ThailandInvestmentGuide

Salavan. Would recommend you do thaivisa forum search using words like "buying property in the name of a child" or similar to find and study some of the many quite informative threads about this approach. Buying property in this manner has its upsides and downsides, the relative importance of which vary depending on your individual circumstances. I would also recommend that you take a look at the main alternatives, for example buying in the name of your gf but with a usufruct - as has alreay been mentioned by another poster.

Yes it is possible. I assume you are in Thailand now, in which case you can choose your broker and visit their office to sign the necessary papers to get started. Try a Thaivisa forum search on "stockbroker", "sharebroker" etc and you'll probably find some earlier threads where ppl recommend and discuss their preferred broker/s. You can then use google to locate brokers web sites and obtain further info.

Lawrence. You might get some ideas reading this long-running thread: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/512929-whats-the-best-bank-interest-rate-in-thailand/?hl=%20best%20%20interest%20%20rates

Other similar, though probably older, threads can be found using Thaivisa forum search with search terms "best interest rates"

Hi Frank. Yes quite a few prior threads on Thai Wills and wifes, and on transferring land to minors. Though you are not going to have much joy trying a forum search on the word "will" However if you scroll down through just the topics in the front page of this sub-forum, then you will find a most useful discussion on the first topic ... can't recall the name of the thread though.

If she has a valid Thai Will, and if she leaves you the land, then you have a year to transfer it to a Thai citizen. Can you transfer it to your kid/s? Generally yes if they are Thai citizens, and you can arrange to have yourself appointed as guardian. This process is mentioned in the discussion thread mentioned above.

PS: Here is one relevant discussion (see post #47) http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/611955-paying-for-land-1pm-today/page__st__25#entry6067121

... maybe back to putting it in a company name then....

And again you will find that there are actual or potential pluses + minuses in going down that path. There is no perfect fix ... and always some degree of uncertainty or compromise ... with each approach (to owning/controlling real estate) suiting each individual to a greater or lesser extent depending on their specific circumstances. For this reason you really need to research all possible options thoroughly before making a decision

OP, hi, there are many good and useful prior threads on this topic. I would recommend that you search them out as there are both pluses and minuses in going down this path. Some of these have already been mentioned by other posters

While the law does not specify a minimum age but some land dept offices (or officers) do, so you need to raise this with the relevant staff and see what they say

hi. i have a publisher for hard copy edition and self-published an e-book edition on amazon.com

Re: the level of commission taken by amazon ... it's a bit complicated ... largely depends on the where the buyer is and the option you have selected when you publish. You can select the 70% option (you get 70%) but whether you get it depends on the sale price being within a defined range (and not more that USD9.99) and the buyer being in certain specified countries. If they are in one of the other countries then you cut slumps to 30%.

Google on "Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing" and have a read of the info there, plus there is also an active discussion forum you can peruse and participate in

Hi Shot. Not sure if I am missing something here but ... the easiest way to Will it is to put it in her Will. Just google on "Thailand Will" or similar and it will bring up various web sites for Thai law firms with details. Just bear in mind that she can change the Will at any time. Thus if you want greater certainty, and depending on your specific circumstances, then you could consider transferring the land into the names of the children now. Again there is information on this in the sorts of web sites mentioned earlier (e.g. google on 'samuiforsale') plus there are many earlier Thaivisa discussion threads on this topic.

But if over 10 years then its can be a big problem apparently.

Correct. Google on "adverse possession thailand" for details concerning squatters rights. Based on the info the OP has provided I would say that a court would probably rule in favour of the outlaws.

In the preamble it specifically states "Rights of the Thai People", therefore not relevant to this topic.

Nice try. Can you link to that please? "Rights of the Thai People"

In detail of the PDF at CHAPTER III - Rights and Liberties of the Thai People

Exactly, CHAPTER III - Rights and Liberties of the Thai People to have all persons equal before the law and

shall enjoy equal protection under the law.

Legal jargon is always hard to interpret.

Somchai, much as I admire your tenacity, I think you might be wrong here. Refer this paper by a respected constitutional lawyer and academic:

Conceptually, the current text, as with previous Constitutions, also limits the section on rights to the "rights of the Thai people", thus differing from human rights in international law which pertain to all persons irrespective of nationality and other origins.

David, Just as an aside. There are Thaivisa discussion threads that pop up from time to time concerning the best books that people have read, the best books about Thailand, etc. Mostly in the 'general' forum i think. You might be able to find them doing a TV forum search with search words like "best books" etc

Some details about Thai ETF's can be found here: http://www.set.or.th/en/products/etf/etf_p1.html

Yes, you can establish a trading account with a brokerage arm of a Thai bank if you wish. How "easily" this occurs will depend on the staff you are dealing with - just as with the banks themselves, some branches are more familiar in dealing with foreigners than others. In terms of who to chose, do a Thaivisa forum search to locate and read the many earlier threads on this topic.

If you are unfamiliar with share trading then you may want to consider options such as exchange traded funds (ETF) or mutual funds. Again there are many earlier discussion threads concerning both of these options. No tax on capital gains but with dividends you will probably pay tax, usually in the form of withholding tax (depending on your individual circumstances)

Ok a few comments. Some land offices refuse to provide a usufruct to a foreigner AT ALL (there was a thread along these lines with the last week or two). This is where you do need to go in with a Thai lawyer.

