Srikcir

Considering 2018-2022 Vietnam's average Real GDP Growth was 5.68%, China 5.28% and Bangladesh 6.52%, Thailand shouldn't ban cannabis any time soon.

See San Francisco's new initiative "Street to Home" by moving homelessness from tents and streets directly into housing. Oct. 4, 2023 https://sfstandard.com

The World Bank just needs more "Thainess" to understand the Thai economy.

Consider the 10-year Long Term Resident visa. Three of four categories are Thai tax exempt, ie., wealthy. pensioner. Brochure at https://ltr.boi.go.th

Who are "they" ? Biden said he tried to get lawmakers to redirect the money but Congress refused, and the law requires funding to be used as approved and the construction to be completed in 2023. Oct. 6, 2023 https://apnews.com As "Congress" includes a Republican controlled House, Biden couldn't redirect the funds. Unlike POTUS Trump who in 2020 diverted $3.8 billion in Pentagon funding to build his border wall without Congressional approval, albeit the Trump's Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Homeland Security and Ranking Member (aka majority leadership ) on the House Committee on Appropriations championed Trump's decision. Feb. 13, 2020 https://www.npr.org So it would appear that the current Republican majority-held House alone could have blocked Biden's request for redirection? And in the middle of a possible government shutdown if Biden couldn't get at least a temporary short-term budget from House Speaker McCarthy? BUT to keep to his political word on 'no more wall,' couldn't Biden have simply let the funds EXPIRE as unused by year-end?

Check this out (there are many more sites) https://www.visitorscoverage.com/travel/insurance-for-us-citizens-visiting-usa/ Travel insurance designed for U.S. citizens visiting the U.S.

A report released by the Peace Research Institute Oslo finds that at least 6,000 civilians were killed in the first 20 months following Myanmar’s military coup in 2021. Has Thailand attended ceremonies for any of those killed?

It should be considered also in any investigation that they were murdered by a deliberate act (manslaughter), not just "losing" their lives.

Getting American health insurance might help in the US. Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance companies can't refuse to cover you or charge you more just because you have a "pre-existing condition." https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage/pre-existing-conditions As a US citizen you are eligible to buy a plan on the health insurance Marketplace or outside of the Marketplace in the non-group market. Even lawfully present immigrants are eligible for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Even a tourist to USA can get health insurance for the duration of their visit. ie., https://www.travelinsure.com As an aside I hold an LTR visa and have a US health insurance policy that I use when in the US visiting and in Thailand where I am resident.

Start with looking why PM Prayut's Cabinet approved a proposal to allow nightlife venues in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) area to operate 24 hours a day to meet the growing needs of tourists. July 2023 https://thepattayanews.com And nowhere else. The chicken has already flown the coop. The military junta government under PM Prayut created the EEC using its absolute power. No concern about any public viewpoint. If the new government has no issue with EEC's 24 hour operating hours, it shouldn't have issue anywhere else in the kingdom.

From "The fight to legalise sex toys in Thailand" April 5, 2019 https://www.dazedigital.com/politics the Thai Culture Minister recently claimed: “sex toys are offensive and against the views of Thailand Thai Criminal Code Section 287, to sell, promote or even own any “obscene objects” in the kingdom is punishable with up to three years in prison....it is also immoral to speak about sexual pleasure An impact on society - lack of sex education in schools: a UNICEF report on sexuality in Thailand found in 2017, “a majority of students were unable to correctly answer questions about the menstrual cycle, while many female students mentioned emergency contra- ceptive pills as their main method of contraception and many boys indicated an unwillingness to use condoms.” Siriluck Chiengwong, Head of the Office of UNFPA Thailand explains that sex education in Thailand is not comprehensive enough, as it only focuses on teaching the human body parts and how pregnancy occurs. March 17, 2023 "Teen pregnancy in Thailand decreasing, but the issue remains complicated" https://www.thaipbsworld.com “It doesn’t teach about what leads to a sexual relationship or even when you should start protecting yourself,” she said, while adding that the norms in Thai culture make teachers hesitant to reveal all the details. When sex education is not comprehensive enough, it also leads to a lack of understanding among teenagers, particularly on the consequences of being pregnant at a young age."

