IRS sent a letter saying wife's ITIN is set to expire January 1, 2020.   I've been filing Married/Joint with her ITIN since roughly 2009.

Reading instructions for Form W7 to renew the ITIN, the blurb under "What's New":

Quote

Spouses and dependents residing outside of the United States who could’ve been claimed in previous years for the personal exemption and no other benefit don’t need to renew their ITINs, unless they anticipate being claimed for a different tax benefit or if they file their own tax return.

 

For tax years 2018 through 2025, you can’t claim a personal exemption deduction for yourself, your spouse, or your dependents.

^That tells me "No", I don't need to renew her ITIN.

The last sentence, however, sent me down a rabbit hole with 3 IRS Pubs about whether or not I can continue filing Married/Joint with nonresident/alien Thai Wife, without her having a valid ITIN.  The goal obviously is to claim the new, higher Standard Deduction.

I "think" it's a Yes according to IRS Pub 519.  Anyone else in the same boat and can verify or re-direct me elsewhere? 

Anyone renewing their wife's ITIN anyway, despite the guidance that it's not necessary?

There might be some wiggle room if other tenants lived there before but that's not the case, it's "all yours", so agree with others - empty the tank and be done with it.

I sense your growing anxiety having moved into a sparkling new house and after 6 to now 7 years on, things are starting to happen, as they do.   From the bit you've said in OP, sounds like your Thai landlord is in the middle attitude range, but if she's quibbling about a cheap, busted water heater, that's an indication she's tight, and her disposition might get weirder as more of these things start to happen.  Especially if the rent is low and stable thus far. 

I'd say try your best to discuss things with L/L (via your wife, I presume) without coming across as confrontational.   Be cool and reasonable and don't start nickle and diming her on every little thing that comes up....  especially if your rent is low and stable, and you still like living there and enjoy life.  Have your Mrs. ascertian the L/L's mindset about "normal wear and tear" in a long-term rental scenario like yours.

The acid test is when it comes times to leave, of course, but don't go down the rabbit hole conjuring worst case scenario and fretting about it now. 

9 hours ago, Kenny202 said:

You can see from his latest immature "smarty pants" reply he would be sitting in whatever it is he lives in squealing with delight at getting some attention. I see most of these gutless miserable excuses for a human normally have a little following of loyal hangers on, liking all of their posts. If they get a few other people adding negative comments they all jump in too to put the boot in when it looks like the coast is clear.Chiming in when necessary.  Got a similar thing on another post yesterday. Same atypical type of cretin. Sits on TV everyday just waiting to snipe at people. Obviously nothing better to do. I gave him the same sort of response and he commented why do I post on TV, don't I have any friends lol. I don't know why the mods don't cull these people off the forums. Some of them are just doing the same thing everyday. Never have any knowledge or anything of benefit to add. It can't be good for the long term good of what is generally a great info recourse for all of us.

1

43 minutes ago, MickGC said:

I prefer to listen to the professionals on the subject rather than the social media, TV, radio shock jock opinions.

https://skepticalscience.com/global-warming-scientific-consensus-intermediate.htm

Interesting site, thanks.  On "Basic" tab, a few scrolls down, enjoyed the video called The American Denial of Global Warming.  A summary presentation from UCSD about the history of global warming studies and how we got here from there. 

5 hours ago, car720 said:

When will the silent majority ever stand up for anything?  Never.  Why do we always allow wowsers to run our lives for us.  Those that gave their lives for so called freedom are turning over in their graves.

If you think being an ecig is tough these days, try being a Peanut in Southern California. 

SUV driving helicopter moms on Twitter have got to be in a major conundrum after their Trusted Agent joined the e-cig warning parody genre.  ????

Watch this space.  Just another idiot blurt from the king of blurts.  Be talking about another dumb blurt in 3 days time, this one will be forgotten. 

I hate to coin a Fox New "ism" but sorry, this is a "nothing burger'. 

This isn't your Pearl Harbor.  Move on.  Next.

Ah yes, the incremental creep to Prohibition, softly softly, it's "for the children".

First they go for the fruit flavors, and then the ban.  Exactly how San Francisco did it.

