SHA 2 BKK

Get rid of it. My family only eats Australian, US or NZ Beef and if buying in bulk it's cheaper than Thai beef. We tried the local product when we first moved here. Even the poor old dog wouldn't touch the stuff.

No apologies needed cobber - we are mates.

Agree with you cobber. It was the Aussies and Yanks that stopped the Japs first - that being the Battle of the Coral Sea (before Midway). My dear departed Grandad fought on Kokoda and then through the battles on the North Coast of New Guinea. America was and has been a great friend of Australia. However an interesting story took place in this relationship 20 odd years before. During the Treaty of Versailles negotiations after the Great War, US President Woodrow Wilson argued strongly that German New Guinea be given to the then allied Empire of Japan as a protectorate. Australias’ Prime Minister Billy Hughes was having none of it and wanted the former German colony to join Australian controlled Papua. Wilson looked at this diminutive, half deaf PM from a nation of 4 million people, that had only been had its own Government for 18 years and said to Hughes “I sir represent 60 million Americans”. Hughes responded that with due respect he represented “60,000 dead Australians”. Fortunately Hughes won the argument and Papua New Guinea became an Australian protectorate until its independence in 1975.

Geez you Yanks gotta jump through some hoops every year. I gotta file back in Oz still as I earn some coin there. But that takes me half an hour online. Uncle Sam sure wants his Pound of Flesh.

Plus no 90 day reports and swift entry into and out of Swampy.

Hear Hear Mister Speaker!!

Hope they bring back direct to Brisbane - it was always full and Brisbane far bigger than Perth. Air Asia also used to run a direct to Brisbane service out of DM but that was only for a few months before COVID hit. QF out of Swampy via Sydney always full and changing planes in SYD is a nightmare. SIN a bit easier but hope Brisbane direct comes back soon.

Sorry Jim - my 365 day window keeps moving as I’m in and out regularly. A few have done personal visits to Chamchuri Square and I recall reading someone did a report at an outside IMM Office.

Thanks Jim - have a good day mate.

I really don't know. But as I have the Wealthy Pensioner LTV and my only income comes from outside Thailand, I bring this in the year after it us earned, and according to Royal Decree 743 that income is Tax Exempt - my thinking is no. I doubt the Thai RD want a return where no tax is due (and I doubt there is a form to return as such). No assessable income - no Thai Income Tax Return. And that seems to be the gist on the other tax threads where other Visa holders have asked similar. I have asked the BOI but was told that the RD will clarify matters - that was some months ago. Highly Skilled LTR Visa holders will have to lodge to claim their 17% - but that is income in Thailand and there is a special lodgement form for that.

I see they have announced a large drop in the imported wines excise - currently 50-60%. Maybe will get access to some decent priced plonk. This is aimed apparently at boosting tourism - but it shall also boost my wine cabinet. Drop to take place for one year as soon as its Gazetted.

Congrats Misty. Well done. Yes lots of pages used in the Passport. Think I will need a new one next year. Enjoy your tax saving!!!!

Good luck Misty. Dips me lid to you. Tackling all the Thai Bureaucracy. But sounds like the BOI were helping as much as possible. Hope all the LTR’s had a great Christmas and happy and healthy 2024.

When I applied (December 2022) I simply sent my last two pension payslips (I get paid fortnightly). I didn't send my tax return. No questions asked. If you don't get pension payslips perhaps your pension fund can provide a letter.

I too am cautiously optimistic. I shall bring in a large sum in January that will do us for 2024. It’s of course income earned in the previous year. I figure Royal Decree 743 will still be standing at that time. Still unsure if we LTR Visa holders will have to do a tax return if no income earned in Thailand and funds remitted are from a previous year. I’m not volunteering to get a Thai TIN.

The fact I got LTRs for my whole family online and it took 6 weeks without a hint of an agent and associated fees really impressed me. Staff at the BOI were friendly and professional (so different to those dreaded visits to Cheang Wattana for the kids ED visas). No 90 day reports and the tax breaks for Foreign Income for the non HSP visas has so far made this exercise one of the best decisions I have made in the 8 years living here. As noted above I emailed the BOI about the recent RD announcements re Foreign Remittance and they advised there was no change. Let’s hope it stays that way. My wife found one downside however she purchased an expensive handbag and wanted to claim the duty when we exited the country the other week. BKK Customs said cannot with this new visa because we aren’t Tourists anymore (we had Elite Visas previously) Anyway will live and learn on that.