Precisely. Which is why the proposed new tax law needs to be precise, self explanatory and predictable. Which thus far it is NOT.

Means they have no official position. I think with regard to foreigners they found out how clueless the world outside of Thailand works.

Thailand Revenue Department has an online form in English for suggestions on their regulations and practices. Ask for clarifications and/or confirmation of proposed tax policy, see if they respond that will be by email.

If you qualify for a 10-year Long Term Resident visa, the government agency BOI will be your agent at no cost.

Ptoposed tax applies to foreign residents defined as living in Thailand an aggregate of 180 days a year. Your time in Thailand is 60 days a year, so you would not be considered a resident.

Regardless needs definition. Hope is not a strategy.

A political mantra comes to mind reading about foreigner concerns about how the proposed new Thai income tax would/might be applied: Taxation without Representation. Taxed Thais taxpayers can at least vote and/or appeal to their Parliamentary representatives regarding legislation and policy. Thai taxed resident foreigners have no political representation in Thailand. Therefore, as shocking it might be to the Thai electorate and incumbent government, it would be fair and democratic that taxpaying resident foreigners can vote, at least in the National Election.

The logic can be twisted endlessly. What is "income?" If you transfer foreign funds to your Thai savings account (which most foreigners are only able to open), do the funds then become "savings" regardless of their foreign origins, ie., pension, social security, dividends, employment compensation? What if you "save" part of your foreign monetary monthly distributions into a foreign bank and then in whole or partially disbursed into your Thai bank account (vs direct deposit to Thai bank)? Why can't Thai Tax Revenue simply state that funds generated by foreign pensions and/or social security and transferred in whole or in part to Thailand are exempt from Thai taxation as they are not "earned taxable income"? You receive those funds simply because you exist and stop when you die. You do not participate in any manner for those funds to be generated. In fact US tax revenue distinguishes "earned income" from "income." In my case, by Thai royal promulgation my foreign pension transfers to Thailand are exempt from Thai taxation due to the nature of my LTR visa. How does my Thai bank and Thailand Revenue agency know that, particularly if Thai banks might be expected (more clarification?) to withhold Thai taxes from such transfers automatically (currently unspecified) as they do when when you are paid Thai savings account interest?

So many "wonderments." No mention of specific training, skills or advanced opportunities. Just a "word salad" of vague concepts that won't improve income inequality for the near future.

US sanctions (I assume you mean against Russia) are part of GLOBAL sanctions by a large number of countries around the world but notably lacking from Asia. The EU and Eastern Europe in effect applied their sanctions in part against themselves from Russian energy imports blackmail. They traded prosperity for democracy.

Rather naive. Thai banks now withhold tax on interest earned on savings account. A tax number is only required if you want a refund if you're entitled to a refund. And I do have a tax number although retired.

OOC is true for Thailand that has been slow to do major FTA's outside of Southeast Asia and now appears to be more a priority with new government beyond Thailand's traditional political commitments. The US has trade agreements throughout the world. What country aside from North Korea and Ukraine war trade bans wouldn't want trade with over 300 million consumers within one nation?

You are expecting a nation of 360 million people with a trillion dollar economy to have zero debt? That's just unreasonable by any economic measure. The US has never and will never according to its history and its Constitution default in meeting its debt obligations, namely paying interest on US bonds. "kicking the (debt) can down the road" is a basic tool of the middle class to purchase what is beyond their immediate cash, ie., home mortgage, auto. It's basic to credit card transactions to defer debt that can be drawn down over time within means of one's current income. Maybe you are among the 1 percenters fortunate enough to have cash for all your needs. Need a $80,000 USD auto or $1 million USD home - no problem, roll out your bags of cash.

You do raise a possible issue...if the bank withholds income tax on all foreign deposits. It shouldn't regardless of the wire source, foreign bank-to-Thai bank, Government-to-Thai bank. Money is fungible meaning it has no character other than being currency. I'm going to contact my bank in particular as my foreign sourced funds are tax-exempt by the terns of my visa.