khunPer

On 1/6/2026 at 3:02 AM, notrub said:

I am retired and have a small pension sent directly to my Thai Bank and I understand about taxes on that (sort of). If I top up my income from my savings account in the west am I liable for tax on the top up amount? Not a huge amount, 30-40,000 THB per year. I have read that long term savings are exempt, is this true? How to prove that they are 'old' savings.

Thanks for any comments🙏

Savins from before 1st January are tax free when transferred into Thailand. In my case I have a statement of all my savings per 31st December 2023, and when I use any of the funds in Thailand, I simply state which of the savins that are utransferred. It can for example be from a deposit with bonds, where some are sold or withdrawn, and the value from 31st December 2023 transferred into Thailand. As proof: Just keep a print (PDF in my case) of the withdrawal or sales note together with a bank staement that shows the flow of funds. My local tax office in Thailand has accepted this way of doing it.

To make it easy for the revenue officer, I attach a print of a small spread sheet, where I state the year's money transfers for each month, divided into already taxed retirement pension, already taxed dividens, non-taxed income and old savings. With that, it's easy for the officer to check the actual transfers. If you don't attach a Thai bank account statement, the revenue office may ask for a print, which the did for my 2024-income tax return; everything was luckily in perfect order...

On 1/6/2026 at 1:20 AM, dinga said:

Given the 10 Times disparity between Thai & Farang fees, the only conclusion to be drawn is that Farangs generally don't choose to visit National Parks.

"Generally" might be only "some", others don't mind paying the listed entrance fee – in my view it's fair enough that entrance is cheap or free for the nation's citizens, while we aliens that can afford to pay an entrance fee also pays it – it's just like in USA, where foreigners now also pays a higher entrance fee...

Buy ear plugs – noise protection – or move; or just live with it, in time you might even get used to it...

Shopee is little chesaper with many products. Also, in case of cancellation – can for example be due to slow seller or out of stock – prepaid money is instantly returned to one's bank account, while Lazada place them into their wallet-system, from where it is a bit difficult to get the funds back in cash, if not using the wallet.

Never forget that "some are more equal than others"...

2 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

Yes, I know this. I have a couple of bank accounts here.

What I would like to know is, can ANYONE go into a bank branch and update your passbook on your behalf?

Sorry, I just tried to be helpful – I've already answered my knowledge about someone else updating a bank book.

21 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

This was a suggestion I was going to put forward to the OP.

If you have an ATM card for the bank book in question: If you – or someone else – go to an ATM, there would normally be a selection for printing a statement or mini-statement, the last is showing the actual balance and a few last transactions.

Be aware that some banks, when updating a bank book, combine transactions if the bank book has not been updated for a while; so, there will be a period just printed as a balance of deposits and withdrawals. Bangkok Bank use for example the code: CMB. To se what happened during the combined period, you need to order a printed statement.

On 12/18/2025 at 12:23 PM, chris26be said:

Years ago, I got my Thai driver's license using my passport. Its number is on my driver's license.
Two years ago, I got my motorcycle license, this time using my Yellow Book and pink ID card. My Thai ID number is on that license.
I recently renewed both licenses. And it turned out that the car license could NOT be renewed using my Yellow Book. I think that's a shame, because if the Yellow Book is used, your name is also printed in Thai on your license, which I find useful.
Is there a way to change/convert that car license so that it also shows my Thai ID number (from the pink ID card)?

Seems like it – "any changes" – as I renewed my car driver's license in September last year (2025) and git my passport number as ID. My previous 5-years DL has my Thai ID-number. Yellow Book works as proof of address for me – it might be different in other provinces – but not anymore as ID-number, even that I also have a pink ID-card (for aliens).

On 12/31/2025 at 4:30 AM, IvorBiggun2 said:

My 16 year old daughter wants to go to Sweden, early next year, to stay with her Thai grandmother who is married to a Swedish man. My daughter has an expired UK and Thai passport.

My question is which passport is better to travel on UK or Thai ? Thanks.

UK passport, but you will need both Thai and UK passport. As minor, she might also need an affidavit from the local Amphor-district office, where her mother or registered guardian permits her to leave Thailand, if she don't travel together with a parent or registered guardian.

With a UK passport your daughter can enter Sweden (Schengen area) without visa and permitted 3-months stay (90 days). British citizens can apply for extension of stay under EEC-rules.

IMPORTANT (don't mess up here):

Your daughter shall check in on a flight to Schengen (Sweden) using her UK passport (only), as she has no Schengen visa.

Your daughter shall leave Thailand (immigration) showing her Thai passport (only).

Your daughter shall enter Schengen – Sweden if direct flight – using her UK passport (only).

When later travelling to Thailand, she shall exit Schengen-area with her UK passport (only) – i.e., same passport as she entered on, showing a Thai passport will stop her in immigration, as she don't have a Schengen visa – when re-entering Thailand sha shall use her Thai passport (only), as she othewise will enter as an UK citizen on visa exempt entry and limited period of stay.

On 12/30/2025 at 7:34 AM, Steve Mee said:

Was looking for visa agent in Phuket, Krabi or Koh Samui that can assist with funds for retirement visa extension.

 

Previously extended in Pattaya with Pattaya agent but looking for an agent closer to home. 