I read today that the number of Taiwanese, Chinese (and Indian) tourists visiting the LOS is far smaller than predicted - even with the Visa Free policy in place. TAT are blaming it on “lack of flights”. My sister in law who lives in Shanghai flew in the other week on a half empty plane. My wife flew up and back to Taipei last month and the same occurred. I flew to Brisbane and back Via Singapore three weeks ago for family reasons. Planes were 100% both directions. This is regularly the case and flights to Thailand from Australia are bloody expensive and still 100% booked. I think we “White” Farangs understand that there is always a chance we are “fair game” once we leave our native shores. That’s part of the adventure. Whilst corruption exists in China (I know I lived there for 4 years before the LOS) the Chinese know how to deal with it and accept it (like the Thais here). But away from home such overt actions as described above plus the litany of bad press that’s come from Thailand since the re-opening have made an impact on Chinese/Taiwanese Social Media. It beggars the question then - why Thailand is so focused on North and South East Asian tourists and not “Western” markets like Australia where demand exists? Anyway my two bobs worth.

A friends' Grandmother from Kanchanaburi was born in 1936 - she has no idea of the day - only year (and that's a guess). She remembers Japanese and "Farang" soldiers being close to her village during the war. Her Thai ID just has ".. .. 1936" as her Birthdate. Lately he booked a ticket to Phuket for her - AirAsia needed a DOB. Quick Google in Thai and 01.01.1936 was the required format. Though I doubt YaYa will ever want a Passport seems to me unknown Birthdates are a thing in the LOS.

Well done mate and welcome to the LTR “Team”. We still don’t know if LTR Pensioners will have to lodge a Tax Return given the changed interpretation of overseas remittances. But as this income is tax free if remitted from the previous years income I imagine no return will be needed if the above conditions are met.

Errr it was a voice to Parliament only to the people that lived in Australia for 65,000 years before white settlement that was voted on. No extra rights. Most Australians said no. But it don’t mean it’s woke to give em them a say - they looked after the country far better than most whities I know. Best you stay in Thailand Cobber. Pay your tax and look down on the locals. Enough said.

I wonder if Tax Exempt LTRs will have a file a PND??? on Foreign Remittances? One would think not given it’s not taxable. Anyway time (May) will tell.

Good on ya cobber. Welcome to the LTR Club. Sorry it took so long for you matey but like you said look to the future not the past. Well done

Oh that’s a bugger mate. Sorry to hear some cove ripped you off. Don’t know if this will get scrubbed by admin but email Kundun and Partners. Tell them the Australian LTR sent you. KhunThanyaluck Thong-rompo Partner Kudun and Partners M: (66) 98 119 8418 | T: (66) 2838 1750 ext. 1997 | [email protected] Good luck matey.

Agree. Don’t know where you’re based mate but get to the BOI One Stop Service Centre at Chamchuri Square. I had my Pensioner LTR in two weeks but my wife daughter got “frozen” somehow in the system. It was Christmas/New Year and we were overseas. When we got back I visited the Centre and things were done in 72 hours. 2. Yes I think your LTR is cancelled unless you find a new Employer who you qualify with - Misty will know. 3. No you can’t claim any privileges until you have your LTR. I’d get a Thai accountant to maximize allowances etc. Seriously cobber I’d go to Chamchuri Square with all your paperwork.

“Where would that leave the "Elite" people? Rich enough to cough up the Tax ? Or will they just adjust the number of days the spend in Thailand?” I came off the Elite to the LTR and by golly in hindsight I am glad I did. At least there is some protection afforded to LTR a through the Royal Decree (743). Though I am sure DTAs will (should) protect me from extra Tax the LTR does give me an extra level of comfort. As for Elite Visas, after jacking up the price, there might be some nervous nellies, especially among some groups with untaxed income. Those Elite Visa greeting staff with the little golf buggy at Swampy might get extra busy as Elite Visa holders make more trips abroad to avoid the 183 day test.