ronnie50

Sorry if not clear. Yes, this is my first retirement extension request following the 3 month O Visa I received for that purpose. My bank is SCB. I know there isn't one at CW. However, a branch near my place (not my own branch) is helpful. They printed the oversease transfer credit advisory same day (in just a few minutes), however that wasn't enough for IO, who then sent me to another branch on Changwattana Road. They gave me a 'certificate of deposits' in Thai language and checked a box that said it's addressed to Immigration and I took that along (for the O visa). Would the two letters (letter and statement) for the extension be different?

I really don't understand why she would stick around and travel around Thailand as a tourist after that experience. Not too smart. As mentioned there are many foreigners who have lost their properties and other wealth, even to fairly low-level operatives and they get no compensation or cooperation in the courts, police, elsewhere. Then there's the farang professional guy who had his PhD thesis copied almost page for page by some Thai pooyai here. When he took the matter to the university, he started getting threats and rocks through his windows.

Thanks, very useful. I wasn't aware the statement would take so long. Isn't it just a print out (of how many months)? Then a stamp by the bank branch? I gather I can go to any branch, not specifically my own for both letter and statement, is that right? Sorry one more question, is the bank 'letter' the same one I took for my O Visa request? It was addressed to Immigration and indicated the amount of international transfer (and I think the balance that day). All in Thai.

Thanks. Useful indeed. So if I show up at 11am, I can ask for an afternoon queue ticket? Or are they just issued continuously, but getting the queue number late morning let's you walk in at 1pm (but then wait my turn while all those from morning who still haven't been seen - is that right?) - also can the two bank letters (letter and statement) be issued while you wait? Like 30 minutes, etc.)?

Does anyone know how often Immigration Division 1 refreshes/opens their online calendar for appointments? The queue for retirement extensions is booked solid for the next four weeks. Do they open it day by day (like 8 am each morning and it quickly fills), or do they do it week by week? Curious if anyone knows the practice. I know I can just go there (CW) early any day without an appointment and line up to get a queue number.. but the appointment system seems better - but not easy to get one..

Thanks again. At Changwattana, can I go back to apply for the retirement extension after 45 days, or do I need to wait for 60 days? The money (800) has been seasoning in my Thai account for more than 2 months already..even before I applied for the O visa..

I've used a few usually around the Pleon Chit area. However, some years back, we were getting a previously translated Thai -to-English birth certificate certified at Changwattana Govt office for our son who was travelling on a school trip out of Thailand and the official there pointed out several inaccuracies in the translated version we had. So it was revised again there - I guess by their own service or proxy - which we paid for.

I'm a bit confused on when my 90 day reporting is required. I entered Thailand 24 November on 60 day visa exemption, then applied for the 3 month O visa based upon retirement. The visa was duly issued on 17th January, backdated to 2 January when I applied for it. So when do I report the first 90 days? Does the clock start when I get a 12 month extension (day 1) , or do the weeks that I was here already on the visa waiver, plus the days here on the O visa combined count toward the 90 days (meaning 90 days in late Feb before getting extension)?

Yes, thanks, I was aware of that. My point was no assets 'and no UK income' (should have added the latter).

True of getting off topic. Anyway, the UK revenue site is clear. If you don't live in UK, have absolutely no assets there (OK maybe just a bank which is fine) you are NON-RESIDENT for tax purposes. There are some other things - your State Pension willl be taxed at source (25%?) but that's it. Others may know more..

This needs a new topic. But the history of this website's political leanings - I mean it's long time posters which I've seen (and I guess before it) might mean it won't get bumped up. Tonight the coup leaders from BOTH past coups were on the Thai Royal news tonight. Yes, they were given prominent exposure - but no one from the present government of the people. That's worrying. Why? At least to me.

I use Siam Commercial Bank - I'm aware they don't have a branch at CW, but there are a few nearby - also one near my place so I would plan to go to SCB in AM and book appoitnment at CW for afternoon. And I believe you said before that I have up to 7 days in advance of IO appointment to get the bank letter and bank statement. I would update the account on the day of the appointment with a small deposit and get a photocopy of the bank book (if bank won't photocopy I can dash home and scan/print). Is there a specific form for the Medical Certificate that the Immigration Dept wants us to use? I guess I can make withdrawals from this account now as long as I keep a balance of more than 800k?

I just got my O Retirement visa today at CW. Many thanks to @DrJack54 and @Upnotover and some others for the very helpful info. The visa's start date was not today (which suprised me a bit), but rather the day I applied to change from 60 day exempt to Non O Retirement. So effectively it's valid 2.5 months from the date they actually stamp it into your passport. Mine will expire 1 April. If I understand DrJack above, that means my window for going back to CW to apply for the extension would be the last two weeks of February (is that correct)? I agree that making four trips there and back seems redundant - but it is what it is - and I was treated well by the IOs. But parking there is a real sh!t show. It took me a full hour to circle through all five floors of parking, and I only found a parking spot on the second attempt at entering the huge parking garage.

