Presnock

For THAISPACENEEDLE - I did a transfer of stamps from old to new in February - but it was in CM so not sure if the procedures will be exactly the same There is also an immigration for for transfer of stamps from old to new passport - print that out too,. In addition, my 90-day report was due on the date I went for the stamp transfer as I didn't get through the online for that purpose. In CM anyway fist of all they sent me to the TM.30 office (5 minutes for a new TM.30 for the new passport) then to the walk-in 90-day window (2 minutes) with the 90-day report with the old passport information and they gave me a neww 90-day report that was later stapled into my new passport. THen they sent me to window 2 which is for stamp transfers - no chargesl on this visit which lasted about 70 minutes total. I realize that not all Immigration offices always do the exact same procedures so if you prepare everything in advance, all they will do is trash what they don't want but it might save you some time if you do everything I had to do - I had prepared everything in advance with the tm47 form done twice, once with the new data and once with the old data (this is theone they used). Good luck

Among the common reporting standards, is banks around the world are going to share banking information - not sure how that will work but if my bank shares my banking practices, it is easy to see from where all funds deposited come from the US Government - either for my govt pension or tax refunds each year. Then the amount sent to my account here in Thailand is already here so it seems to me that the Thai government should be able to identify non-assessible income (from a US govt pension only) and therefore I shouldn't have to provide the Thai RD with anything. Guess we just have to wait to see if we have problems or not.

Mike Lister, Yeah, I forgot that this is just a bend in the rules of that tax law....I figured that eventually with all the crying and screaming both of ex-pats and locals forced to pay taxes here that it would mean that they had to re-write the tax laws to keep people at bay and thus would need that royal blessing. I see that way too many people are still bothered by this change in rules although it will probably only affect a small percentage of them. Other ASEAN countries too signed on to the OECD decision of last year and are changing their tax collection rules too. Pretty soon tax evaders and those that "bend" the rules will have no where to hide. Next they need to tackle the "agents" that are always around with too many people accepting them. take care

First of all, until the FINAL decree is approved and published in the Royal Gazette, EVERYTHING is just a rumor or possibility or however one wants to call it. I see the same questions over and over. There are 59 or 61 whichever you have read double taxation agreements between countries and Thailand. I for one only will read that of the US as that is the only one that pertains to me and my income and the US agreement with Thailand. If you are an ex-pat from some other country, I suggest you read your country's DTA with Thailand, after all you are the only one that understands what income you have and how it is affected within the DTA. I have also checked the Thai Revenue Department on a related issue - that of getting a Thai Tax ID number. That too is readily available on the internet and I suggest one read that too as I sure wouldn't want to mislead anyone. We have had several people do a lot of research on this issue, some have talked with "TAX experts", some embassies have held seminars which were available to some of the readers here and it basically still comes down to the fact that until the new regulations are officially reported, nothing is guaranteed. And even then, TIT and things might change immediately or with the next government. But, I am no longer going to repeat what I have read about this issue so good luck...3 more months and if one has been here the 1st 3months of this year, and is still here after June, then you are a tax resident and will be affected somewhat and maybe by then the Thai govt might publish something official. Good Luck. Got my LTR and know exactly where I CURRENTLY stand on this issue but...TIT.

I realize after the COVID era experience with masks is not a popular subject. However if one reads this forum regularly they have seen the same figures I have about the local medical facilities that have been treating pollution-caused illnesses - (i.e. 30 million last year and to date this year 650K in the first two months of 2024). I have lived in capital cities around the world famous for pollution and since I was there assigned by the US govt, was visited by US doctors that check air pollution, drinking water availability, et al. and when interviewed by the doctor was asked about outside exercising. I was a "runner" for 50 years so the doctors always told me to wear an N95 surgical mask while jogging to block most of the 2.5 micron dust. Therefore when COVID arrived, I was already wearing my mask whenever I went ouitside, especially here in Thailand (all of SEA, S Asia & China) due to the air pollution. Each year we face the "burning season"...I recall flying from BKK to NKP in the planting season, not able to see the ground at all due to the smoke from all the fires. But, each year we hear the govt claiming to be fighting this "burning season" and it just seems to be getting worse instead of better. Besides folks suggestions about putting air purifiers in all rooms of one's abode, wearing an N95 surgical mask should be worn whenever going outside in my opinion and that of many doctors. Since normally, health problems caused by the pollution don't appear immediately in many cases, it seems folks just ignore any possible self-solution activities. My opinion based on the conversations with doctors and reading about pollution and masks on the internet with comments from doctors and scientists. It all comes down to what one is willing to take charge of to prevent damage from the pollution.

In Chiang Mai, when I did my transfer of stamps from old to new passport, I also needed to do a 90-day report on that date as my online was rejected too after doing several online reports successfully. The first thing they told me at the outside tent was to go to the TM.30 office (2 minutes) behind the main bldg and which opened 15 minutes before the main office. Then they told me to go to the walk in window for the 90-day report, (1 minute only). Then they sent me inside to window 2 for transfer of stamps (free). All in all no problems and guess they want a tm.30 report at the same time even if no normal reason. My experience this year anyway.

