4MyEgo

Agree. Having growing up in a poor family, I saw my friends having everything provided to them, was I jealous, no, those were the cards dealt to me, so I accepted it, and I am still friends with most of them today, some millionaires, alas trapped in the life of continuing on the family businesses, usually working 6 days a week, 12-14 hours a day, with perhaps a weeks holiday here or there domestically back in the home country, there choice of course, and following the footsteps of there parents, for future generations. As mentioned, growing up from a poor family, I did very well for myself working 2 jobs and rarely having holidays, and if I did take leave I was working another job during that time, that and I was going to college at night to further educate myself, all the while, while investing in real estate. I still managed to enjoy my life, going out and also doing 2 overseas trips as I matured, albeit it was more the partners at the time that wanted to travel and rightfully so, otherwise life might have become boring just from working, I put it down to an experience, a memory, that cost me of course....LoL. I managed to retire at 55 and have enjoyed the last decade or so of living my new life here with a younger wife, and enjoy a good tax free income stream. I could have chosen the path of some other friends who made lots money but sacrificed their quality of life, some passing on early and their kids benefiting and carrying on the business, and others living day by day in the old country waiting for the age pension as they approach pension age. Life certainly can be a bitch. What I am trying to say above, is that I would hate, is to be on a government pension and be in fear of needing medical care as I age in a foreign country with no reserves to back me up. Bank balances make a difference, but to get a healthy one, unless you inherit it, you have to choose which way you want your life to turn out when you get older, hence the saying, you reap what you sow.

At least with Trump, 500,000 Ukrainians, and 300,000 Russians would be alive and with their families today, but then again, what is a life worth, best you go on your way to the frontline, because, frankly my dear, I don't give a dame.

Is it just me, but the story is really poorly written, albeit it, I get what happened.

Glad to see someone on the same page as me this early in the morning. The American tax payer is over it, hence the reason Congress has delayed yet another package worth billions of $'s in aid to the Ukraine, as opposed to negotiating a peaceful settlement which would cost nothing and save lives, but no, there's no money in that. Sure Russia will own a little more land when the borders are relined, but hey, it's a win/win situation. No doubt there will be many suggesting otherwise, and if so, perhaps they should go straight to the frontlines and help Ukraine, starting with Biden.

I thought so, suffice to say that is not your average strata levy per quarter. Do you remember what the strata rates were before the special levy, e.g. $1,500-$1,750 per quarter, noting that you state that you live in the City of Sydney.

If you owe someone 5,000 baht, that is between you and that party, nothing to do with the bank. I can't see how the 5,000 baht was deducted unless your transaction went through by you entering the details etc. You need to call your bank straight away, don't mention to them that you owed someone money unless they ask, all you have to do is ask them why your account is frozen and they will tell you. Could it be that you attempted to make a transaction a few times but put in the wrong password, because that will lock you out of your account aster so many attempts.

You must have has a special levy agreed upon to be incorporated into your strata levies because there is no way anyone in there right mind would pay that kind of strata levies, and if that is the case, it is being raised for future works on the development because the sinking fund is too low to pay for such works. If levies are high on unit buildings in Sydney, that tends to mean that the building was either built by a shabby builder who has skipped town, I won't mention the usual nationality in fear of being called a racist, is an old building, or has to much upkeep on it that is required and has been let go because owners didn't want to raise their strata levies, other things to consider are passenger lifts usually found in medium to high rise developments that require changing after around 25 years, not to mention the constant servicing, swimming pools, tennis courts, saunas, spa's, cleaners, gardeners and security guards on site. The higher the strata levies, the lower the value of the unit. Would love to know the area you live in, but then again I cant keep up with you, wasn't it Mount Druitt ?

