gk10012001

I only travel with a very modest and light carry on.  I enjoy a bus ride and looking out the window.  Been doing it there since 2004.  It works for me.  I am not a cheap charlie but I prefer a bus over a tax driver who drives as if he is trying to test his beliefs of the after life

37 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

You do, according to the tax rules.

the tax rules I have read do not detail what is considered assessible, they just repeat the word.  So I am free to say none of my income is assessible?

33 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

Time to do some reading!

 

Again it says the word assessible income, but what is assessable income?  Is USA Social Security income considered pension income?  I doubt it

1 minute ago, Mike Lister said:

The simple answer is, you are going to tell them, it's down to you to know how much you are remitting, from each source and whether they are assessible or not. Nobody else can do that, only you.

 

What you describe is commingled funds, that's where funds from several different sources end up in the same account. You have two choices, either keep excellent records and supportive documentation, or, keep excellent records and documentation and demingle those feeder funds, into their own accounts.

 So what is the definition of "assessible?  Who decides?

so i transfer money into Thailand.  Some will be part of my social security , some will be part from one of my ROTH tax free IRA withdrawals, some may be part of withdrawals from my Pre Taxed Traditional IRA account, and some could be dividends and interest from my regular brokerage account.  So in general I have income from four different sources as I retire this year.  And all those monies end up in my checking account from which I then make transfers to Thailand.  Some of the monies are tax free (municipal bonds and from my ROTH IRA), others are taxable or partly taxable in the USA.  Some of the social security monies are not taxed depending on certain things.  So how the heck are the Thai authorities going to tell me to handle that from a Thailand perspective?  Would they really try and tax monies that are legitimately not taxed in the USA?  And how are the Thai authorities even going to know how much money a person transfers into Thailand?  Do an audit and detain an expat until they comply to their satisfaction?  In general the Thais will not be able to access an Expat's home country tax records.

On 5/7/2024 at 5:47 PM, ezzra said:

Just wondering how the corruption level and practice is there, as widely spread and exercised as in Thailand?

as for some, under the table payment to facilitate visas and other arrangements are very important

for their staying...

I have talked with many American-Vietnamese people that live in the USA but go and visit Asia and Vietnam.  They all echo the corruption is blatant and rampant in Viet Nam.  As soon as they see somebody from America that is Viet landing in Vietnam they literally follow them and see what opportunities there are to exploit them,  Even upon arrival at the airport they literally were demanded to pay in order to get through the immigration queue.  Two of the younger travelers were scammed on the road as they road the motorbikes they had rented.  They were were run off the road, blocked and robbed on the spot,  And don't forget that the government in Vietnam is far from a Democracy or that there is any sort of court system that would favor an expat.  I know Thailand is not perfect in those areas either.. but Vietnam to me is much worse in my opine,

23 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

I wanted to 10 but Best Buy store literally was only selling 11 computers.  I am not a power user and really should not have to both with the details of an operating system, but microsoft update and expiration policies have made me buy a computer I did not need every 7 years or so which while annoying has not been a life changing issue

I use WPS which makes WORD and EXCEL compatible documents.  Adobe reader is free.  I really do not need much for normal work.  I did use Turbo tax for the second year in a row now and absolutely loved it.  I have a nominal array of investments in stock and bonds and get dividends and interest, had some W2G gambling winnings, and that was all handled routinely. turbo Tax even digests the W2 income statement information without me having to type anything and easily read in and entered my 1099 consolidated dividend and interest statement I get from Etrade (now Morgan Stanly),  And I am a Florida resident but working in Connecticut so had to do that one Non Resident state form and I love how Turbo tax transferred the data over to the state seamlessly.  had my return monies direct deposited within a week. 

Raily is OK.  quiet not much wave action so kind of boring from the wave point of view.  I still love Karon beach because if you wade out into the water and turn around you can see much of the big white buddha on the top of the hill.  To me that is so surreal and a wonderful sight.

So as I read the fine print of the Cambodia long term visas, I see words about taxing income from abroad if one is in Cambodia for more than 182 days, and things like that.  Does that even happen?  Do expats get asked by Cambodian officials for tax records?  From the American USA point of view would they as for our 1040 tax documents?  Do they check and verify monies transferred into Cambodia?

have barely smelled the stuff since the 70s.  But as I coast into retirement I am not against trying it a bit at my ripe old age of 68.  In the USA so many people have prescriptions for it, albeit legit and needed or not.  I was wondering if a girl I know that does use it would be able to buy and use some while in thailand, with or without her "legal" prescription

1 hour ago, HappyExpat57 said:

For the life of me, I can't figure out WHY anyone would use Windows 11. I tried - I bought a laptop that wouldn't accept a Windows 10 install, so I tried to accept Win 11. EVERY task took 2-6 more steps to accomplish and some of my basic favorite features (task bar on top being a major one) weren't even possible.

