sandyf

That would be a step up on HMRC. When they changed the NI reqquirement from 44 to 30 years a friend of mine had been making voluntary contributions and wrote and asked for a refund. That was wishful thinking.

label a bit faint now but looks like made in Malaysia.

You are out of order to suggest my post was racist but I suspect due to an ignorant interpretation. Many on here(falangs) have nothing but contempt for the Thais, they are the racists. There is nothing clever in supporting tax evasion and the TRD has every right to minimise tax avoidance.

Quite. Not surprisingly you got almost as much thumbs down as support. There are many on here that have nothing but contempt for the Thais, makes you wonder why they are here, prostitution? Years ago when I used to stay in Pattaya i came across many girls that had come to Pattaya to escape sexual abuse by relatives, little wonder making a living from it was more preferable. It shouldn't be forgotten the problem is not unique to Thailand, the more advanced economies have managed it better. Amsterdam's red light area is world famous.

The ugly face of falangism, referring everything they come across to greed. The more rational point of view, why should those that pay the correct tax subsidise those that don't want to pay; wouldn't cross the minds of many.

"Back home", the GDP per capita is a great deal higher, something foreigners prefer to forget.

I doesn't matter what you think has been there since the 80s. In 2024 RD laid out how the existing regulations should be interpreted. Of course you are free to believe they didn't do that.

It is only some things that have got more expensive, mainly accommodation and imports. When I first came here in 99 it was 60 baht for a small beer and the rate was about 60/pound, so about a pound a bottle. You can still get a small beer for about a pound, not a great increase. It is much the same with Thai street food. The real increases are to do with "presentation" for the want of a better word, in one way or another. We can go to a seafood restaurant in Ang Sila and pay around 200 baht/head and 75 for a large Chang or go to one a few yards away and pay around 300 baht+/ head and 120 baht for the Chang. The food doesn't taste any better, just the appearance. It is all about choices and many now want to eat with their eyes, sit in comfort, have the best looking vehicle, phone, clothes etc. Becoming increasingly difficult to make a valid comparison generally, but there will always be some prime targets such as energy costs and fuel tax.

I usually get my cheese from Siamburi but they vary their stock a bit. Most are in the range 400 - 600 baht a kilo. I usually go for the Australian Edam, a bit saltier than the Dutch, and the Extra Mature Cheddar to eat with biscuits. I also get the standard cheddar for cooking. I have tried some of the Aro cheese but wasn't impressed, maybe got the wrong one. Found it didn't melt properly when grilled, a bit like processed. JakeC got mixed up with what I said, I don't buy cheese in the UK, and certainly not Edam, to eat or cook with. I only buy cheese to bring back that is not readily available here. Morrisons do some nice flavoured cheese in a wax coating that gives them a long self life. Also at a reasonable price, seen them at around £5 each elsewhere. One of my favourites. https://groceries.morrisons.com/products/monty-s-caramelised-onion-cheddar-truckle-170g/112614947

Apologies if my post was confusing for you. It was 2 separate statements, one comparing variety and one comparing price in general, not Edam. i would agree there are several sources in the uk with cheese around £10/kilo but the better cheeses are double that, and the same goes for Thailand. The 1kg blocks in Makro are only fit for cooking.

Hindsight always brings wisdom. The 2024 redefinition was aimed at closing a loophole exploited by Thais. The more far reaching implications probably weren't envisaged until over enthusiastic foreigners flocked to the local RD. If the new proposals come to pass maybe a vote of thanks will be in order.

I have an 11K panasonic in the guest room, been there since house built and never a problem, but then, unlike the LGs, hardly ever used. Whatever you go for I would recommend an invertor, compressor switching is seamless.

I think the toilets adjacent to the "Big Tree", along near the holiday Inn, may have a shower. They are old style and it used to be quite common. The other one worth a try is the toilets under beach road at the rear of Central, many years since i used that one so can't remember. With modernisation, the old beach facilities seem to have disappeared.

When I built my house in 2009, I approached a company in Pattaya for quotes on roof foam, windows and aircon. They said they only fit Daikin and if I didn't want that to look elsewhere, they didn't want the after sales hassle. It was a bit outside my budget so I fitted 2 x 18K BTU LGs, bit noisy but after 15 years still working ok, one had to have a leak repaired a couple of years back. About 2 years ago I moved one of the LGs and put a Mitsu inverter in the bedroom and very pleased with it, don't know it's on. As they say, up to you.

Cheese is dependent on where it comes from, eg Australian Edam is a lot cheaper than Dutch Edam. Most supermarket pre packed is about 1-1.5 baht/gram, about the same as in the UK.

What a self centred perspective, may come as a surprise but Thai airports do have departing flights.

Covid is about as much a hoax as any other respiratory disease. There is a risk from any medical intervention, only an individual can assess the risk as far as they are concerned. It is out of order to try and influence people into what could be a wrong decision just to pursue your own agenda.

Retrospective adjustment would be wishful thinking.

There may be a clue in the link being mentioned. " Importantly, the move signals a clear acknowledgement of the negative impact caused by the current rules introduced in 2024. " https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2025/05/19/thai-revenue-planning-new-decree-making-remitted-foreign-funds-within-one-year-tax-free-for-residents/

Why do you want to distort the basic context of the proposed changes. From the link. " In essence, the government appears to be preparing to exempt from tax any income remitted to Thailand within one year of being earned."

Not really. The tax on wine was increased quite significantly not that long ago as protectionism. If you saw the prices at Silverlake you could see why, Thai vineyards just can't compete. They charge more for grape juice than we would pay for wine.

If that is the over 60s programe, a bit earlier than I thought. I gave up on it, they all get there about 7am but the medical staff don't arrive till 9. If you go at a reasonable time you end up at the end of the queue. Last couple of years I have just paid the 330 baht when been to get a new prescription.

You quoted the wrong person. I got my yellow book in 2010, after they had stopped the initial pink card but well before the 2nd phase.

The covid programme stopped some time ago,could well come back. The flu programme is run annually, think a bit early yet. Run in conjunction with your local authority so you would need to check with them.

Would appear you are seeing a question mark that isn't there.