NOC

From your first sentence, it looks like you already know about this since it is also the same first sentence on that website. If you are just advertising, I'm sure you can come out and say so.

I've been here five months.

Ahh, I remember when I was only here for 5 months. Those were the days.

When I had been hear a year, I was down 500,000 baht, and I discovered my girlfriend, a nice Muslim girl, had a girlfriend.

Get back to us when you're down a bit more. You're not ready to be saved yet.

TGF's mum's been selling fertilizer and chems for 43 years. I don't think cameras are going to do the trick.

One might admire his bravado...

Were they 'bobbing for apples'? Did a Kegel propelled ping pong ball hit someone in the eye? I'm going to need pictures and finger pointing.

It's customary to not pay rent for the last two months. If he's a prick, change the locks on the apartment to ones that look exactly the same. This way he can't enter without breaking the door or spending money.

Be nice. There was a guy that got jammed up by the owner falsely reporting that he stole furniture.

If he tries to cheat you tell him you are going to report him to the tax authorities. Most don't pay taxes on their rental income. If he hasn't paid taxes, the tax man will back date the bill to the date he bought the property. He could be in for a big bill. Make sure you move out first and document the exchange back to him.

I see a lot of pregnant teenagers in Thailand's future. Call me a psychic.

For the OP, if you lived in the US or the EU today, wouldn't you leave as fast as you could? That is if you have an IQ higher than your shoe size and can read the warning signs without being spoon-fed by the MSM... I moved as far away from the US as I could without leaving the planet... It's called self-preservation... Thailand is still basically an agrarian society and the BHT is not heavily speculated outside the country... In other words, there are minimal foreign derivatives exposure on the BHT and it is circulated in-country... When the SHTF, Thailand will be one of the last, best places to be IMO... If you don't think the SWHTF, then you aren't paying attention...

As far as the odd-balls, yes, I have met more than my share... I find that if you stay away from riff-raff and only associate with people having similar backgrounds, interests and income you lessen the risk of being lumped into the odd-ball category yourself...

I do believe we have the same trajectory.

I started learning Chinese even before Nixon made his visit to China in 1972. Didn't make it myself to China until 1988 when the locals were amazed that I could read and write better than speak Mandarin. Started learning Thai around the same time.

As per CNX above when I first went to China, all communication had to be done by TELEX. Travelers Checks were the only way to exchange money unless you carried a lot of cash. So not normal? Never was normal.

Just as I thought... you're a multi-lingual international spy.

I suggest you look in UpWork (what used to be oDesk). You can find any kind of skill you want there, and at any level.

From a 5$ an hour Pakistani programmers to 50$ an hour Americans, and anything in between.

Takes time to find the good people there, so you need to ask for previous work examples, and look at their job history, etc.

However you do seem to need a team, as one person who knows all of these languages/APIs/skills/platforms will be hard to find and expensive.

You correct, too my chagrin.

I've looked at oDesk, Freelancer, and Guru. You get every spectrum. I was hoping to build an ongoing relationship with reasonable people.

I'm almost ready to get on a plane and do the grin and grip in Mumbai. How reasonable is that?

From Sunbelt (the law firm), Bearing in mind this was posted in 2012....

"While Thai law does require anyone working in Thailand to have a work permit we have been told by the Labor Department that they generally do not require a work permit for those checking emails and doing some work from home remotely. However, if you are selling on Ebay and have boxes of goods in your home this would be looked at in a different light and we have been told that they would expect you to have a company and work permit for this kind of exporting."

Then there is this info from earlier this year....

Effective March 13, 2015, the following activities will no longer require the work permit previously mandated for even short-term business activities, known as the “urgent work permit”:

• Attending a conference or seminar

• Visiting businesses or engaging in discussions with customers

• Attending exhibitions and trade shows

• Attending lectures, educational forums, training programs and seminars as an audience participant

• Attending board of directors meetings in his/her own company

Providing training, speaking at a conference and representing a company at a trade show, however, will still require an urgent work permit.

Source - http://msiimmigration.com/news/thailand-business-activities-longer-require-work-permit/

Given that they significantly relaxed rules for people coming to Thailand to do work type tasks (see list above) and given the statement by Sunbelt, I am of the opinion that their definition of 'work' although vague is only based on being employed and paid by someone in Thailand. Working online and being paid exclusively by an overseas entity does not fall within what they consider work.

