Sheryl

As previously advised you should get a BP machine. Omron brand (type that wraps around the arm nto wrist) is good. When you say pulse 40 is that counting for a full minute? And after you have been standing for a while (say at least 30 minutes) what does the heart rate stabilize at?

Qualified doctors regularly remove earwax in "civilized" countries and that is what is under discussion here.

This was the link I had posted https://library.siam-legal.com/thai-law/u-s-thai-tax-treaty-pensions-and-social-security-payments-article-20/ covers pensions, SS, annuities https://library.siam-legal.com/thai-law/u-s-thai-tax-treaty-dividends-article-10/ https://library.siam-legal.com/thai-law/u-s-thai-tax-treaty-interest-article-11/ cover dividends and interest respectively. It looks like you could potentially be taxed on same but with limits to avoid double or excess taxation between the 2 countries. I would suggest to try to avoid bringing interest or dividend income into Thailand unless it is to your overall advantage (i.e. lower tax rate than in US)

Unfortunately this is not very accurate (as often happens when using Chat GPT) and seems to be talking in general about what might be in a Tax Treaty rather than the specifics of the actual one between the US and Thailand. Links to which have been previously posted. Of particular importance is the clear exemption of US Social Security and annuities from taxation by Thailand , full stop. Tax treaties really are not that lengthy or hard to read. Suggest everyone review the one specific to themselves.

Yes, I think this is far from finalized. It seems a common tactic of the Thai government to make announcements as a sort of trial balloon to see what reaction it gets ahead of actually doing something. Doesn't mean this won't happen in some form but what exactly is far from set in stone at this point. If/when the tax code is amended it will be necessary to (1) carefully read the revised text (not possible now as nto yet written let alone ratified yet) and (2) carefully read the Tax Agreement between your country and Thailand as applicable. I think in most cases any change will not be applicable to funds being transferred in by retirees, for 2 reasons: (1) often of a type exempt under tax treaties (e.g. pensions) and (2) often would not qualify as income (e.g. long term savings). What they are aiming at is a loophole whereby Thai residents can avoid tax on recently earned or passive income by remitting it to Thailand after the year in which it was earned. Not pension income and equivalent, nor transfer of foreigners' savings that were accumulated in many cases before even moving to Thailand. The problem of course will be to find a wording which makes all that clear with no confusion. Another concern will be ensuring (assuming a change is enacted) that provincial tax offices understand it. As we all know, the Thai government often does not do a very good job of clearly communicating guidance to the field and different offices often have different interpretations. Might be wise for those who do so, to reconsider filing for refund of bank interest until the dust settles as that would bring you to the Provincial Tax authorities' attention. I actually stopped doing this a year ago because 2 years running it led to me being called in for questioning and having to provide extensive documentation of incoming transfers and answer a lot of intrusive questions. I prevailed (and luckily had saved credit advices to show money came in from abroad) but it was such a hassle I decided not worth it for a few hundred baht. A new directive about income from foreign sources, if issued, would much increase the odds of such scrutiny. It would also likely be prudent to carefully read through the Tax treaty between your home country and Thailand to see if the money you are bringing in is exempt and, if it is not, consider the implications; if so, consider how clear the paper trail would be to show this. For example, I currently have my US Social Security directly deposited to my bank in Thailand and that is the only money I bring in, and the credit advices clearly identify SSA as the originator of the funds. So I'm good. But in the past, before ISS started direct deposits to Thailand, I was having savings transferred the origin of which would be hard to isolate as there were multiple sources of funds coming into the same US bank accounts over time. I have always filed US tax returns on all income, including that earned abroad (3rd country, not Thailand) so would always have been protected from double taxation, but establishing that might have been complicated, and might even have necessitated filing both Thai and US tax returns and claiming tax credit on one of them. A headache I would naturally prefer to avoid.

Please continue the discussion here https://aseannow.com/topic/1306896-thai-government-to-tax-all-income-from-abroad-for-tax-residents-starting-2024/ So that we can keep all comments on this important matter in one place.