Hmm, perhaps the USA's finest should interview a few past presidents, starting with Bush Jnr on Iraq and it's weapons of mass destruction that they never found, Libya's Gaddafi for wanting to change currencies and other things and of course Afghanistan. From what I see is that America has always been the aggressor when it comes to toppling governments, NATO is a fast, I mean come on, the big boys club, we'll put them on your border, but don't you dare try and put them on ours, because we are not a threat to the world.....LoL Standard rhetoric past on to all major news outlets to feed us, let's deflect what the USA has been up to. That reminds me, can someone tell me how many wars Russia has started since 1991 and how many the USA has started ? I think the USA was involved in just under 20, Russia half that, in it's own backyard. Putin has won this war a long time ago, no matter how hard the USA tries to drum up support, the others know it's a dead duck. Regardless of what people think of Putin, American Presidents are no different. I think Tucker did a great job allowing Putin to tell it how it is, shame on the YANKS, they have no interest in freeing Ukraine, they just want to take down Russia to pilfer it's resources as they do with other countries.

For what it's worth, I think he would be better off buying n an area where his grandkids are, if it's within his buying power range vs renting (dead money) that said, he would have to pay stamp duty and legal fees on the purchase, plus ongoing strata levies paid quarterly or annually (up to him), water and council rates, but then he would have secure tenure, i.e. rent is not going to be put up or the owner kicking him out for breaching the lease agreement or owner wants to move back in, etc etc. He would however be best to keep it long term so that it appreciates in value, and as it's his principal place of residence, he won't pay any capital gains tax when he sells it, just has to pay the usual agents commission and legal fees, and if he passes away in the meantime, can will it to his wife or his kids or his grandkids, all the while, while receiving the Age Pension, albeit he will lose a little f he goes back to Thailand. Going back to Oz to get the Age Pension is not feasible for most due to the high rents, i.e. unless they want to do 2 years of renting a room, a caravan etc, which IMO would be a miserable existence. Edit: The other thing he has to consider is, if he gets any money from his Super as an income stream, deeming rates will be applied to his Age Pension by the government which is about 2%-2.5%, then they deduce 50% per $ of the Age Pension that he earns from Super. They have you by the short and curly's at just about every angle.

Yet there are those of us who are married and don't wonder about lucky guys you are referring too, you see some of us can have that extra piece of cake when we want too, as rare as it maybe, no need for me to beat my own drum, it is what it is, that said, as I said to my wife from the outset, I know who I am and what I want in life, i.e. that occasional different piece of cake that I see crossing my path. Can't say I know of any guys with as big a balls as mine, also can't say I know any women that would accept that, except my wife, that said, I'm happy, she's happy, that's all that matters. Before you ask the question, I will answer it with a yes, what's good for the Goose, is good for the Gander.

Read my post 2 up, if you would, suffice to say there are exceptions. Of course, each to their own, sounds like you haven't found the right one yet, and may just not find the right one, but that's ok, life goes on, sadly though, but hey, as long as your happy, each to their own. I find the bar that I frequent that has many expats married to Thai ex bargirls if you like to be mostly content/happy with their lives, sure some go through a patch, don't all marriages go through that, and of course it's just a matter of sifting through the problem and negotiating, because without negotiations, you have Ukraine/Russia or Israel/Palestine so to speak. I only feel sorry for the ones that don't know the art of negotiating, as I find Thai women to be very amicable when it comes to this.

It all depends on what consider to be a lot and what you deem to be compliant ? Since I had to split my hard earned assets 50/50 with my X wife of 12 sad years back in the old country because of the laws that be there, I learned that it won't ever happen again, ever ! That said, I find it is much easier to live a good life here with a partner who appreciates the life we westerners with money can provide for them here, at a fraction of the cost that it would cost us compared to the old country. The main benefit for me apart from being gloated upon 24/7 is that I have my freedom whenever I choose, without having to consult (mummy), I am not shown jealousy, have someone who wants to cook for me, wash for me, iron for me, and satisfy my desires, without having a headache, or being too tired, typically a western woman in my opinion. Now you might ask, is it really love, well what is love, that said, I feel it is, even though she's much younger than me, and yes it does cost me, but nowhere near what it would cost me back in the old country, and as mentioned, this one cooks, washes, irons and satisfies me. Is she a slave you might ask or think, maybe in her own mind, but to me, she is free to do as she wants, frankly, I can't stop her from being domesticated, as much as she loves it, it also satisfies me to see someone so organised and wanting to please, not only herself, but her loved one, what can I say, I can't argue with the girl, that is also something else we don't do, sounds to perfect to be true doesn't it, but wait, there's more, if it ever goes pare shaped, I lose the whole 10% that I have invested all these years, and got to live here as well, in "her house" that I built and paid for, heaven forbid, she earned it, now if she outlives me, she gets the balance, sounds like a fair love story to me, how about you.