I know plenty of people who's 'work' is only reading and replying to emails.... they are paid for their knowledge (consultants basically). If they can be based here working then what is the difference between them and someone doing web design, or managing remote servers for overseas clients, etc

Update from KPMG - The Thai Department of Employment issued an announcement on March 6, 2015, declaring the types of work-related activities that are not classified as “work” under Thailand’s Alien Working Act B.E. 2551 (2008).

https://home.kpmg.com/xx/en/home/insights/2015/03/flash-alert-2015-050.html

Still doesn't cover online, but I still think their definition of work is based on employment by someone or a Thai company in Thailand, and payment from that source in Thailand.

What they are more concerned about with online workers is that they are not on overstay, but do leave when required and go to pay for a fresh visa to re-enter.

And as we should all know, there is no limit to how many times you can enter Thailand as a tourist, so long as you leave when the visa is up. You can stay here for years just leaving and getting a new tourist visa then coming right back.

They're legal 'advisers'.

Don't take a knife to a gun fight....

Actually, I am, as long as the BS is kept to tolerable levels.

I do appreciate you trying to highjack the thread and trying create a tone, just because who don't have the skill set.

It's a small market so I might not get much of a response, but it's a big world.

I've overcome bigger problems than the ones you present, so please continue, show the world your ass!

Well good luck to you sir, let me know when you've finally ran out of steam and your ready to move to the king of ecommerce magento

Are you willing to hold your breath that long?

I make my own luck.

Megento is a good skill, but I don't want to have to overhaul something later.

I need someone who knows Laravel or Codeignitor and js.node, with MySQL databases, geo-locating ability, a few API integrations, Baidu analytics, heat mapping, a pop-up chat box and a few languages, not to mention how to write the seo/metatags/cookies into the code.

Ohh. I need it on AWS, too. China doesn't block or throttle them.

Lol good luck with that one mate in Thailand, I do more front end stuff like xml/css/html/jquery bits of php (mainly magento based but some custom) blah blah, I have dabbled in the codeigniter framework and zend but I think your asking for alot in one developer.... heat mapping and pop-up chat box/seo is also a different subject all together really, you wouldnt ask a SEO consultant to code and vise vurser.

Can you give anymore information on what your actually trying to build?

I know. It's a project that needs a team. Considering this is a public forum...divulging detailed info is not something I am willing to do.

I will, however, find a way! I am not exactly a person to be deterred by minutia.

Does that come with a free south pacific island with a secret underground lair inside an extinct volcano ?

Yes! You get the free south pacific island, and underground lair, a volcano (with an unstable atmosphere) (sorry, the large print giveth, the small print taketh away) 40 virgins (Thai virgins ) and a warranty on your life.

Should any offspring be born under abnormal circumstances, due to genetic abnormalities*, we would be more than happy to placate you and your loved ones for the balance of your lives. (think Mercedes and big houses here)

*See lack of intellectual quota clause in original contract for details.

I expect the real test would be if you are performing work which otherwise would have been performed by a Thai citizen. I expect that in 99.99% of such cases a Thai would not have been considered for such work. Therefore no problem in regard to work permit.

In regard to tax, I believe the recipient of rewards for such services is liable to tax when the money is transferred into Thailand.

I believe the money is not taxable if it was earned a year prior, how anyone would know when the money was earned that is transfered from an offshore account remains to be seen.

Who says you can't invest it in the year you have to wait.

You can always make it yourself. It's just eggs and bit of oil, mostly.

https://youtu.be/BF8ct0W7-JM

3BB

^{"The main reason I say no is from your own words which you have doubts over " trust like family " then you say " Assuming " Make up your mind?"}

^{I was intending the post to answer more specific questions about setting up a business/visa in Thailand and staying away from the emotional rollercoaster discussion. I guess I should of been more clear.}

^{What I was trying to say is....for this hypothetical exercise, lets assume I can trust my partner 100%. What would be the easiest, most cost efficient way to structure the business that would not attract added expenses and attention from authorities?}