In most cases probably not. 61 countries have Tax Treaties with Thailand wehich (1) protect against double taxation and (2) in many cases explicitly exempt pensions and the like from being taxed by Thailand. That aside, I doubt that pension payments and the like would be considered "income". It is pretty clear that the law is aimed at actual income, not pensions, annuities or for that matter savings from many years ago that were already taxed at time earned. There are some retirees here who are bringing in money from things like property rentals, interest on investments etc which would be classed as income. In that circumstance they might have to pay tax on it in either Thailand or their home country, but not (assuming a tax treaty) both. Please see lengthy discussions in this thread https://aseannow.com/topic/1306896-thai-government-to-tax-all-income-from-abroad-for-tax-residents-starting-2024/

Yes, there is a tax treaty between US and Thailand and also 60 other countries. This has been extensively discussed in this thread: https://aseannow.com/topic/1306896-thai-government-to-tax-all-income-from-abroad-for-tax-residents-starting-2024/ The treaty not only protects against double taxation on earned income but also explicitly states that Social Security and similar retirement income can only be taxed by the US.

unhelpful posts in violation of forum community standards have been removed.

Yes, there will be some cases where income is legally taxable. Most retirement income (government pensions etc) will not be. Practically speaking, if transferring in savings (as opposed to having income directly remitted) I think it will be more trouble than it is worth for the Thai tax authorities to try to figure out if it was taxable by the other country and they are unlikely to bother in the case of retirees. You should closely read the Tax Agreement between your home country and Thailand. Also note that there are several months to go before this comes into effect and it will pertain only to funds brought in after that date. So for those who always leave 800k in a bank account for visa purposes and have that amount here already it won't matter where it originally came from. But it would be prudent to ensure that new funds coming in are from an exempt source as specified in Tax Agreement.

He is the one I would recommend. (Prof. Niyom).

Have you seen Pof. Niyom at Bumrungrad?

No. Please read the Tax Agreement between the 2 countries. Such income can only be taxed in US. Doesn't matter if US rules mean you owe 0. Thailand still cannot tax such income.

As previously posted. under the Tax Agreement between the US and Thailand, US Social Security is exempt from Thai taxation.

There is a complete exemption on Social Security and annnuities for US citizens, this is specified in the Tax treaty between US and Thailand. I would suggest everyone review the relevant tax agreement between their own country and Thailand.

Moved to correct forum

That could be it. I tried Muang and Meung but I think not that.

I doubt it will help much. Especially as an untreated bunion will continue to worsen over time.

IF the pensioner is from a country which does not have a Double Tax Agreement with Thailand then potentially they would have to file and pay Thai taxes, even though not employed here. But most of us are from countries which do.

It is not at all irrelevant and applies to people living here 365 days a year i.e,. tax residents. If your remittances are from income taxed in your home country (now or in the past) and your country has a Double Tax Agreement with Thailand, it is nto taxable here.

Again, as I explained: if you are from a country with a double Tax Agreement, and if the money you bring in has already been taxed (at the time earned) in your home country or is currently subject to tax there, it cannot be taxed in Thailand.

I strongly suggest people click on the link and read the full article, which clearly states: "The program will begin January 1, 2024 and apply only to tax residents in Thailand meaning tourists and short term workers will be exempt. Also exempt will be those who have been taxed in a foreign country that has a standing Double Tax Agreement with Thailand. " There is then a link to show which those countries are. 61 countries listed, including US, UK, Australia and many European countries.

U.S. – THAILAND TAX TREATY 1998 Convention between the government of the United States of America and the government of the kingdom of Thailand for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. However there is a special provision with regard to Social Security: Article 20: Pensions and Social Security Payments Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 21 (Government Service), pensions and other similar remuneration paid to a resident of a Contracting State in consideration of past employment shall be taxable only in that State. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, social security benefits and other similar public pensions paid by a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State or a citizen of the United States shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State. Annuities derived and beneficially owned by a resident of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State. The term “annuities” as used in this paragraph means a stated sum paid periodically at stated times during a specified number of years, under an obligation to make the payments in return for adequate and full consideration (other than services rendered). https://library.siam-legal.com/thai-law/u-s-thai-tax-treaty-pensions-and-social-security-payments-article-20/

More to the point -- did you have severe osteoarthritis? As bone spur removal usually nto worthwhile in that instance.

https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/th/จ.ชลบุรี/pattaya-city/dr.apichai-ear-nose-and-throat-clinical-medicine?to=place.ChIJR6BgU_uVAjERL4LbPKSIy0I