Presnock

I too was wondering what must the Ossie women think about their male citizens? Are they physical studs? or are they fit just like the gals?

Guess being a senior politician here is a "walking on ice" type of working for the people. Unless everyone is happy to some extent, then relax but the military "hanging over your head" is always right there if you slip. But just look at the current govt. Have a general election, strong majority win BUT some not happy make claims that in normal countries would never have taken place anyway but here, no matter what one may have done in the past, somehow they manage to remain in power - even if not by title. Seems to me since I began staying long time in1970's, every time that the country settled down and began making some progress, oops a coup...this continues into this century too. hopefully, there will be some political stabilization but not right at the moment. Then next year, they enter BRICS and who knows what changes that will bring. I think it is funny that Indonesia and Malysia both plan on joining BRICS next year too and within the past month both have had their navy chasing Chinese navy ships out of their exclusive economic zones. They want to cozy up to the BRICS folks but it seems to me that they are only thinking of impossible increase of sales to those BRICS folks and we know that in reality the BRICS folks are increasing their numbers to garner more markets for their own folks and more votes against the west.

oops - I am in Prawet district of Bangkok, sorry if I gave you a bad number - you can check for yourself if concerned.

yes and yesterday and today 2.5 micron reached over the 100 level - today up to 116, meter is flashing "red" indicating very dangerous! No smelling for this guy!

I myself worry just how much longer my insurer will continue raising prices every year - this year I am getting a cost of living allowance (not so high) and the health insurer is increasing their cost so 1/3 of the COLA is gone. I have seen references to folks now calling our premiums for CADILLAC coverage meaning too many new frills in each year's coverage. Then they want to add on dental and pharma coverage on top of the already high premiums. Just another rip off but at this late stage of life, while I might not need the coverage - it is for the family. I have never had any charges on any of my insurance coverages! Lucky to be healthy...soon my daughter will be too old to be on my coverage and I can then drop some of the costs. best of health to all!

sounds a lot like you would make up the idea of a certain religious male that considers a woman as a slave only. I mean in some of those areas, women cannot even look at the eyes of another man. Also you could have a lot of slave wives. Strange that this "religion" has been around since the 600's. In some of those countries, women have had some freedom at times, dressed like the western women, educated free by the govt, but then a revolution and the women are slaves again. Just find that hard to believe but it is still like that. other countries liberated for 20 years, women allowed equality in jobs, education, but then liberators leave and the country goes back to the stone age! Totally fail to understand this "religion". When the father of this religion passed away, there became a split in who would be the leaders of this religion and almost 2000 years later both sides continue to kill each other. strange! Just saying as the biggest thing to me is the relationships between men and women in that religion. One would think that at some point the women would revolt as western women have done, but also realize that this was a planned program of the UN since the 90's, bringing equality to jobs and rights to more women of the world. Here, women are still kept "at bay" for the most part. Obviously their males don't provide what they need and I guess accept their own freedoms from women when so desired. Will this last? who knows as now it seems more of the westerners will possibly depart. I however am still hoping it takes a while as I love it here even with the constant changes, it seems to remain the same.

the 180 day magic number is within 1 calendar year (1 jan-31 dec). good luck

I only quoted the Thai Revenue Dept "tax identification" para 1 is the 60-days after the assessable income. gives the form needed to fill out for individual and form for corporate. A lot would depend on visa and yeah if you know for sure you will not be a 180 day tax resident then you don't have to file taxes in Thailand, That may change in the future as they go after every adult must have a tax id number. Until guidance is provided by the revenue dept of the govt then we can just relax.

the 60-day after remitting assessable income is in Paragraph 1 of the Thai revenue dept page on "Tax Identification" quote: " person liable to personal income - within 60 days from the date he derives assessable income. Form L.P. ...." for individual.

well the just concluded BRICS to welcome some new countries - some from the Middle East and then they invited a bunch of other countries - among them Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand and these 4 plus others will become official BRICS countries next year totalling 42 countries. At that point, that group will consist of 46% of the world's population, 37% of the global GDP and 42% of the oil ouput. They report that they plan to introduce a new currency to counter those of the western banking system. Since Thailand will be a BRICS country, how might that impact the western expats? Anybody have a clue?

