Chaspul

Wife is still using 10 year old Nokia, can't locate number at present but looked it up on web, introduced as 2g phone. Went to DTAC Market Village HH. They put in a3g SIM with same number, no charge! Remember your passport.

You people worry too much the police order says a bank account in Thailand.  Read my previous post, IO will accept 2 accounts as long as one is closed and another opened on the same day. When you close account it only shows as closed and transferred.

Regards Chas

My experience  with Bangkok Bank and Immigration.

On my last 90 day asked Hua Hin Immigration about my 2 year fixed account (orange book) maturing 1st July 1.75%. I understand that after this date it reverts to 0.5% the same as blue book savings account.

IO told me that as long as I had both the old and new fixed account books there would be no problem. 

Silly me went into Hua Hin 2 (next to Market Village) on the 1st and told to come back the next day.

The manager was manning one of the admin desks. Told him that when I was in yesterday and after many phone call was offered 2 year fixed at 1.5%.  Asked to have the past 2 years interest transferred into my blue book keeping 800,000 in fixed account.

To my surprise he did not open a new account all transactions appear in original book, so will be able to show money in same account.

He also provided forms to reclaim tax for the past 2 years as it falls below the 20,000 on interest threshold.  Haven't tried it yet seems like a lot of hassle.

In my experience when it comes to extension time there is never a problem updating the books with the date on the letter.

Regards Chas

That combined with corrosion due to long approaches over salt water.

One untruth in the article is that cabin pressure is not "maintained at sea level", but around 3,000 ft.

At this altitude water boils at around 95C so you would never get a good cuppa cha.  

regards chas

You may not wish to hear this but every aircraft carries cracks. To remove them from service immediately would be disruption and therefore too expensive. Cracks are monitored BY NDT until they reach a critical length and then repaired. 

Slightly off the tax subject but still relevant as our pensions monies matter!

Monies can be paid direct to Thailand by Canada and my UK pension funds but why would you want to be subject to enforced monthly currency fluctuations?

When we first thought of retiring to Thailand I set up bank accounts with HSBC in Canada, UK and Thailand, I thought for ease of shifting money at no cost.

Thai HSBC personal banking is now defunct and has left the country, as a foreign bank it was tied to many extra Thai rules. Also I could not set up direct debits for paying utility bills unless living in Bangkok. Hua Hin is only 240 Km away!

Now we wait until currency rates are favorable to transfer money from HSBC Canada, my wife's pension bank to HSBC UK, my pension bank, at no cost.

Again waiting for good rates before transferring to Bangkok Bank London for conveyance to our Bangkok Bank account in Hua Hin.

Flat rate of 15 GBP for up to 10,000 GBP per day, this cap is set by the UK government to avoid money laundering.

Best rate is when sent to Thailand in GBP, not Thai Baht. This process takes 1 to 2 days via internet to arrive in Thailand.

I understand that there is a branch of Bangkok Bank in New York which may be advantageous for our Canadian readers.

As a post script I used to use ATM withdrawals from the UK but find that I am Pounds in now by transferring large amounts into a local account with no Thai ATM charges, unless I am out of my local area, then it is only 10 or 20 Baht.

To reply to another posters concern over world income between married couples of different nationalities. My Canadian wife's tax return has always included my name as spouse but British Citizen taxed at source. Therefore my income is not part of her world income, this is accepted by the tax authorities.

Chas

Seems to be a lot of confusion over Canadian tax rules.

Yes the old rules still apply, it used to be, you were considered a Canadian resident if you had five ties ie: house, bank account, library ticket etc. You had to file a tax form every year.

My wife rid herself of these ties many years ago and became completely non resident for tax purposes. On receiving her CPP at age 60 she was taxed at 25%. Until the laws changed and she was allowed to have the full personal Tax allowance ($11000)by filing a form NR5 which lasts 5 years, as long as a tax return is filed every year.

So Canadian expats overseas on CPP and OAS should see the bulk of monies tax free. Any monies above your personal allowance is subject to normal rates of tax.

Must stress the use of Form NR5 for expats to save up to a quarter of your pensions.

Chas

Kerryd

I am a Brit and not a tax expert, but over the last 13 years and longer have been dealing with my Canadian wife's monetary affairs. We retired to Thailand just over 6 years ago and before that whilst living in Saudi she was advised by her accountant to extract her RRSP's but we still lost 25%! The Canadian government seems to change the rules every year!

On attaining the age 60 she applied for CPP and again it was taxed at 25%, a few years back the Canadian Tax office sent a letter saying she could be taxed a Canadian resident, (NR5 filled every 5 years as long as a yearly tax form was filled, 30th Jun for non residents) this would give her $11000 personal allowance and meant 0% on her CPP. Anything earned over this would be at the standard tax rates.

November 2012 she attained the age of 65, having no joy with the phone lines, we are 12 hours ahead at present, I contacted the Minister for OAS and an aide phoned us on several occasions, he was willing to talk to me although the rudeness from the original phone lines accused me of "coaching".

The OAs was taxed for over a year at 25% as the taxation department would not accept a revised NR5.

No problem go straight to the top and write to the minister, an aide phoned within 4 days, weekend included.

She stated that if my wife sent in a new 2013 tax return the new form would be exempt of the 25%.

She also stated that this would take 2 to 3 months. The letter was posted last week I will let you know of the results.

When resolved this will mean that my wife pays 0% tax to the Canadian government on her small pensions.

Concerning keeping money in Canada, you require money in a Thai bank account for extensions off stay for your retirement and the interest rates are not too bad at present. Just make sure they can be withdrawn (only losing interest) and are not tied in. Some banks do not report the interest to Thai tax.

Best regards

Chas