% 

500,000 – 750,000 THB: 15% 

750,000 – 1,000,000 THB: 20% 

1,000,000 – 2,000,000 THB: 25% 

2,000,000 – 5,000,000 THB: 30% 

Over 5,000,000 THB: 35%

4 hours ago, churchill said:

My account told me if you are not liable to pay tax you do not need to file a return . 

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...😟

3 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

My neighbour's internet keeps dropping out, same as mine.

I am not sure if he is on the same cable or a separate one.

Separate routers of course.

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.

17 hours ago, Maxbkkcm said:

I’ve heard about Nakhon Sawan, Kamphaeng Phet, Phitsanulok, Cha Am, Khanom. 

 

Would you recommend these places or any other?

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...

On 3/27/2025 at 3:54 AM, Boulderman said:

Where would you like to stay long-term in Thailand and potentially purchase property? Which area or city do you prefer and why? I'm conducting my own research as I'm considering living there for a while. Thanks in advance!

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...😎

On 3/26/2025 at 10:32 AM, Tmoney said:

K Per, OP is talking about interruptions to supply or 'drop outs' not speed (apart from WhatsApp sometimes being slow)

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.

17 hours ago, patrickl said:

I am helping someone file taxes for their Swiss pension. Most of the funds (90-95%) are transferred every month from Switzerland to Thailand via wire transfer. It doesn't come from savings but straight from the pension (pension -> bank account in Switzerland -> bank account in Thailand). We went to the tax office in one of the major cities today and the officer said there's no need to file for taxes as pensions from outside of Thailand, only if there is income from a job or earnings from rentals, etc. and that pensions are not taxed plus there is a double tax agreement with Thailand and Switzerland. We informed them that no taxes are paid in Switzerland because the person lives here all year and the officer said still there's no need to pay taxes, as the amount of tax would be in her own words "very small" (around 30,000 Baht, after deduction of allowances) and the medical bills and other things that could be deducted are likely higher (the officer didn't even want to see those and we didn't mention any or bring any). I hope they will not come knocking at the door one day but they basically refused to even allow filing taxes or get a tax number.

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...

5 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

I am trying to establish if it is a problem only within the Plai Laem area, or if others are having similar issues on the island.

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...

She is right, Chaweng Beach is cool when you are young – both the beach and the party-life – but there are many other places great places on the island. If you plan to stay for more than a few days and are not coming to spend your time in a night club, move around. There are also trendy beach pubs, coffee shops and restaurants other places than Chaweng Beach – and even better beaches if you are for anything else than a riding jetski...

6 hours ago, cardinalblue said:

Why have 15k on you? Crazy

Perhaps he was actually looking for three upper-price ladies...

On 3/22/2025 at 3:01 PM, georgegeorgia said:

So what defines a "minor " or a child in the West ?

I read on the news a 62yo man was questioned by police for stopping his car to ask a "minor " directions 

The 17yo boys parents reported the man ,police found no suspicious circumstances 

 

On Facebook and YouTube there is a man taking pics of "children" who are 18yo /19yo girls walking into a nightclub ! 

I'm lost at the western society,everyone is now a "kid" 

"Minor" is depending of local culture and law; both have changed over time. It was 21 years in my Scandinavian home country when I was young, but they changed the law to 20 years; so, I became adult at 1st January and not on my birthday. Today it's 18 years, but only 16 when you buy alcohol under 21 percent. Age of consent is 15 years.

In Thailand you are legally "minor" untill 20 years old, but only until 18 i some cases – for example registered marriage – and even younger in other cases, for example unregistered village marriage. The age of consent is 15; however, "a close-in-age exemption allows sexual acts from age 14 if the older party is no more than 21".

In many countries 18 years is the border, but some have different age limit, or it might be different in some areas, like ability to buy alcohol and having alcohol served – which seems to be 21 years i USA: "The legal drinking age was raised to 21 around the 1980s due to teen drunk driving cases protested by the Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The gambling age varies by state. So, in the context of alcohol or gambling, people under the age of 21 may also sometimes be referred to as minors."

Each U.S. state has set its age of consent at either 16, 17, or 18 years, most with some exceptions. That is why there might be different view on a minor girl, depending from which homecountry law you have. In my Danish home country there has been cases where politians in their 30s had a 15 year old girlfriend, which is legal, but in some's opinion wrong, because a potician is public person. There are countries with 13 years as age of consent. In Europe Spain had 12 years until 1999, where it was raise to 13 years, and again raised to 16 years in 2015.

So, it seems like culture is changing – and thereby law – so it might not be acceptable to snap photos of 18-19 years old girls attending a night club. Just looking at young ladies, if you are elder, might by be considered "pedophile" in some Western countries; however, if you are rich or famous – and preferably both – you might instead be considered as a cool guy if having a (very) young girlfriend or wife...😎

On top of that come girls' appearance and behavior, which might be different from area to area. My friends use to say that Thai ladies in their twenties act like young teenagers – to mee, younger Japanese ladies seems even worse – while many Western teenagers looks quite mature, rather like in their early 20s. But it can well be depending of who's eyes that are looking. In Western eyes Asian girls might look (much) younger than they physically are – might be why many Western men likes them – while it seems opposite with Western girls, where some, if not many, looks more mature than their age.

1 hour ago, timendres said:

 

The issue was that I was here on a Non-B visa, which I extended based on work permit. However, my working days ended and I wanted to change to a retirement extension. The retirement extension requires a Non-O visa. You cannot obtain a retirement extension based on a Non-B visa. Thus, I was required to leave and re-enter the country to obtain the Non-O. There are some who claim to have managed to make the change from Non-B to Non-O without leaving the country, and at the moment I cannot remember the circumstances that allowed then to do that, but prevented me from doing the same. Having left and re-entered "visa exempt", then obtaining the Non-O in country, I was required to show the 800K and demonstrate that it came from abroad - requiring both bank statements and the transfer "credit advice" from the bank.

To my knowledge and from what I've read from other AN-members, you can change your extension of stay to retirement on a non-B visa. When you enters without a visa and apply for a non-O, you need to show that funds are coming from abroad. If you need to leave and re-enter, just get a non-O from a neighbouring country, now with E-visa, earlier with one night's stay on an arranged visa run-tour; funds in a Thai bank was fine proof for obtaining that.

Mentioned as info for others, it's not for criticising your decision and experience.