^{And yes, my partner is family.}

^{----------------------------------}

^{I completely understand all the posts regarding not getting involved in the guesthouse business and trusting Thai partners. It's kind of refreshing because most of my friends, family and acquaintances have kinda given up on me starting a business in the LOS as I've been looking into it for a long time and have gone through a mass of different ideas. Think the general feel / running joke is that I'm happy to toy with the idea of making money here but more interested in hanging out with my hobbies than committing myself to anything...which isn't true, hence this post and potential venture.}

^{So, all comments are appreciated but I'd ideally like to stick to more specific business, legal, management issues etc. And yes, I am visiting a lawyer soon.}

^{Many thanks for the help....}

I've sometimes used one lawyer to qualify another lawyer. On the sly of course. You might want to exercise that option here. The odds aren't exactly in your favor.

I remember that picture and wasn't even born - 1 day maybe will all stop but doubt it - we are our worse enemy

Actually, we are not our worst enemy.

Most people try to go through life as decent persons.

The international bankers who control the creation and supply of money, and who manipulate economies and overthrow governments, who use social engineering, to extort more money through taxes and higher prices, they are our worst enemy.

Education is your friend!

In terms of legality / WP requirement, nobody can say for sure. Thai legislation prohibits 'work' but the definition of 'work' is entirely open to interpretation. There are no prior examples of people being prosecuted when operating in the manner you describe, but that does not mean it is legal.

In terms of tax, if you get paid direct to a Thai bank account and spent > 180 days in Thailand in that tax year, you will be liable to income tax in Thailand on all income. If you get paid into an account in your home country you will likely be subject to income tax there, regardless of whether you spend a day in the country.

With this in mind, Fab5BKK's advice is good - best to open an offshore personal account in Singapore and either get paid there directly, or start a BVI company with HK banking and then pay yourself dividends to the personal Singapore account. This would be 100% tax free, and so long as you can keep income there until Jan 1st, you can then bring any amount to Thailand without it being subject to Thai income tax.

@fireplay - Citibank IPB is good imo - not sure on the 100k US, have heard the same but others will know intricacies better than me.

Citi IPB is good provided your not a US citizen and if memory serves its 98k not 100 but one still needs to submit a tax return and one suspects source of income will come into play as well, as if income if US sourced or a US company this oversea allowance may not apply

Soooo....provided you are a US citizen...what is another option? I was considering DBS a sg bank...the minimum monthly balance is like 2300 usd...can hold 14 currencies...but the interest earnings are chincy...like .o5%...dipping under the minimum is like a $3.50/mth maintenance fee...any other bank preferabbly sg anyone recommends?

Off-shore nominee corp in HK owned by an anonymous Panamanian trust. Banking by HSBC and their subsidiaries.

Hey, I am a certified magento developer, I do more front end work but might be able to help... what platform are you using? cheers

Megento is a good skill, but I don't want to have to overhaul something later.

I need someone who knows Laravel or Codeignitor and js.node, with MySQL databases, geo-locating ability, a few API integrations, Baidu analytics, heat mapping, a pop-up chat box and a few languages, not to mention how to write the seo/metatags/cookies into the code.

Ohh. I need it on AWS, too. China doesn't block or throttle them.

In terms of legality / WP requirement, nobody can say for sure. Thai legislation prohibits 'work' but the definition of 'work' is entirely open to interpretation. There are no prior examples of people being prosecuted when operating in the manner you describe, but that does not mean it is legal.

In terms of tax, if you get paid direct to a Thai bank account and spent > 180 days in Thailand in that tax year, you will be liable to income tax in Thailand on all income. If you get paid into an account in your home country you will likely be subject to income tax there, regardless of whether you spend a day in the country.

With this in mind, Fab5BKK's advice is good - best to open an offshore personal account in Singapore and either get paid there directly, or start a BVI company with HK banking and then pay yourself dividends to the personal Singapore account. This would be 100% tax free, and so long as you can keep income there until Jan 1st, you can then bring any amount to Thailand without it being subject to Thai income tax.

@fireplay - Citibank IPB is good imo - not sure on the 100k US, have heard the same but others will know intricacies better than me.

It's 92,000 USD tax free.

100k I'll build you a custom prestashop store with demo stock only.

Thanks for the offer, but Prestashop doesn't fit my needs or offer scale-ability, and its free. Why would I pay you a 100k for something I could do myself?

Nice try though.

Thank you mods!!!