scoutman360

Hi Scoutman,

The US tax professionals (CPAs and tax lawyers) we talk to say that the IRS hasn't ruled on Thai Provident Funds, but that almost certainly they should be treated as either 1) Foreign Trusts (Form 3520) or 2) PFICs (Form 8621). The one making the case for Foreign Trusts is a Partner at an international tax firm. Without a specific ruling, the various tax professionals say you can choose your poison here. If you choose to treat it as a PFIC and the PFIC mark-to-market option is available to you, then the tax treatment may not be that different between the two.

While the article that Time Traveller sites is correct in terms of the punitive nature of PFICs in general, it is not definitely NOT true that you should "never ever own one." The author of that article can be forgiven in that he lives in Wisconsin and hasn't considered the cases where US expats can be financially ahead from owning a PFIC. For example, say your company matched your contribution to the Provident Fund. It could easily be worth it. Or say you contribute to some of the other potential PFICs in Thailand such as an RMFs or LTFs and your overall tax bill (Thai + US together) was lowered significantly because of it. In those cases, the only drawback in owning the PFIC is having to file the Form 8621 - which I will admit -, having filed 14 of them last year alone - is a bitch. But it can be worth it.

Misty, that was a great response and I agree with some of your points. I have some Thailand mutual funds and they have out performed year-after-year the U.S. funds. And with company matching contributions, it is worth the extra hassle. Now, how to make things straight with the IRS?

I found this link regarding the Singapore Provident Funds, and the IRS seems to treat it as a non-qualified pension plan thus should be under form 3520. There are some differences with Singapore and Thailand Provident Funds in that the fund participation is a mandatory participation by employees in Singapore, but the rest is similar enough to make one speculate how to report their Thailand fund.

http://intltax.typepad.com/intltax_blog/foreign-pensions/

Wouldn't reporting the Provident Fund under the "non-qualified" pension plan (Foreign Trust) Form 3520 be an advantage? Because that does not required to pay tax annually on the "unrealized gains" (increase in fund value) until the fund is sold? If one chooses PFIC approach and the "Mark-to-Market" election on Form 8621 then one must pay the tax annually even though the fund was not sold). I may misunderstand something... but seems to be the case.

The answer is complex. So assuming you own less than 10% of the shares and it's not an exempted retirement fund account in a IGA agreement (none in Thailand are) then "The position of the IRS is that all non U.S. mutual funds are considered to be PFICs and will now require filing Form 8621 ...."

The situation is for US taxpayers it's just not worth the hassle of investing in any foreign funds. There is an explanation right here

http://thunfinancial.com/why-americans-should-never-ever-own-shares-in-a-non-us-incorporated-mutual-fund/

Thanks TIme Traveler. I read the link and it generally talks about PFICs and foreign mutual funds. The confusion sets in if a Provident Fund is truly a foreign "non-qualified" pension plan. Yes? In such case, it could fall under the reporting requirements of a Foreign Trust. This link here has a simple explanation. According to page 8, a Provident Fund would fit the criteria.

http://mcgladrey.com/content/dam/mcgladrey/pdf_download/wc_tax_obligations_investment_retirement_20140715.pdf

So that begs the question, form 8621 or 3520?

Does anyone know if Thailand Provident Funds provided by Thailand employers are considered Foreign Trusts under the U.S. tax code (for U.S. citizens)? Thus they should be reported on form 3520?

I have asked different CPA's and get different answers. I need to ask a broader audience to get to the bottom of this. Thanks in advance.

Having pages added will cost the same as a new passport

Fee for new passport - $110

Fee for extra pages - $82

not the same but pretty close. You can apply for a new passport whenever you want, the expiration does does not matter. As already mentioned, if you opt for a new passport check the block for the larger size that has more pages. The fee is the same.

A new type passport will start being issued in 2016 and they will no longer add new pages to passports after that.

Adding pages is a preferred option. With a new passport, you will have the nightmare with Thai Immigration. Your VISAs and stamps will need to be transferred to the new one.

You can order it at Index Living Store. It's not on display so you will need to ask the sales staff.

I recommend you follow my friend's advice when choosing a girlfriend... Take her to food court on your date. If she complains about the food, drop her and find another with lower expectations. Trust me, it works.

Honestly, sounds like she doesn't want to go unless it's free. I have been in that situation, but my girl just said, "If I don't have the money by the time you need to buy tickets, it's OK for you to go without me." No temper tantrums or expectations. She was full of love and smiles.

I sympathize, and wish I had the answers. I just remember hearing my father say the same thing about me to my mother when I was young. Today I am far more successful than he ever was. I can only suggest to set boundary's and don't back down. He will step up to your challenges and/or he will leave and still have to learn on his own. At his age, the free ride is over. You can offer him a lot, but it doesn't come free. Make sure you teach him that about life.