 

Any recommendations & cost would be appreciated.

 

Forget Koh Samui (Surat Thani Immigration), it's not possible there.

Insulation foam is bad, very bad, when mixed with fire.

Yes, all extremely well known issues caused by poltergeists, if spirit houses are not well taken care of...

I've learned my lesson the hard way and now keep myself on good foot with the both the house's and the garden's ghosts...

20 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

Interesting. Have you tried this before, perhaps with the Thai missus? Example, you give her you passbook and ask her to go and update it, whilst you are not present.

I've never had someone else to update my bank book, but both banks that I use – Bangkok Bank and SCB – just staple extra pages into the bank book, when it's full; actually until I ask for a new bank book, or change passport number, which only apply to Bangkok Bank, as the have one's passport number printed in invisible ink og the last page.

Photo shows (now outdated) Bangkok Bank bank book (back) and SCB bank book (front) with extra pages stapled in...

I've been updating my minor daughter's bank book – her mom is the registered guardian – but it might be that the staff in the bank knows me. However, when no transaction, but just a statement update, another person might be eligible to do it; you can let your missus try.

On 12/24/2025 at 10:45 AM, Adrian78 said:

On 12/24/2025 at 10:40 AM, Hummin said:

Don’t you have your bank books? Just check in the terminal.

It's full.

Normally a bank will just update a bankbook by attaching some pieces of paper without the need of showing a passport; if asked, you can just say that you didn't bring your passport. However, being on overstay you should leave ASAP, and eventual re-enter.

If the result of a bridge is more vehicles and more tourists to Samui, they need to do some serious about the island's infrastructure that is already overloaded...

On 12/31/2025 at 4:55 AM, Sum Ting Wong said:

Long term agreement

Sometimes the best offers is found locally by looking for signs or by spoken word. 20k-25k for a 2-bed bungalow/villa is possible for long term agreements – even for less, but depending of what you expect – however, "a private/fenced yard for solitude" might be a problem to find included in that price-level. Also location matters – like always – close to beach and/or Ring Road is usually higher price; so looking more inland you can find something. Furthermore, in high season bungalows and villas can be rented out short time at high price, which can make a landlord wait to accept a long term agreement on lower price until high season demand ends, typically end of April.

On 12/28/2025 at 12:14 AM, Harrisfan said:

Describe the weirdest guy you ever met

Myself...

20 hours ago, Sum Ting Wong said:

I looked online but everything there is 30-50k on the low end .. I understand its high season. 

 

Anything available in the 20-25k range? Would like to see a private/fenced yard for solitude. 2 bedroom

Are you looking for a holiday stay or a long term agreement?

Another incident, Indian men seems not to get well along with kathoeys...

It cannot be said often enough that 3 x 30-years land lease is not existing and you shall always do due diligence before entering any property deals in Thailand...

On 12/19/2025 at 2:41 PM, mangkut70 said:

3 - Did you ship your household to Thailand, and if yes, how did this work out?

I shipped a 20-feet container from Denmark to Thailand, delivered on my "door". Total casts can be in the area around 200,000-250,000 baht, depending of where to be delivered and if anything need to be declared and duty paid and vat paid (often the customs want some; overtime payment might help, talk to the shipping agent doing the custom clearence).

My Danish shipping agent advised to me to take a full container instead of individual parcels; and also only "total loss" insurance, as partly damaged was expensive and difficult to get refunded.

Think wise about what you need to ship; a lot can be bought from new in Thailand. The reason I chose a shipment was due to some larger vintage musical instruments, a fairly huge book-collection and some family paintings. I hardly moved any furniture, I instead bought new stuff here. I didn't fill up the container, they use air-ballons for stabilising the empty space.

You'll need a quite detailed packing list and a fair valuation of the stuff, for custom clearance.

You need to get it done within 6 month after moving to here; i.e. your long-term visa entry. It might be easier if it's done in your Thai wife's name (I didn't have that option, as I'm not married – can only afford a girlfriend...).

For me, it went very well and smooth custom clearence, as I on my agents advise paid a bit for custom's overtime. The Danish shipper send the container c.i.f. Bangkok and a local agent took care of everything from there down to a southern island. I however had to be present with my passport in Bangkok the day of custom slearence.Things might have changed since; so, it's worth having more than one quote, and also from an international door-to-door moving company.

On 12/17/2025 at 7:09 AM, JXXXL said:

I'm working on an extension of a 90-day non-O that I got outside Thailand.  I'm in the process of preparing all the documents and one I'm worried about is the lease agreement.

 

My situation is complex but I will try to be brief.  I have been living previously on a marriage visa and living in a house in my wife's name.  My wife passed away and we put the house in the name of my wife's daughter.  She is registering on the online TM30 portal and I have a yellow book.  I never needed to show a lease agreement when I did my marriage visa.

 

Does anyone know if I will need a lease agreement under these circumstances, and if so, can I use a simple template with zero fees to the landlord i.e., my wife's daughter?

I'm also registered in a yellow house book. I've never been asked about a lease- or rental agreement. I attach photocopies of my yellow house book and my TM.30-registration when applying for extension of stay.

Thanks, good to know...

However, a young maid is more interesting to look at – and with a small stair to stand on, she can also wipe the dust of the upper shelves...