JGA

I would like to file a joint US tax return with my Thai wife because I will get a fairly substantial tax deduction. However, to get this deduction, I must declare her earnings in Thailand (which are only around US$10000). After searching the internet for hours, I was unable to determine what's a suitable substitution for the W-2 form that is issued by employers in America. She works for a government university, so we were able to download a document online that specifies what she was paid for the year. Does anybody know if this document would be accepted by the IRS? I also need to get her a US tax identification number, but this can only be applied for at the same time as filing the tax return. JGA

About 15 minutes after I posted my message above, the seller of the Trident sent a message to me asking if I was going to take the bike home after paying for it. I guess he changed his mind without any prompting from me. I now have the bike, bill of sale, signed copy of the bank transfer, etc. I will get the green book from the bank sometime this week. JGA

On a related topic, is it required that one must wait for the transfer to be completed at the DLT before the previous owner actually gives the bike to the new owner? I’ve sold three motorcycles over the years here and I never waited for the transfer to be completed before giving them the property that they already paid for. I am in he process of buying a secondhand Triumph Trident from a Thai owner. He’s being a bit paranoid about handing the bike over to me even after I pay and he gives the green book to me. He wants to keep the bike (which is currently uninsured) until the transfer has been officially completed. Is this normal and does he have reason to worry about me taking possession of a bike that is still technically in his name until the transfer is complete? We are going to use a local bike shop to do the transfer because otherwise both of us and the bike have to go to the Chatuchak DLT, which I would be a big hassle. The green book is being held by a major bank (due to a loan). I have to pay him first, so that he can pay off the bank and get the green book. I don’t have a problem with that, but as far as I’m concerned, as soon as that process is complete, the bike is mine. Is my stance contrary to Thai law? JGA