Presnock

Yeah agree that ex-pats should not have to even think about the tm.30 - when I came down to BKK in Feb, I notified that owner of the house my wife is leasing so that she could send a tm.30 in.  After several phone calls with her agent from my wife, we learned that the online filing system was giving the landlord problems and they asked that I do it myself.  I refused as I mentioned to them that this is a Thai law that immigration is forcing onto the ex-pats.  They relented and the next day I received a copy of the "approved" TM.30 receipt from immigration.  The landlord complained but he did do it eventually.  There are also "agents" that can say they are authorized to forward the TM.30 to immigration and require the same documents that the ex-pat would use to do that report himself.  After acceptance, the agent provides a copy of the Receipt from immigration - they do the filing free but if one wants a copy of the receipt they have a very small fee.  Just saying as an agent can also do the TM.30 for one in person at the local immigration office so all seems to be legal and with a copy of the immigration receipt of the report it seems all okay.

Digitalbanana,

  I have never used an agent in 20 years of doing the yearly extension of stay and it used to be even more difficult but in all that time I never used an agent until this year as I decided to got the LTR route and the BOI folks were super in help and patience.  Definitely worth the 2 weeks of preparation.  Now I will continue resting easy for the next 10 years.

11 hours ago, parafareno said:

i have it but i dont like having cash in bank account....so I guess I will go agent way

That was my feelings also, having all kinds of restrictions on the 800,000 and doing the at least 65K per month was easy for me - I actually did more thn 3 times that every month but, I also was spending more than 65K a month anyway.  I still think that is a much easier way without having to think about when to have how much in the account for the IO to check.  The letter (s) from the bank were very easy to obtain each year.  Never had a problem doing it that way.

15 minutes ago, MPoll said:

The pensioner LTR was never 100,000 baht. It was talked about but the price was 50,000 baht when it launched in September 2022. I applied in Oct 2022 and got it in January 2023.

Yeah sounds good to me...I read it on this forum about the drop from 100,000 and it didn't give a time frame.  Anyway, BOI are really helpful and patient.  Took about 3 weeks total time.

6 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

 Still needed but it becomes a 365 day report 😉 it becomes once per year if you dont travel. 

yes, so not every 90-days, exactly what I said...

The wealthy pensioner LTR good for ten years, no taxes on foreign earned income, no 90-day reports - google the Board of Investment (BOI) LTR for requirements and benefits - cost currently is 50K baht - last year was 100K baht.  Other LTR seem to be more expensive.

11 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

Yes LTR visas are 0 rated for overseas income tax.. Exactly why I am transitioning to an LTR visa. 

11 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

Yes LTR visas are 0 rated for overseas income tax.. Exactly why I am transitioning to an LTR visa. 

plus no 90-day reports either.

6 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

The problem is, who is deciding what "assessable income" is, and how would anyone verify that is, or is not?

DTA Between Thailand and US and Royal Decree re LTR visa.

6 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

The problem is, who is deciding what "assessable income" is, and how would anyone verify that is, or is not?

my income is covered by the dta between the US and Thailand and I am good for 10 years as of last month as covered by Royal Decree also.

10 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

The rule is, assessible income of over 120,000, then a TIN is required.

I disagree totally with that.   If under the DTA US govt pensions cannot be taxed by Thailand as are US SS funds so unless someone has additional funds, they do not have assessable income to not only report but there is no reason to go to the RD and obtain a Thai TIN as they have no assessable income ever - like me and in addition to that, under Royal Decree No. 743 dated 23 May 2022, all of my funds that I remit to Thailand are tax exempt.

1 hour ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

Something just occurred to me. If the ONLY change is this loophole is being closed then does that imply we've all been evading taxes all these years UNLESS we used the loophole? Obviously most of us never even knew about the loophole so what's really changing? Seems like we're in the same position now as we ever were.

