Moonlover

Two of those references are from financial services specialists!

Well, I've done quite a bit of surfing on this topic and I've come up with this little lot. Make of it what you will, but I as a pensioner whose income has already been taxed by the UK tax authorities don't feel in any way concerned about this 'new rule'. The program will begin January 1, 2024 and apply only to tax residents in Thailand meaning tourists and short term workers will be exempt. Also exempt will be those who have been taxed in a foreign country that has a standing Double Tax Agreement with Thailand. https://www.thaienquirer.com/50744/thai-government-to-tax-all-income-from-abroad-for-tax-residents-starting-2024/ According to legal experts, the policy appears to have three specific targets: residents trading in foreign stock markets through foreign brokerages, cryptocurrency traders, and Thais who have been exploiting a loophole that allowed them to bring foreign earnings into the country tax-free after keeping it in an offshore account for more than a calendar year. No mention of of pensioners here. (My note) https://www.thaienquirer.com/50748/new-tax-regulations-raises-questions-and-concerns/ A wealthy pensioner residing in Thailand for at least 180 days is subject to a tax rate under the new tax law. Pensions brought from their country of origin may not be subject to the law if the person can prove that they have been taxed prior to being transferred to Thailand. https://www.siam-legal.com/thailand-law/relationship-between-the-new-thai-tax-law-retirement-visa-holders-and-long-term-residency/ Retirees Upon the revised law’s announcement, retirees were understandably concerned about their pensions being taxed. So, will they? It depends on the factors mentioned earlier: your country’s DTA with Thailand and whether your pension was already taxed in your home country. I want to stress this again—if your pension was taxed at home, it’s unlikely to be taxed again in Thailand. Now, what about Social Security for Americans? Here’s some good news. Social security payments to Americans are always tax-exempt in Thailand, regardless of whether you bring the income into the Kingdom. https://btisolutions.co/will-you-be-impacted-by-thailands-revised-tax-code/ In effect, all foreigners are now subject to tax on their income in Thailand from both domestic and external sources. Undoubtedly, the taxpayer may and should seek tax treaty relief to prevent double taxation. For instance, if a remittance from a fund or income source in the foreigner’s country of origin is already subject to tax, then no tax should be payable. However, at this time, all foreigners are advised to study the particular tax treaty between Thailand and their country of origin. Certainly, they can be very particular or significantly different in places. Some Expat foreign residents face a base tax bill of up to ฿71k a year and must file a return by March 2025 https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2024/05/28/some-expat-foreign-residents-face-base-tax-bill-of-71k-baht-a-year-and-must-file-by-march-2025/

Agreed, but it does make sense doesn't it. There's little point in causing disruption and extra work when it is clearly unnecessary. Fingers crossed as the old saying goes.

Certainly people do need to get off their butts more. Many of our 'aging problems,' including backache are nothing more than problems that are self induced by our own idleness. Get up, get out and do something, even if it is just walking.

Thanks for bring that to our attention. I was a bit concerned because our True internet package is registered in my wife's name and that includes the data SIM, which I use. So I guess that I, as a family member, need not be concerned about this issue. We share the same address and family name. Glad to read that there is a bit of common sense in this matter.

I agree with what Sheryl said and I know. Been there and done it! Severe sciatica in both legs simultaneously, accompanied by lower back pain. For a while I could only get around on all fours. No diagnosis was ever conclusive, which I believe is very often the case. But in the end I fixed it myself with the exercises recommended by Dr. Leon Root in his excellent book, 'Oh My Aching Back'. That was some 30 years ago and the problem has never reoccurred.

IMO a gym is the worse place to go if you have backpain. My paraphrase of that well worn adage is, 'No strain=no pain'. But yes to swimming and I agree with the O/P's ex-wife and earlier posters. Keep up the walking. I walk an hour a day whenever possible and practice Qigong twice a day. 78 years and no backpain at all.

What SAS guy are you talking about, you mean the so called mercenary?

The police in the UK has had a 'One Punch Can Kill' campaign running since 2009. Here is just one of their many campaign posts. One Punch It's a pity for the victim, the perpetrator and his wife that Williams wasn't cognizant with this fact. Now 3 lives (at least) have been ruined. I have sympathy only for two of them.