Have a read of my post above, that said, there is a lot of good information there for you and may answer some of your questions, and as others have already pointed out, Energy supplement will go after 6 weeks, another supplement, can't think of it at the moment, and any rental subsidy will go. If you were in Australia 2 years prior to applying for your Age Pension as a resident, you can have the Age Pension made portable for you to live in Thailand without question, albeit it you will lose the above items I mentioned and receive about $1,000 a fortnight, that said however, it is highly advisable to let Centrelink know of your intentions because if you get some inexperienced clown who cuts your Age Pension off for some unknown reason, as I have read that it has been done, e.g. possible confusion between a returning expat becoming a resident again for the 2 year period and a resident 2 years prior to Age Pension age, then you would have to go back to start the process again and possibly wait 2 years over again to make it portable, unless you go down the appeals path. What I am saying is if you were away from Australia and returned to get the Age Pension and waited the 2 years before you can make it portable, definitely let them know your going overseas, either way, best to them know to be sure, to be sure, as Paddy would say. https://guides.dss.gov.au/social-security-guide/7/1/2/20 It can cost you a little here at a government hospital or a lot in a private hospital, just depends on who you want to treat you. A matter of choice really, and in my opinion, privates have better trained and educated Doctors than government hospitals, but then again, some of the private hospital Doctors train government Doctors at Universities, so you can get a government university hospital look after you if in a particular area. I think you are referring to Medicare ? If that's the case, from what I have read, is, that if you are out of the country for more than 5 years at a time, Medicare is canceled and you have to re-establish residency when you return to get Medicare paid treatment. I believe you can, i.e. if you don't have any pre-existing conditions, and if you don't, the amount of insurance you will pay because of your age will render it not worth it in my opinion, because the cost is nothing short of savagery.

This section from the article below in italics is basically WRONG, i.e. unless the person is going on holidays for a while and their Age Pension is taxable income, and for it to be taxable income, they have to go over a certain threshold, i.e. I believe it is around $32,279 for a (single person), after SAPTO has been applied for and approved. https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/income-deductions-offsets-and-records/tax-offsets/seniors-and-pensioners-tax-offset Australia and Thailand have a DTA and when an Australian Age Pensioner becomes a resident of Thailand, i.e. after 180 days automatically for tax purposes, whether they like it or not, e.g. new tax code of Thailand from 1 January 2024 they can be taxed by the Thai RD. https://www.rd.go.th/english/6045.html#:~:text=1.Taxable Person,any tax (calendar) year. The above said, I can't see that happening as the DTA has been in place since 1989/1990, but Thailand has had the right to tax Age Pensioners back since then, and the new tax code reinforces that, but as I have said on many occasions, why would they bother now, and that my thoughts are that they are after the bigger fatter fish i.e. wealthy pensioners, not Age Pensioners who obtain welfare payments from their respective governments, yes, not the poor pipers just looking to survive in a country that allows them to live on the Age Pension, and of course contribute to the Thai economy vs living in Australia where they would be eating peanut butter for breakfast lunch and dinner. Just below is the copy and pasted section from the article I am referring too. Is the age pension taxable? Yes — the age pension is counted as taxable income. You can ask Services Australia to deduct tax from your payment so you don't need to pay it when you lodge your tax return. Read Article 18 of the DTA which will back up what I have said. https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1989/36.html Not everything we read appears to be what we think it is just because someone says so, i.e. it is up to us to keep researching and find out things for ourselves, for me, you can't beat quoting the legislation, i.e. if you can find it, fortunately for me, someone else found it and I continue to pass it on for others to see and make up their own minds, part and parcel of learning and providing for the community.

Hmm, how is you relationship, mine has been perfect for the past 17 years, just saying, oh and in my opinion most are p's, some you pay for directly, others indirectly, but you pay......LoL As for drinking and sitting at bars, yep, nothing wrong with socialising, if that's your thing, but everything in moderation Jummy.