3 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Did you watch the video?

 

0:25 "...likewise China should start an investigation into the Bidens..."

 

The transcript of the Trump-Xi call on June 25 should probably be released ASAP. Trump is said to have made vague comments about Biden and Warren, while also saying he would not suppport Hong Kong protesters as part of his trade "dealings". 

 

 

My comment was/is about the OP title and substance.   Thanks for the video. 

1 hour ago, thaichina said:

 

FAKE NEWS!  

 

 

orange tweet style ????

What's fake about my observation in this case? The headline doesn't match the story.  Happens quite often.  Clickbait title, then walk it back in the body of the article.

Jingthing -  No connection to Politifact, merely a graphic off Google Images used for overall sentiment about the media.

This article loses credibility between the catchy headline and the details in the body.

Headline: "Trump publicly asked China to investigate Biden".

Reading down a bit, he didn't actually do that.  He was responding to a question from reporters at the WH.  Said he hadn't even spoken to Xi Ping about it specifically.  Chinese Dips seemed perplexed.  

As usual though, Trump's problem (of many) is he doesn't know when to shut his pie hole and leave unspoken thoughts unsaid.  Rather, he blurts off-the-cuff remarks and inuendo he, in the moment, thinks are tactically clever.  The assembled press giggles at yet another gift from the Blurt Master.

And so the usual suspects jump on their spin machine and you get this kind of nonsense.

That's jouralism these days. 

9 minutes ago, Airalee said:

Sounded like it wasn’t “left” enough for the review writer although she was able to get all kinds of buzzwords in.  Incel, Trumpian, #Metoo.  Thank goodness they were able to nix all the “white supremacy” by having a cross cultural “crush” between the Joker and his African American neighbor.

I haven't seen this yet but your comment makes me feel as if I have. 

3 minutes ago, FredGallaher said:

I stopped by the local water treatment plant and talked with the operator at length. I speak Thai and am knowledgeable of water treatment. The operator was pleased because he mostly works alone and people don't stop and ask questions, unless there is an interruption of service. He explained the WHO guidelines and each of the processes. Although a normal village guy, I found him very knowledgeable. Now when I see him he always greets me as a friend. 

The basic plant design and I believe the construction is provided by the government and seem consistent with good practices. 

I know the water processing plant in Bangkok at Khlong Pha Pha is very modern (also been there) but distribution is a problem with people using illegal pumps to pump directly from the main lines. 

In the US it is mandated that outside faucets have anti syphon devices installed to prevent backflows. Its a problem here, but fortunately were are fairly close to our local treatment plant. 

BTW I'm friends with the local Tessaban guys and think I could ask them anything without them being offended.

Good for you. 

All of which still has nothing to do with my initial comments about water in a village you've never been to much less heard of.  If I still lived there, would invite you out for a luke warm glass.  We can video it, like one of those ice bucket challenges.  Be even better if you reacted and commented afterward in Thai.  I could put it on Facebook, make the Tessaban lose face but you'd be the man of the hour in the village. 

Thank you Khun Fred!  We love you and hope you recover soon! 

1 hour ago, FredGallaher said:

I got sick a couple of times in US from frozen shrimp. Here we get fresh shrimp and I haven't had problems. But some people are afraid to try anything new (their loss)

Water systems in most areas are good. Although not as easy to see the water cycle is the same in the US. Water pumped from rivers go to treatment plants, is treated , filtered and put in the pipe. The process is the same here. When you see a water tower stop and ask. They have the same multi step process as in the US. Neither system removes all dissolved pesticides so it good both in the US and here to have charcoal filtration.

Water treatment is the same here as _____________. 

That's a whopper.  It's not even universal within Thailand itself.

The subtle dig about people afraid to try something new. Noted. ✅ 

At least you left the escape hatch open with the word "mostly".  Good move considering the glaringly obvious lack of standards, workmanship and compliance/QA/QC.  That's not a bash, it just is.

You REALLY think you're the only guy who ever thought to stop and check out the gear and infrastructure at one's local reservoir?  Or perhaps inquire with the Tessaban guys in that softly-softly way so they don't start telling porkies like, "Yeah, buddy, we do same as in the USA!". ????