Sorta like probably almost any business private or govt, "agents" find ways to bend the rules it seems. And, there always seem to be customers willing to hire those agents.

great to know. Thanks for that info

Actually, They wrote a nice letter explaining that the insurance policy covers unlimited including 50,000 USD for hospitalization. They didn't put an ending date only xxx-xxx-xxx so the ltr folks just put int the 10-year final date. 2034! Several other retired US govt also said they had a real problem using the same insurance company so am sure that the office in the US understood what was needed and it didn't violate any of the coverage. No more 90-day reports and since I did it online each time, actually less than 90-days each time.

Yes, for health insurance, although I have a US govt sponsored health insurance ..since 1996..but there is no policy provided so I gave them the benefits (17 pages) highlighted benefits within the pages that explained that if I had to go to the hospital, EVERYTHING would be paid for by the insurer. But they needed a letter from the insurance company spelling out that at least 50,000 baht coverage for hospitalization locally was provided and asked for an ending date of the policy so the final is 10 years hence. Actually the BOI folks were extremely helpful and patient. Only 3 weeks or so from retirement O to the 10-year LTR! Excellent, no need for me to read it for you...most folks just won't read it for themselves. Yes a native Thai can use form 7 I think for the US IRS to cease taxing the pension benefit and then since she is a thai, will need to pay thai taxes.

PIB- you query about having to file an income tax form even though your pension is not taxable - according to the Thai tax code, one only needs to get a Thai tax number within 60 days of receiving ASSESSIBLE income and since your pension is not assessible you don't need to do a tax form. I am not sure how nor if the Thai revenue department will require us to provide proof that the pension is from the US government. We will have to wait until the final word is published by the revenue department.

In February, I began my application for an LTR under the "wealthy pensioner" category. The BOI folks were extremely helpful with lots of patience. On 25 March I received my LTR stamps in my passport. No more 90-day reports. As for local taxes, my pension is that of the US govt so under the FTA I do not pay any tax to Thailand.

get a rabies shot!!!!!!

take the hint from one of the above - buy n95 material and put it on fans - WEAR an N95 mask as it will filter out the 2.5 micron air pollutant.

LTR visa also advertizes as a benefit, "fast track service at international airports of Thailand". The Thai board of investment is the sponsor. I just changed from retiement to the LTR, and plan on using the non-existent fast track service if I go through a Thai international airport.

probably will do shortly as the govt has passed the same sex marriage law!

for quab32 - see my above comment on your visits here

are you aware of the 2024 new income tax rules? will your total number of days within Thailand exceed 180 days making you a tax resident? Only asking to be sure that you are aware of these new rules.

Yeah I suffered through it for tens of years. The during assignment in PI, did a lot of scuba diving - salt water and sunshine wiped out just about all of my psoraisis except for that on the scalp. The I began using coal tar shampoos - eventually all on the scalp disappeared too until just recently after a COVID bout. I eventually found a some coal tar shampoos on shopee and began using it a couple of times a week. Much relief for sure.

Also for scalp, shopee/et all sell coal tar based shampoo - rids the scalp totally of the disease. Unfortunately if you had COVID, that is a disease that is affected by the bodiy's autoimmune system and COVID seems to have unleashed that plus hives and other autoimmune diseases. Salt water and sunshine seem to help wipe some fo it away too. Google "healthline" and psoraisis and it can possibly provide answers too.

Yeah, added to all the other comments about locals and criminal acty, on the Swiss kicker stories, recall the news items about the beach areas taken over by the rich folks renting - according to the news items on this forum, a Thai land development company took over all those beaches to help rent out the villas for big bucks - the Swiss guy said that the stairs upon which the dr was sitting was on his property and then we learned that some of the beaches were blocked by the housing developments owned by the Thai locals. Now it seems the lower ranking citizens there want their beaches back as they are supposedly public lands according to the news.

Well recent media programs here in Bangkok have reported that the Thai govt is coordinating with Japan to non-criminalize 150K illegal Thai workers there while in S. Korea they are coordinating with the govt there to de-criminalize the 170K Thai workers in Korea. Not sure how many other countries have the same problem. I see no problem with the local govt checking businesses, for illegal workers no matter what nationality and for punishing criminal activity otherwise. I try to avoid doing anything even remotely seeming to be illegal. On this forum, they have reported this past week that since Oct of last year they have cancelled the visas of 68 foreigners - that seems to be a very small number to me. Maybe as the 180-day stay and possible tax problems, that number may increase but I sure won't be included in that category.

AMEN to that!

well, that may be 100% true about the PI but reading their forum, I see almost the same comments - some people happy, many not so happy. The PI was my 2nd choice for retirement as I spent 6 years there but the natural disasters on a regular basis there made my choice of Thailand easy. The immigration situation in Thailand seems to be a strongly felt major complaint area - I have been here for over 20 years and it has gotten better and easier than it used to be. To better enjoy life, look for the good rather than the bad and once the bad wins out all the time, it is easy to see that it is time for a change of location maybe. Take care stay safe.

I found the same results as you last year when I was due for a renewal in May. The only date (90 days before in checking) was the day before my due date! I have always done my renewal 30 days in advance just in case something new was added and I needed that extra time to fix things. But, in both of the last two years I just walked in, got my queue ticket, waited inside and never spent more than 90 minutes at immigration so since we used to have to wait hours in various queues, I see no real problem in not having an appointment - last year I was only in immigration for 45 minutes.