The good with the bad Sounds like the bad took over the good, with not so much fun anymore ? You only just found that out ? I would change your brand of coffee. I prefer AN, dating sites, can't say, I don't go on dates, as I don't want relationships, just the quickdraw McGraw. In society today, there is control, whether on forums, apps and the like, if your words are picked up by the bots as offensive or contradictory to what is allowed, the bots will shut you down real quick and make if hard for you to get a response of prove your innocence, i.e. your proven guilty, end of story, it's a numbers game. I recall I sent a link to someone on Messenger, as they asked for me to prove what I was saying, I was then banned from Messenger for violating their policy, them stating pornographic material was against their policy, I said W-T-F- and double checked what I sent, it wasn't porn much to my relief and I complained, and the ban was lifted that afternoon, no apology, no nothing, so welcome to the woke world of bots, guilty whether you like it or not, suffice to say, it doesn't have to be words, it can be links.

DSP is portable for a total of up to 4 weeks in a 12-month period. DSP can be paid for a longer period in the case of approved overseas study that is part of a full-time course in Australia. https://guides.dss.gov.au/social-security-guide/7/1/2/20#:~:text=DSP is portable for a,full-time course in Australia. If you want out at 60, maybe just take your Super, invest it into the ASX as I do and make a tax free living here.

An article of the new tax in Thailand that I found interesting today, here on AseanNow with my comments below. https://www.huahintoday.com/local-news/expat-tax-twists-in-thailand-navigating-the-new-landscape-in-2024/ I would suggest when the article is talking about pensions below, inverted commas, they are not talking about Age Pensions, however, they can tax Age Pensions if they decide to under Article 18 of the DTA for Aussies, but can't see this happening personally as they could have done this from 1989 when the DTA was agreed upon, so why bother now ? I believe this is more so aimed at the "Wealthy Pensioners" drawing down from sourced funds like superannuation schemes and other investment vehicle's that will be taxed in Thailand, and those individuals being taxed here in Thailand can apply for credits back in their country, where the funds came from. Makes sense to me as Age Pensions do not get taxed in Australia if they are a resident of Thailand, therefore there would be no credits applicable for Age Pensioners. Copy and pasted from the article below. "Pensions, while taxed in Thailand, may find some relief through double taxation agreements with the home country". "Wealthy Pensioners": Minimum age: 50 years old. Minimum annual pension or passive income: US$80,000. Alternative option: If your income falls between US$40,000 and US$80,000, you can compensate with a minimum investment of US$250,000 in Thai government bonds, foreign direct investment, or Thai property.

I would suggest when the article is talking about pensions below, inverted commas, they are not talking about Age Pensions, however, they can tax Age Pensions if they decide to under Article 18 of the DTA for Aussies, but can't see this happening personally as they could have done this from 1989 when the DTA was agreed upon, so why bother now ? I believe this is more so aimed at the "Wealthy Pensioners" drawing down from sourced funds like superannuation schemes and other investment vehicle's that will be taxed in Thailand, and those individuals being taxed here in Thailand can apply for credits back in their country, where the funds came from. Makes sense to me as Age Pensions do not get taxed in Australia if they are a resident of Thailand, therefore there would be no credits applicable for Age Pensioners. Copy and pasted from the article below. "Pensions, while taxed in Thailand, may find some relief through double taxation agreements with the home country". "Wealthy Pensioners": Minimum age: 50 years old. Minimum annual pension or passive income: US$80,000. Alternative option: If your income falls between US$40,000 and US$80,000, you can compensate with a minimum investment of US$250,000 in Thai government bonds, foreign direct investment, or Thai property.

That is a very valid point, I NEVER travel without it, however I do know that some fine prints don't cover motor scooters or the ones that do, make sure they don't have a bigger engine capacity of a 125cc, and you must have a valid international Riders Permit, or Riders License in the country you are riding in, and of course, wearing of a helmet. From what I have read, he wasn't wearing one, but she was. I might be mistaken, but this is a merry go round, same stories, different day and to be perfectly honest, if the guy didn't fit the above criteria, it's no different to me than being reckless and then burdening your family and others with your crap, suffice to say, I have no sympathy for him, and that little kid in the photo, well life just end up being that little bit tougher now, because his dad didn't grow up.

