Enzian

When a young Bangkokian sees the real availability of a middle class lifestyle and then thinks "I could opt for that, or have kids and remain in relative poverty for the rest of my life", it's pretty much a no brainer.

Another thing they do is put their hands at your lower groin on the sides of your junk and then lean in and hold pressure. I usually have to tell them to do soft, or just move on. I've heard that some do this because when they release the pressure there is a rush of blood which may incline you more to paying for a happy ending upsell. But many overdo it, and for an old bod it can be painful and dangerous. If I sense a neck crack is coming, I try to be ready with a big NO.

Just curious, shouldn't all expats have a TIN from their home country of citizenship? If not, how did one grow up and work in their own home country without a Tax ID? Reasonable observation. But I want to point out that for Americans that number is their Social Security number, and we have to be very careful with it because it is connected to so many things. I would not want to share mine with the Thai government unless I absolutely had to. On a different detail, all this year till now I have remitted to LOS only monies from a dedicated account in the US that I can show has no other activity than deposits from the US SSA. This month I remitted 50K THB from a business account following statements in these forums that 60K is the threshold of assessable income requiring the filing of a Thai return. This leaves more in the SS account for next year when things may heat up more. I have a pink card but have no intention of activating the number on it unless directed by a bona fide authority to do so.

I just came back from Kolkata to BKK last evening on Bhutan Airlines, which had the best time of day departures in each direction. Note how those Lion Air flights happen in the middle of the night. Some people can do that, not me. Also, India does not encourage tourism it seems. In 10 days I saw about 10 western people, in a city of millions. The airport was almost empty coming and going, so yes they want business. But flights at normal times would help. I will say that Kolkata is definitely worth a visit, and the people were mostly wonderful to me.

I did limit in 2024 to nothing but US SS. Of course I wouldn't remit my total gross rental receipts in a given year. I was considering global income taxation, not assessable income remitted, but I understand we're not there yet, at least technically.

I've said this before, if the TRD would not accept my Schedule E on my US rental income business return, or allow in some other way for deduction of actual expenses, and in total, I could very easily be in that bracket, and there may be more here than you imagine, with all due respect.

My half Vietnamese grandson is the perfect image of what Prawit must have looked like at age 4. Side by side pictures of them crack people up. Maybe the kid will have power, for better or worse.

These reforms will be hampered by the government's reputation for setting new conditions and then changing then again in a few years. And how can any foreigner make investment plans in regard to RE until the tax situation is clarified and settled, which doesn't look to be happening any time soon?

So if during this calendar year I remit to Thailand only (1) US SS monies from a dedicated account in the US, and (2) 100,000 baht profits from my business in the US (operated by my son), I should not have to file a Thailand personal income tax return. Correct?

But I've also read in more than one place (one might have been official, can't recall) that one has the option to deduct actual expenses; but I believe that some think that the 30% deduction is the only option. With the actual expenses option I could just show them my Schedule E, though I doubt they would be thrilled by that. But with 30% only, I would have to leave the country; I've brought this up before. Does anyone have anything definitive?

It almost seems like the Thai attitude is that if there is a possibility of getting something for nothing (foreigner tax money in return for no extra rights or benefits) we might as well try it and see how it works out. It won't work out, no more than Ms Harris' fond hopes worked out.

I think where I wasn't clear is that my US SS is not enough alone for my annual cash needs here, so I need to fudge somewhere in order to bring in enough to cover my total spending here. If a certain amount of otherwise assessable money flies below some exemption threshold(s), then that's a place to start. I also question if anything at all will be enforced this year, which is a reason to leave as much SS money as possible for next year in the event that the odds of enforcement increase. I hope that makes sense. Thanks.

What about a plan to remit a small amount of assessable income (be it 60K THB, or 150K, or 210K, or whatever) here at the end of the year (below some threshold of filing or reporting, and please advise), after all year only remitting provable US SS monies from a dedicated account? Reason being to let the pot/account of SS sitting in the US continue to accumulate into next year when there may be a greater chance of some tax thing actually being put into effect? Or am I confounding the remittance scheme and the possible WW PIT scheme? (And you may say that such confounding is what the TRD is already doing.) Thanks.

"Laws" seem selectively enforced on people who seem to have lots of money, but not on that increasing number of guys standing on Sukhumvit around Nana station who keep whispering Need something? Can I help you?

Can I do my 90 day report in person at CW on the same day I'm out there to do my Non-O extension (which is due Dec. 20)? The 90 day point from my recent return from Europe will be Sunday December 22 I believe; the 75 day point is Sat. 7th, so say Monday Dec. 9 or that week. Thanks.