MartinBangkok

Money well spent? You're joking right?

I've done it already. Not Cambodia, but not far from Thailand 😉

So Sidneyidiotbear: How much should they charge on already 7 different tourist fees (check your plane ticket), up to ten times increase on entrance to temples and national parks, farang extra fee in hotels, triple hospital fees for expats, double pricing for farangs everywhere, extortion of farang by police (traffic fines), not to mention 10-100 times extra farang fee in the justice system. Give us a number on the new farang fee you would be happy with Sidney.

LivinLOS, are you in a state of denial or have you been asleep the last 10 months. This is exactly what has happened already!

Transam, since you are ridiculing this, may I suggest to the TAT that they introduce a special tax for you and your likeminded of 3000 Baht per entry? It's like only 8.5 glasses of red wine. Ridicilous to care about, right?

My personal income qualifies for the LTR visa, but not my employer's, only the parent company of my employer qualifies. So this means: A select few farangs (westernes) employed directly by very big companies with huge salaries will get to enjoy Thailand without having to pay any tax (congratulations Thailand, awsome tax policy). For me, earning a mere 3,4 million Baht a year, this is basically Thailand telling me to .... off. Which I will. In fact, on Sunday. All I can say to the Thailand mafia elite who run things here, keep enjoying your more than 4 million immigrants (slaves) from neighbouring countries, out of which 3,5 million are illegal. Good luck Thailand (probably not so much for the people of Thailand)

Tell the freaking bank you are looking for a bank, not a tax office, and leave!

You are dead wrong here.

For me 27%

It was the defining last straw.

Does a Farang in Thailand need any more reasons than those I outlined? I can continue since you are not satisfied: How about been treated as a criminal, having to report to the police in two different provinces every time you leave your home (habitat province) for more than 24 hours, how about reporting to immigration officers every 90 days (more than a criminal on parole in my country), how about getting charged double, or up to 10 times the amount of a Thai just because you have white skin (Farang), how about local people regularly speaking bad about you behind your back thinking you don't understand Thai, how about having to produce an annual criminal record from your home country (work permit), even if you haven't lived there for 15 years (you've been living in Thailand!), how about having to produce a medical record annually (for work permit) confirming you don't have 7 different sexual diseases (are Thais (and immigration officials) allowed to live in Thailand with any of these diseases)?, how about being appallingly discriminated on the property market?, how about having to pay exorbitant prices for quality goods from Farang-land because Thailand and Thais are unable to produce quality goods?, how about living in a country where local food, environment and air quality is a direct threat to your health due to mismanagement and an insane level of corruption? Do you want me to continue?

I'm running. Moving to another SE-Asian country first week of April. This after 15 years living in Thailand, spending approximately 2.1 million Baht a year (about 70% of my foreign income) in this country (multiple BMWs, Ducatis, Hondas, not to mention local girls, restaurants, nightlife, golf!) After the new tax rules were announced last year I have completely stopped spending money in this country. For golf I now only go to the local navy driving range and pay 20 Baht for a tray of 40 balls instead of thousands to pay courses where Thais get to play for a fraction of the price, not kidding, it's the hidden truth. There is zero chance I will ever pay the equivalent of 1 Baht tax to a country which gives me zero in return and where the only thing it gives me is a shocking amount of discrimination as a Farang. A month ago I was sent to Malaysia by my company for a 1 week assignment. What a wake up call. The people there (including government officials and police) so genuinly sincere and friendly. Another stratosphere compared to Thailand. Bye Thailand (I recommend those of you reading this carefully consider if Thailand is still worth it)

Xenophobic and brainwashed Thais awash. This country has steadily grown less appealing for Farangs the last 15 years. I can understand the Thais a bit. It must be extremely frustrating to see and witness the Farangs who live here, most with a good and secure economy far outreaching most Thais. Not to mention seeing a Thai girl/woman wiht a Farang. Jealousy, brainwashed attitude (we have never been colonized!! :-0) towards westernes combined, makes you wonder if Thailand really is an attractive place to live as an expat.

Safety of all people in Thailand? So if a Thai man kills a policeman (Red bull-case), what happens? And if a Thai person (should be plural) beats a farang, are there any other consequences than a 500 Baht fine?

Thais will do anything to make a Baht.

No need, here is the truth: Tuesday 5.42pm: (Or the Thai prime minister could order the air force to get rid of the dangerous air by dropping a few liters of water from the sky (sarcasm)

Thailand attending a democracy-event? Aprils fools day already?

Should have an 100% tax on Thai fish - due to the fact it´s full of contaminants.

I couldn't agree more with everything in this post from @TroubleandGrumpy

Bull<deleted>, over 50% of Thailand's economy is black. Most of that is tourism related.

As we all know, the men in brown's racket of extorting people by jailing them without support in the law, is an integral part of their fabric. This hot air announcement is worth zilch.

The corruption in this country is nauseating..

What else can Thai people do to make a descent living?

Yes. The west is superior. Freedom of speech, true democracies, independent and non corrupt judiciary, checks and balances of all state powers including the media, free press, advanced healt care and education (the best in the world, and free), the world's best welfare systems, leading the world in aid for less fortunate countries, equal rights for all (no matter religion, nationality, sex or wealth) Shall I go on RavidP?

Thanks for calling me an idiot..