So you get all steamed up and angry waiting in this shopping queue. You can't wait to get out of there to rush home, (or wherever) so you can waste your time tapping out this grumpy post! How sad. How very sad.

It shouldn't be a problem for you. All you'll need to do is register your SIM in your name. Job done.

I suspect that there will be a lot of us in a similar situation. The internet providers seem to prefer having a Thai's name on the contract. I'm just hopeful that they will accept that the same (rather unusual) family name living at the same address will satisfy them there's nothing untoward with our arrangement. It will be a real pain in the butt if I'm forced to change my phone number.

I'm fairly fortunate where I live up here near Sakon Nakhon. I have the countryside all around me with plenty of trails I can walk. The air is usually clear, rarely moving above 'Satisfactory' on the Air4Thai App. And I make the most of it, walking almost every day. But it's no match for the countryside of rural Herefordshire UK where I lived for many years. In fact it looks a lot like photos of New England, complete with bluebells in the spring. I can see where Why New England is so named. However, Thailand is home now and I make the most of what I have around me. Live for now, nostalgia will provide you with nothing but memories.

Our local police might not, (not that we have any) but I can assure you our Phu Ya Ban would! And has when it comes to this kind of behaviour.

Leaving it just wee bit late aren't they?

Egypt actually operates a similar method as they do here. You enter on a normal tourist visa. Then trot on down to the immigration office within 30 days and fill in a single page application. All one needs to qualify is proof of ownership, if one has a home there, or a rental contract. It is much easier than here in Thailand. I didn't live in Hurghada. I had an apartment in El Gouna, a tourist cum residential village some 20 kms north. It was a very pleasant place to live, a kind of upscale gated community. There are many like it doted round the coast. It was very well managed and one of the most environmentally friendly places I've ever lived in. Even the domestic water was collected and recycled for irrigation. There are many Europeans living there. It's almost like a mini EU. https://www.elgouna.com

Yes, I can endorse that. Egypt has quite a number of resort towns along the Mediterranean and Red Sea coast. I owned an apartment on one near Hurghada on the Red Sea and lived their for 7 years and it was a very pleasant place to live. Immigration and residency rules were a doddle. Just once a year and one single page application form to complete. All I needed was my 'owners card' from the resort and my passport. A rental contract could also be used if one doesn't own there. Definitely worth looking into if one's looking for change of lifestyle. There are many Europeans retired there.

If you read it properly it makes perfect sense.

If you Google 'driving schools in Bangkok' and you'll come up with a long list of them. I've just counted about 20. You'll need to find one that has an English speaking instructor (obviously) and is officially approved by the DLT. They usually run 1 week intensive courses which culminates in the theory and driving test followed by the issue of your license at the DLT. It's a 'one stop shop' procedure. The link below is the web site of one of these schools, but obviously the location will be a factor that only you can assess. Good luck. https://www.skdriving.com

I think you just have to look up at any power pole to see the answer to that question.

Why are you all going over the same old stuff over and over again? Why can't you all just wait until some official announcement is made on this subject, if it ever comes that is? All you are doing stressing yourselves up by speculating on this matter when none of you have any solid evidence as to what will, or will not happen in the future. And I'm going to repeat, yet again, the paragraph from the Thai Enquirer, dated Sept 18th 2023: 'The program will begin January 1, 2024 and apply only to tax residents in Thailand meaning tourists and short term workers will be exempt. Also exempt will be those who have been taxed in a foreign country that has a standing Double Tax Agreement with Thailand'. Now for heaven's sake give it a bloody rest! https://www.thaienquirer.com/50744/thai-government-to-tax-all-income-from-abroad-for-tax-residents-starting-2024/

Yes, I baulked a bit at that. However have a read of this: Affects of climate change on mental health

Hmm, this has the potential to cause us a problem. Our True package is registered in my wife's name and that includes the SIM card. But I use that SIM card for all of my day to day functions including banking and Truemoney wallet apps. Fortunately my wife has adopted my surname so it may not be a problem, but you never know.

Whatever your Yamaha dealer puts in it, whatever that is. I've never asked him.

I didn't even know there were various choices. Anyway my choice is the one that Madam Moon brings home and prepares and love it, which ever one it is.