if a "tourist" is only here for 175 days, he is not a tax resident so wouldn't have a tax id nor have to file taxes on any of the funds remitted into Thailand. If someone knows for sure that they will stay within Thailand for less that the 180 days, then again not necessary to obtain a tax ID (probably Thai Revenue Dept wouldn't provide one for that person anyway. My personal feeling is that either this scheme or the worldwide income taxation scheme if it ever comes to pass will REQUIRE all adults in Thailand to obtain a tax ID number, but I also don't think that the revenue dept will give a tax ID if one is on tourist visa. I sure have no idea when or what they will come up with but believe that they are still discussing some ways so that they can milk every baht out of those long stayers. Possibly will need to tighten up the immigration and tax folks jobs and sharing of what they can get out of the expats. Or maybe they will do as the PI and not tax pensions of foreigners at all. Then today we see an opposition member talking about the PM dissolving the parliament soon - if this happens, then any tax scheme will probably be put on hold indefinitely. If it does happen, can see the baht losing steam too as who will want to invest here. BTW any ideas on what will happen as Thailand joins BRICS next year. SInce they want to do all away with the dollar/pound/euro - how that will impact us western expats?

Well, I obtained my LTR this current year and was informed by the BOI that remittances of foreign funds was tax exempt by royal decree. If it had been only on certain foreign funds then I do believe that they would have informed us of that. If they do go to a different taxation scheme, then who knows if we will still be exempt - at least I will still have only my US govt pension as income so am not worried either way.

I findit difficult to understand why so many countries are lined up to join BRICS. Especially those in the ASIA pacific area as they should be cognizant of the status of the Chinese close buddies - MyanMar, Lao, Cambodia. and then just this week, the Indonesian Navy had to chase a Chinese navy ship out of their trade center. In 2017 the mil govt signed an agreement with the Chinese who had outlawed E-Waste there so that it was all sent to Thailand - stored in warehouses controlled by Thai/Chinese folks - a fire and current govt finds out about all the e-waste being ILLEGALLY stored UNSAFELY too, some even in BANGKOK leaking chemicals into the river here. Then, not too long ago Thailand signed a trade agreement with China. Then within a few short weeks, local merchants began screaming about all the "poor quality" Chinese merchandiise pourng into the country. I fail to understand that when someone makes a deal with the Chinese, they then close their eyes - guess maybe someone got something extra for signing that agreement as it doesn't seem tpo benefit the Thai merchants!

To begin with, it was a 300 baht tax on all tourists, now they say 60 baht of that 300 will be for insurance - means they will have to get the insurance companies to agree to whatever plus as it goes through the cabinet, who knows what else will be taken out. At first they said that the airlines would be responsible for collecting the 300 baht from each "tourist" - airlines just laughed at them and said no way are we doing YOUR responsibility. Next they might try immigration...

Well., from the news, China is welcoming Thailand into BRICS and ready to sign some more trade agreements as their manufacturers ran out of customers to off load all the copies. As soon as Thailand signs any agreement with China does anyone else notice that immediately the local merchants start crying about the influx of all the Chinese low qualitiy merchandise pouring into the country?

this is what they are currently planning - using the ETA system such as that in S. Korea whenever one plans to visit Thailand, they must file the ETA (electronic travel authorization) at which time the traveler will need to pay the 300 baht whatever (insurance, handling fee, whatever) but first of all it needs to be approved by the cabinet and indications are there might be some changes to that process and even if the cabinet approves this program, the managers of such program says it will take at least 6 more months from that approval to actually impement it. This govt might not even last that long.

Yessir, Congress at its best - especially those representatives of the area hard hit by the hurricanes voting against funding for FEMA! But I bet the voters will forget that on election day and who told them to vote against the proposal!

after 20+ years, yes I am still loving paradise. we have a super smart young daughter in college, and enjoying life as much as possible.

if you are serious, then realize that this is just more of the 300 baht added to the ETA for all tourists coming to Thailand.