It seems like little more than a sales pitch by these guys - and is the American even legally a tax consultant here? They didn't really answer anything, nor source the part about credit card purchases in THB being assessible. The other thing that I really don't understand is how the TRD would know whether money I transferred from my home country was from a savings account in existance for decades, and was presumably 'after tax savings' (already taxed elsewhere - and how would I even prove that?). Until a government Minister lays out a clear policy statement, this is all still just noise.

Hello again, I am supposed to return to CW Immigration later this week to find out the 'result' of my request for the O visa (for eventual request for retirement extension). The IO told me to come directly to her on the date. She gave me a pink receipt for the 2,000 baht paid and told me to bring that and my passport on the day. She said no appointment necessary - just come to see her. Does this sound like the standard practice? Should I also bring all the other docs with me just in case I get asked for something else? Cheers.

There are still some good releases, but not as many as before. I'm less sure it's about PC or 'woke', and more certain that there's a lack of talent among a newer generation of screenplay writers and producers. I mean how lazy and uninspiring can you get by pumping out one Novel Comics film after another?

I've passed through RCA a couple of times this month during the day - something I hadn't done for years - to use the short cut between Petchburi and Rama 9 roads. While the famous Thai nightclub Route 66 is still at the top of RCA (Rama 9 side), the rest of the strip is (almost) unrecognizable. Nearly every sign, shopfront, restaurant and barfront, is Chinese - only a few places where Thai language can be seen and virtually no English. The RCA sign itself is in tatters (though it had been in bad shape for years). I guess young Thais had been going to other clubs in other areas and this was RCA's way of finding a new crowd? I'm not suggesting these places are all Chinese-owned, just that the targeted clientele has clearly changed. Having said that, Rachada Pisek, quite near there, has a large Chinese community in the many condos and the Chinese Embassy is on that road too. Maybe that's the rationale.

Just an update from my side. First thanks to @DrJack54 and others for SUPER helpful advice. I'm awaiting the outcome of my O visa request. But I still have a question (at bottom) about the difference between the 'bank statement' and 'bank letter' for the retirement extension request. As it turned out, maybe I didn't understand this initially, on the day of applying for the Non-O, I didn't bring a bank statement and had to scramble to get one from an SCB not far from CW. The bank did it within five minutes and I was back with the helpful IO at CW and all was in order after that (I had everything else) all qued to same date. But back to my question above. There is this extra letter from the bank for the extension request is that right? Also do I once again need the bank to provide THREE things on same date: Bank 'letter', bank 'statement' and 'bank deposit of foreign funds' print out again all on same date? Again what is difference between bank statement and bank letter? Txs!

I think the maximum amount if having paid into Class 2 or 3 while abroad, and not missing any years, would be around 200 pounds per week, is that right?

I guess he means 'tax friendly' for expats. TBH, I looked at all three of them before (the government websites and PwC pages on all of them). Philippines still seems possible for tax free, but complicated with many hoops - devil in the detail, Malaysia is not clear whether passive income is taxed (it says flat rate of 30% on foreign residents' income, then it says some income from abroad can be tax free), Cambodia also opaque, mentioning employment is taxable, but is silent on other forms of income for foreigners. Thing is OECD (and the US) is pressuring all countries to adopt a global income taxation on residents in order to close loopholes - and I guess all countries see it in their best interests as it will raise revenues. This is why Portugal and some other formerly 'expat tax friendly' countries are caving in. The three menionted earlier were the last remaining potential places to avoid income tax, but with low confidence of that IMO.

Yeah, there's that.. 😉

Let's just hope that TRD, BOI and Immigration don't start working together to ensure tax on all global income is assessible and paid to Thailand before renewing O visa extensions for retirement, marraige etc. Even in 'advanced economies' as OECD likes to call them, getting different government ministeries and departments to work together is nearly impossible. So there's some hope there.

For those who haven't seen this before, UOB bank (Thailand) has this basic tax calculator. It seems to insist on a monthly 'salary' in the top field, so I just put in 1.00 baht then in the part it asks for other annual income, I entered the amount in baht that I would probably remit once a year. A bit crude, but could be somewhat informative/helpful. It's only a couple of pages long, quite basic and includes your general deductions. and predicts the total amount of tax owing. https://www.uobam.co.th/en/tax-calculation

While many say 'ah don't be so stupid, so paranoid, etc. nothing to worry about' - and while they may have some justification in the way Thailand often says things then doesn't follow though - my own view is the fact we've been sharing so many thoughts and questions, including those who have significant knowledge on taxation in Thailand, concludes to me that we have been doing exactly what we should have been doing all along - preparing. Whether it happens or not, being forewarned is forearmed. If others want to laugh off or snooze through the last year, and this year, up to them.

My own two-bits - I suspect many staying put in Thailand and figuring out a way to minimize remittances, to minimize taxes owed, like remitting from a savings account in your home country with cash that's been there for many years (this is where having years of printed copies of bank statements come in handy if challenged). But if the TRD go for the jugular (taxing total global income regardless of remittances), then I suspect many including me will be looking for another place to decamp like @MartinBangkok Even to my home country that has many perks etc., - why should I give it to Thailand?