I don't think you are getting scammed. I've always paid 500 thb at the theatre (for one of those double seated reclining sofa things in the back)....the one time I purchased online, the website quoted me 480 thb plus 20 thb service charge. So same price - 500 thb - either way. My experience is with SFX Cinemas, FWIW.

Thanks Diplomatico. That was the answer I was looking for. All is well.

Your post assumes every movie theatre in Thailand has one uniform price for every seat for every showing for every day and every time of day.

That is true (...in North Korea)

Yeah, this too ^^^ Ticket prices on Mon/Tues are different than prices on Wed which are different than prices on the weekends.

Sorry for confusion. I realize tickets are priced differently by theater and by day. The point was that the internet price is different than the ticket counter price, same day, same theater.

And you questioned the kid over a 10 baht difference ?

Is this for real !!! why do you care if it's 200 or 190 ......... I bet you never buy popcorn ......

and if the manager was around you would get the kid fired ?????

Yes. Where I come from, stealing is illegal. I believe Thai police arrest foreigners for smaller infractions. A little bit per customer ads up to a lot of money. Thailand won't change unless people do something.

Normally I buy movie tickets online, but on the occasion the system is down I by at the theater. Can anyone tell me if I am getting scammed? This happened twice at the Asoke intersection shopping mall.

3 months ago - Ticket counter kid told me price was THB300. I just ignored him and handed over THB200. I knew he was wrong, but I frequently hear Thais say the wrong English word, so I didn't think anything of it. It was interesting to see him look at the THB200 nervously and tucked it under the counter. No change.

Today - Ticket counter kid told me price was THB200. I challenged him and mentioned the internet says price is THB190 + internet service charge THB10. Therefore, ticket price is THB190. He said ticket counter is same price as internet..THB200.

Are these guys skimming off ticket sales? Honest mistake? Misunderstanding? Does anyone know for sure? Let me know if you had the same experience. Thanks.

If they are skimming, I would like to know how to contact the management, who don't seem to be around.

The number to call is 1584 (Land Transport Department Hotline).

Or 1197 for traffic police.

Richard Barrow has a good article on it here-

http://www.richardbarrow.com/2012/09/how-to-report-a-taxi-in-bangkok/

Thanks for the help Rumblecat. I was looking for this also. Should I be surprised to see 16 replies from everyone passing their moral judgement on the OP rather than answer the question?

I don't agree that most people change jobs to improve their salary. In my experience, leaving starts with work environment dissatisfaction. I know far more people that love their job and stay because they love their job, despite their low salary. While salary is important, it usually is not the first reason why they are quitting. Once that decision to leave is made, however, then salary for the next job plays a more important role. You can offset that expectation by showing your company offers a better work environment, and better opportunities. If their current salary is already high, then they already know they are at the top.

Ocean Hotel Soi 33 seems to enjoy weekly pool parties with non-guests. http://www.oceanbangkok.com/

You might be the only one in the pool.

Check out ground floor, Central Rama 9. Fitness shop there with lots of choices. Prices seem reasonable.

I agree with the others that going to the police station is a bad idea. Let them come to you.

I am going to take this even further. If you moved out of your apartment tomorrow, changed your phone number, closed your FB, could she find you? Without certain personal information how could she find you and bring a case against you? The police aren't going to waste their time tracking you for this silly offense. As for the money she "borrowed". Sorry, that was a gift.

Ask to see their work permit. Then take their photo.

When I was 23 back in the States, a neighbor's dog would walk around every night and knock over everyone's garbage cans and help himself to everything. One afternoon I saw him go into the backyard of a neighbor on vacation. I cunningly slipped over to the house and shut the gate, locking him inside the back yard. LOL, that was fun. Every day until the neighbors came back from vacation, I saw the dog owners drive by in their car looking for their dog. I wish I could have been the fly on the wall when the two home owners asked how the dog was in the backyard.

My advice would be to arrange a meeting with him and in the presence of your wife and hold out your hand or Wai in a warm and friendly way and ask if you have said or done something wrong that is causing the obvious problem between you and him.

No, no, no. Sorry, but that means subservience, and Thai's will not respect you. I recommend the opposite. Next time you smile, and politely tell him to stay away from your wife and your business. If he grabs your arm, you grab his back more tightly and tell him to behave himself. You are higher society than him. He knows it.

Stages – The Ex-pat life cycle in Thailand

..
1. Blissful ignorance
2. Sneaking suspicion

3. Denial
4. Depression

5. Acceptance
6. Boredom

7. Regret
8. Despair
9. Balcony – honorary member of the Bangkok Flying Club

Bangkok Smile works for me. There's an office next to Asoke. Never had a bad experience.

Really? Thai Airways is still listed on the Stars Alliance website.