Totally agree that the "screeners" at the BOI while doing the LTR since it began, know full well WHAT the more senior approvers will accept and that is why they accept or request additional documentation. Luckiy my financial situation is SUPER simple so it was very easy for me to meet their requirements. Best of luck to all. read the qualification requirements for the different 4 catgories i.e. "professional" and what they require from you. If in doubt call the BOI and ask. The speak and understand ENGLISH very well and have always been helpful whenever needed. Good luck.

Been here retired just over 20 years. I have had a couple of negatives - usually brought about due to lack of knowledge . First time just after getting my retirement O, at the 90-day mark I went to the immigration office Ban Suan Plu - guess that is where the immigration office was then and an IO looked at my p/p and said oh, if you come today it is overstay so you must go out of the country and then right back in - which I did so not problem there and they could have fined me but didn't; then my daughter in the US was having a doctors appointment, thinking maybe cancer and wanted me there so I zoomed back without getting a reintry permit. Upon my return, the IO at the airport said oh you didn't get a return permit so, you can come in but go to immigration and they will explain to you how to get backi nto the Retirement O game, which I did with no problems at all and IO's all along were very helpful. SInce I received that visa, a lot of changes have occured, moved to CM and many changes there. Only had to get a COR once for my driver's license there. There was not TM30 bit until just fairly recently. Did the TM28 once and the IO said that was not needed and threw it into the trash bin. I have waited with many other farangs in queue lines in order to get a queue number to get into the immigration office that same day, sometimes had to wait one day. Some folks said they even had to get in the queue line at midnight in order to guarantee a queue number for that very day. the immigration offices have been updated, while we had to go to Promenada Mall for the temporary office, but now the tent outside checking of documents, etc with the TM30 office open just behind even a few minutes before the main office plus the walk-in 90-day office made it really easy. The past couple of years I spent less than 2 hours ever in getting my yearly extension, once just over an hour. I have had 2 new passports with stamps transferred, never had to pay and the IO's have always treated my respectfully. I so speak Thai and maybe that is why I haven't had any unusual problems nor been asked to pay for anything. Now the LTR requires even less documentation and everything needed can be done here at home on my computer so life seems to be getting easier rather than more difficult. But now I notice that Thailand is to join BRICS next year and I am begining to wonder how that will impact the visa picture if at all but if they change to non-USD used for payments, etc then I might have to depart. Anyone lived in a BRICS country have any stories to tell if life is really any different for the average foreigner?

I have a US govt sponsored health insurer and each year they provide a benefits brochure - this year's was 17 pages long so I highlighted certain passages within that and forwarded them to the BOI. Those highlighted indicate "unlimited coverage" for hospitalization overseas but BOI said that wasn't sufficient, meaning I think that the seniors with final approval might not fully understand that phrase so another LTR holder told me that he had the insurance provider send a letter spelling out clearly that the coverage was over the 50K USD for hospitalization and that was the final straw so I had the LTR then within 2 weeks. Best deal yet for someone in my category.

well I have read the Thai Revenue Official English translation of the rules that we have to follow - includes having assessable income so must obtain a Thai tax ID number within 60 days and if one has no assessable income then one doesn't have to obtain a tax ID number file ther tax forms. Now I do realize we are in THailand and since TIT, as they come out with the new tax forms, there may also be some adjustment of the revenue rules on the tax ID as well as who must file the tax forms. Since the LTR specifically says we do not have to pay tax on remitted foreign income, unless they change that rule too then I don't see how we must file the income tax form. But TIT and changes are the true constant. And, the current govt could be gone before too long and even more changes may come about. As a last resort, the PI awaits for all or return to the US if after the election it remains viable. The worry about the LTR is just like all the worry about the tax changes that will most likely affect very few people. As has been said by those who went to the local revenue dept office, those people don't even have a clue yet. It will be November in just a couple of days, wonder if the "new tax forms" are even close to being finalized.

Well the rule about meeting the qualifications during the period of the visa has been around and is for ALL visas. The rules are spelled out in English too on the revenue dept web site.