 

THEN I tried doing a Win 10 install AFTER a successful Win 11 install and LORD ALMIGHTY - I got my OS back!

 

All I can say is, "Shame on you, Micro$oft!"

I wanted to 10 but Best Buy store literally was only selling 11 computers.  I am not a power user and really should not have to both with the details of an operating system, but microsoft update and expiration policies have made me buy a computer I did not need every 7 years or so which while annoying has not been a life changing issue

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1082213389644414

for sure

i been going there since 2004.  Of course there are some lonely people there. Happens anywhere.  What I hated to see was the middle aged to older folks that were burned out, sitting at the bottom of Pattaya Klang. Their cash ran out long ago.  Now barely scraping by on some meager social security or disability pension or maybe minimal staff seargeant pay etc.. 

ha.  For three trips in a row I got approached by the same Indian guy.  This was across a span of about 15 months as I visited, left, returned etc.  On soi Bukhao, a middle aged slim guy.. telling some story about money coming soon, etc.

Just now, Ralf001 said:

Neither  are allowed on the motorway.

prohibited on all freeways or motorways?

I had a hand held wand scanner that worked not too bad.  I have used a few free fax programs that allow me to fax from my computer any file, be it a photo, a pdf, a WORD document etc.  Taking a photo with my smart phone, email it to my computer, then use the fax program.  I know there are phone apps that could do it, but I prefer to use my computer.  bigger and easier to read and drag and drop, sign as needed, then fax, etc.

I been there 15 times.  I love walking around.  The baht buses go everywhere I need to go.  I am there on holiday.  No rush.  For the times I need to go direct point to point I hop on a motorcycle taxi.  Now it is great when my buddy is in town and we can motor about to the further parts of the city, go down sukhumvit, etc.  For long permanent stays a motorbike or scooter can be great.  But I would not go on the freeway with it.

On 6/23/2023 at 7:29 PM, jacko45k said:

Or Penthouse/Kitten Club?

yeah.  I never stayed at the penthouse but recall seeing ads of photos about the various rooms with unique decorations.  Kitten club was different but as I recall it became more lady boy .

as for gogos, how about Carousol, or the Sea.  Very friendly in their days.  As for Pattaya in general.  My first trip was 2004.  Full English breakfast at the Pig and Whistle, big owner Graham.  I miss Carre 4 now big c on pattaya klang.  Better choices.  Butcher Arms Pub soi bukhao now gone.  The Domocile Austrian restaurant now split up and moved around.  Brauhaus German place right next to it now closed?  Peppermint with the multiple stages. Man that was nice.  Topps market as others mentioned . I almost bought the little internet area there that had 5 or 6 computers.  Boy that would have been a money pit.  Bowling alley upstairs too was nice now and then.  The little used book shop was worth a browse.  Soi Yume up behind Big C before it got all paved and developed was a nice quiet area.  Nantana gardens hotel was a favorite of a buddy of mine.  Remember getting a cd burned at the photo shops for you new digital camera images? 

  And let's not forget when there used to be definite high and then low seasons.  It really was different to experience. 

My grandparents all came from Greece.  Parents and me born in the US of A.  Been to Pattaya over a dozen times over the years.  The last greek meal I had there was pattayanis up off of soi bukhao.  A clever name combining Pattaya with his name of Yanni.  It was pretty good.  Have not been back to Thailand since just before the COVID shutdowns. 

I could not resist the way you spelled biff.  Reminds me of the classic American TV show Cheers.  They would go eat at this horrible disgusting all you can eat buffet place.

The Prime Beff was 2 dollars.  The Loobster special also. they always got sick, but kept going back

Why make any statements about anything when in a foreign country?  Why walk around flaunting expensive jewelry? 

On 4/4/2023 at 4:04 AM, Toby1947 said:

1hr. plenty of time to check in, and you'll still be sat there like a zombie waiting 2hrs later ????????????

haha possible.  I last flew in and out of Utapao in 2019 and it was great. Not busy at all back then.   I loved walking out on the tarmac to board the plane via the steps.  Quite interesting to look around at the long runway, the hills beyond, and imagine those big B 52s there during the Vietnam war era.