If you can afford salary sacrificing, then all and good, you save on the tax you would have otherwise paid if you didn't salary sacrifice, so you would want to work out how much tax you would have saved over the period you are looking to salary sacrifice. I don't imagine it would be that much in the short term, plus you have to ask yourself, how much will your Super grow during that period as well (crystal ball) required. Yes, If you have over the asset threshold you will get sweet FA, so a million $ is over the threshold amount. Discussed above. Taxing your Super at 60 is tax free, you can spend it, up to you, as long as you can say where you spent it, shouldn't be a problem, as long as you don't have anymore, that said, if your Super is say $600k, I would suggest that you don't spend it, but live off of it on a budget and make sure you are just under the asset threshold, if applying for the Age Pension, that way you will be entitled to the Age Pension. LoL, tell him that I said, good luck with that one. If you do retire at 60 with $600k, you won't need as much as $40,000 a year to live on in Thailand, to then go back at 67 to claim the Age Pension, and you won't have too much in Super, because you will make sure that your Super is under the threshold amount, (see link below). The link regarding the asset thresholds is simple, you just have to make sure that you plan well ahead, and be careful how you remit money here to Thailand because, if I am not mistaken, your Super will be taxable here, because it wasn't taxed in Australia, I say that because your residency status will change to a resident of Thailand after 180 days here. Whether Thailand enforces the residency rule here on expats is something to keep an eye on. Also remember, if you retire at 60 and live here till your 67, you will have to do the 2 years when you return to Oz to claim the Age Pension. A lot to consider, e.g. rent, cost of living for 2 years, and being away from Thailand, GF/BF miss you so muk, love you long time etc etc. I retired at 55, now 63, no regrets, as for the Age Pension, my feasibility research tells me that it would take me 4 years to recoup the outlay, if I was to return for the 2 years to claim the Age Pension, so I would be 71 before I actually got back what I spent in those 2 years in Australia to claim the Age Pension, suffice to say it's a dead duck for me, exactly how the Oz government planned it to be, but most don't seem to do the math, that or they have accommodation and live on the very cheap, which would make it a possible break even scenario for them, which would then make it worth it for them. https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/assets-test-for-age-pension?context=22526 EDIT: Once you do receive the Age Pension and do your 2 years, when you return here, you will not pay tax on the Age Pension here under the DTA, DO NOT pay any attention to someone who says otherwise, or you be, as you say, "up sh-t creek, you can look it up for yourself under Article 18 which has been thrashed about on the Australian Age Pension thread, but that individual still doesn't get it and will provide you with misleading information. If you don't understand Article 18, have someone explain it to you who does, and don't even go near Article 19, as that person believes it is part of Article 19, which is only for Government Employee Pensions, not Age Pensions and annuities which were Article 18 covers. https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1989/36.html

I feel you, same, same here. Agree, however the trough is where they all eat out from, and if you know pigs, just try and take away their meals and you could lose a hand quite easily, that or end up as their meal. IMO i believe they all are, it's part and parcel of the system, this is Thailand remember, even though they might look clean, any opportunity they have, they will look for that extra baht, even happens with street vendors, e.g. standing in line to buy some fruit, farang (tourist) in front of me, I will have some pineapple, melon and watermelon, 300 baht, ok, thanks, me next, speaking in Thai, pineapple, melon and watermelon 120 baht. I don't know of any, and agree with what you are saying as I use and have always used the money in the bank route, one will have to address it when and if the time comes, and I decide to use that route, via expats that have used the same agent for years.

Might be time to see an agent, come next retirement extension ? I say that because, immigration won't allow their piece of cake to be taken away from them, all the way to the top IMO. Talking about all of those expats that don't have the funds to put in the bank and use agents for a fee which is also split with you know who. As mentioned, more than one way to skin a fat cat oi.

I'd really like to know how this is going to effect expats that use agents because they don't have the funds to remit to Thailand, if the RD wants them to have a tax file number. I hazzard a guess that immigration officers around the country would come up with some genius idea, like only target those with funds in their accounts when applying for extensions, e.g. hey Mr Money Bags, you need a TFN to declare where the money you remitted came from, so the RD can look at possibly taxing you. As for those who use agents, they would get a free pass for the usual brown envelope via the agents. Hmmm, if this does occur, I thinks me will see an agent.