You are correct though in homing in on the specific land office with which you will deal, and others experiences there. Try a forum search on Pattaya land office and see what you turn up. There are MANY previous valuable discussion threads on this topic.

I know the CC Code clause you are referring to but usufructs are not "useless" if you are married. Again see previous discussion threads that include details of where people have been through the Thai court process and weight was given to the usufruct and/or the provision of Thai divource laws. This is a complex issue and you are right to ramp up your general knowledge of this issue before approaching a lawyer and/or firming up your plans ... but there is heaps of free info online if you have the patience to find and digest it. Look for example at the samuiforsale web site (google on this)

Welcome to Thaivisa Wayland ...

Yes LTF are indeed a good choice for many ppl getting paid in THB. There are many relevant threads in Thaivisa that provide both general info and discussion concerning specific funds. Try a forum search using key words like "mutual funds" to locate some of these earlier threads. I also discuss this topic in my book (click on my profile for further info)

Further, member 'fletchsmile' will be along in a few moments to eloquently present the merits of LTF and specifically, certain Aberdeen and ING funds ... look for his earlier posts on this topic as he knows his stuff

Ok, and has already been stated, you have a lot of reading that needs to be done before you should think about firming up your ideas. There are countless relevant threads already in thaivisa (try forum search using key words like "business idea"). I'd suggest reviewing these earlier threads and then coming back with more specific questions to generate more meaningful input.

There are also some books available, one I have seen is by Philip Wylie (google on his name) called "starting a business in thailand" or similar. He has since followed up with another one called "how to make money in thailand" or similar. There are other similar ones in amazon.

Stubby, Innerspace is correct yet not entirely correct. The problem is the vagueness of the Thai regulatory regime. In the west there are laws and then underneath them, regulations and then underneath them, policies. You can get a copy of each and also have a reasonable expectation that they will be reflected in on-the-ground reality.

In this case, in reality, there are exceptions to the enforcement of the work permit laws, made for passive investors (e.g. buying shares) and for work-related activities undertaken by people resident in the kingdom for less than 15 days (the shortest time frame for a work permit). I have seen statements by officials that indicate that these are official exceptions, but they are not I believe enshrined in formal regulations. Are there exceptions to these exceptions? Yes, probably. Welcome to Thailand

Are you suggesting that someone living here should file a tax return even if they're forbidden from working?

I am not "suggesting", it is the law. Further, you can be living in Thailand and earn income without falling foul of the work permit laws (for e.g. passive income)

Clearly I don't know this individual's circumstances - other than the little info he has provided - so I am not in a position to say what he should or shouldn't do in this regard

Postscript: Just read the post above which appeared while I was typing this. I would suggest just going into your local tax office and explaining your situation to them. Before doing so though I would be inclined to do a little homework on Thai tax laws in relation to lodgement of returns. There is a good free booklet in the Price Waterhouse Thailand site (http://www.pwc.com/th/en/tax/assets/2012/thai-tax-2012-booklet.pdf)

I have no idea of what being "fiscally resident" might mean, being American I guess that's not relevant to our tax system.

I think he means "tax resident", which you are after 6 months. The best proof of that would be copies of tax returns lodged in Thailand. Have you lodged and returns here? I don't think the residency certificate from imigration would help as (from memory) that doesn't say when residency commenced, it only confirms your address. You also need to check other possible implications of declaring your tax residency in Thailand, just to make sure there are no unintended consequences that might nullify the benefit you are seeking on this occasion.

There are countless earlier Thaivisa threads discussing this issue. Start by doing a forum search using "work permit". Also take a look at this article: http://www.tilleke.com/sites/default/files/2011_Nov_BigChilli_Alien_Working_Act.pdf

There are quite a number of good (& free) papers in the Tilleke and Gibbins site.

With respect, this is a bit like asking "I'm coming to live in Thailand, where is a nice place to live?", ie. there are plenty of variables

In this case you can differentiate on the basis of factors like:

free versus subscription forums?

country focus or international?

type of trading/investment focus?

level of investor knowledge/experience?

etc

I don't think there is one best forum for all investors, though I would be interested to hear about and explore any such sites that others might care to put forward

Hi Sandy. Have you two had a look through the free publications in the web site of the Thai Board of Investment?

Might be useful info for you there, for example this one: http://www.boi.go.th/upload/content/BOI-BusinessGuide2011_44837.pdf

Hi David

There have been earlier threads here where members detail the procedure for obtaining a refund of withholding tax. Try a TV forum search on "withholding tax" to identify these threads. One of the two Pattaya Expat clubs also has a page in their web site on this procedure. If no joy then send me a pm and I will dig out the links and post them here

<snip> Please dig up post re previous discussion on this. <snip>

Here it is:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Canadian-Condo-Owner-Claims-False-A-t252387.html

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Condominium-Act-2008-t232883.html

<snip>And where on earth did you get 15% nonsense. Investment income here is taxed as in most countries on a sliding scale starting at 10% and going up to 47% and like most countries there are allowances.<snip>

Whoa. The 15% is not "nonsense". This is withholding tax not income tax - google on "thailand withholding tax" to find many references such as http://www.sherrings.com/Withholding-Tax.php and http://www.pwc.com/en_th/th/publications/2011/assets/thai-tax2011-booklet-update100311.pdf

Also do a TV forum search on withholding tax for personal experiences, including info about how some ppl can claim it back