Haven't had a serious case, yet, but plenty of its cousin, the good old "Dheli Belly". 

Wife has had proper food poisoning twice in the 7 years we've lived here full-time.  Scary seeing her in a high state of misery.  Both events followed consumption of seafood/shellfish.  

Narrowed my food sources progressively here over the years, using admittedly imperfect criteria and perhaps an over-abundance of caution at times.  But you gotta watch your own back here, 'cause nobody else is.

Never been a shellfish guy, so that's one off the list.  Began avoiding non-pallegic seafood back when I lived/worked in the GCC/Gulf, and, apart from an infrequent roll-of-the-dice with a bit of sushi, I avoid fish/seafood entirely here in Thailand - especially upcountry.  That includes the usual freshwater pond/farm fish sold at markets.   Lived 4 years in a smallish village, I see where the shower/sink gray water goes, and who knows what else, into the surrounding fields, ponds and the water table.  Big rain flood comes, it's like flushing the toilet into the village water supply reservoir; which, if there is water, it pipes to the house in various colors, leaves, branches, sediment, probably filtered through a dead cat corpse lodged in the uptake pipe - who the hell knows.  It's a petri dish of incompetence and ignorance, cloaked in avoidance of responsibility and accountability (loss of face).  No budget to run the water treatment gear?  Big Thai Smile, rub ammulet and try not to tink too mutt before the cancer takes hold.

Give them a confused look and say, "No hablo Ingles". 

You could knock out a series of calisthenics at home on the patio as well as the walking and dumb bells.  My little program takes about 1.5-2hrs.  But yeah, running/walking here can be a pain due to dogs and vehicle traffic.  I used a treadmill when we lived out in the village.  Not as enjoyable but better than potential rabies shots.

Quite a task.  Orig article link suggests the "hopper" of laws, policies, pronouncements, etc., number in the 10s of 1,000s.  Somewhere in there is the Immigration Act.

My own government is a far worse quagmire.   Elected reps work hard at looking busy investigating each other.  Menial nug work is heaped onto 20 something year old staffers who, in turn, assign it to lowly interns working in the mop and broom closet, with a due date of yesterday. 

Pulling the US Tax Code for review and reform.

3 hours ago, ThePioneer said:

Do you by any chance still have a link to that post with the information?

Yes.  TVF Member Pib provided the info, see link below.

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1087601-krungsi-mee-tae-dai-savings/?do=findComment&comment=14212205

My Bangkok Bank branch started taking tax off my regular savings account as well.  Haven't gone out there to see them yet, need to, one of these days.

It's Thailand.  I had joy first time I went to my Krungsi branch and asked for my account to be re-coded to not withhold tax every month. I went armed with information from here (TVF) that the correct code was 0001, and that was enough that she knew exactly what I (the wife) was on about. Said "yes", made a call in the meantime, and 10 minutes later, it was done.

Sorry you ran into trouble.   Bank branches are like franchises.  Same as Immigration.  ????

Ha ha, great story, been there. (except for the 4k bill part!)

I started keeping a spare pump on hand a few years ago.  Also quit buying those pumps with the pressure tanks, now only constant pressure pumps.

There's always a constant churn among foreigners abroad though.

The local dynamic exacerbated by foreign exchange rates and an emboldened Thai Immigration Service's sustained campaign to tighten policy and enforcement operations. 

Immigration seems satisfied with itself, for now, so perhaps TVF will settle into a new normal. 

Matterafact, I hear a big jet landing at Swampy, no doubt a few new guys will need guidance about Thai women (or men).  Then sin sod.  Later, a water pump that won't stop short-cycling at the newly built 3bed/2bath in an upcountry moo baan. ????

"Is farang a racial slur?"

"Why are threads being closed to commenting?"

Several years old but interesting.

Quote

Is it possible to predict currency exchange rates with machine learning techniques?

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Hi_is_it_possible_to_predict_currency_rate_for_instance_GPB_USD_in_Forex_with_machine_learning_technique_which_algorithm_will_be_a_good_choice