I haven't!  I paid the taxes on my US govt pension every year.  That is not assessable income for any of my remittances.

2 hours ago, Phulublub said:

Or perhaps some of the muppets posting incorrrect nonsense should do some background reading before making knee jerk and utterly wrong statements.

 

PH

What I fine really disgusting, is that people from a multitude of countries don't even bother to read the tax agreements between Thailand and their country.  In addition everyone's income may come from totally alien to at least some of us who do read our DTA and the local RD regs, yet those folks continue to pour out their situation and expect us to clarify things for them.  Yeah a couple of really nice people do that very thing but again no matter what we advise, until the final written law or amendment to same are published we are just guessing.  Some incomes are exempt the royal decree even under Royal Decree No. 743 dated 23 May 2022. 

2 hours ago, CharlesHolzhauer said:

 

Frankly, I am quite dispirited by your assertion. After all and the best to my knowledge, you are engaged in a business endeavor up north. Maybe your comment might have been made humorously or without much thought.

 

Obtaining a tax identification number (TIN) does not automatically mean that the holder is paying taxes. A TIN is simply a unique identifier assigned by a tax authority to individuals or entities for tax purposes.

 

However, whether or not taxes are actually paid depends on various factors such as the individual or entity's income, deductions, exemptions, and compliance with tax laws and regulations. Simply having a TIN does not guarantee that taxes are being paid, as it is possible for someone to have a TIN but not have any taxable income or to be non-compliant with tax obligations.

The RD instructions on "when to obtain a Thai tax id number" says within 60 days of remitting assessable income for 2024 and several people on this forum have indicated that when they went to their local RD, they were refused the issuance of a Thai TIN as they didn't have assessable income.

9 hours ago, Swall101 said:

Thanks for all the great replies and sharing your experience it is much appreciated. Definately other options which seemed logical to me and you guys have reinforced that. Real shame that the visa specialists are not this transparent, especially as you are putting your faith in them to do the right thing by you (would be good to get your recommendations on specialists if allowed on open forum should I decide to take that route for ease).

 

 @khunPer really surprised at how reasonable the fees for IS on Samui are, being an island you would of thought they could name their price! Lot cheaper than some of the other areas I mentioned. Would you say that would be offset by higher property rental prices on Samui? eg. higher there than say Hua Hin? (any local rental sites you would recommend to do a bit of research?)

 

Out of interest I've always wanted to learn a second language but never really had the time or need (shamefully), but this is something I aim to do in retirement to better integrate into Thai society should I be lucky enough to be granted a visa. Being there 18 years any tips?

Studied it for a year before being assigned here.  Then went to many more language schools and assigments elsewhere so when I returned for another tour here, I had forgotten the language but it came back.  A lot of the schools here teach classes as do private individuals too.  I don't really know where a good instruction is as I never studied it here.  But immersion into the local society definitely is the way to go.  International schools all depend on where one's children might got to college as they are geared towards that area.  I have ignored agents at every step since I came here.  Nothing was really too difficult, one just needs patience but I also speak the language.  Again, as long as one has patience explanations not only from immigration but from the forum can help too.  Just about every possible scenario has been faced over the years many times over.  Take care

Yes so far we are just waiting for the "FINAL" word on the tax situation.  As  govt pensioner, I am not concerned with this new interpretation of the tax laws but, TIT.  I think you and anyone else wondering about the taxes here, should read the Double Taxation Agreement with your country.  I know where I stand as an American govt Pensioner but like I said TIT.  No one really knows how it will end up, how we may have to provide paper trail on monies or what.  All of us just need to wait. Other countries too are amending/or not changing their taxes on ex-pats because of the OECD July 2023 signing.  Good luck to all.  Have a good one

3 hours ago, Swall101 said:

Thanks for all the great replies and sharing your experience it is much appreciated. Definately other options which seemed logical to me and you guys have reinforced that. Real shame that the visa specialists are not this transparent, especially as you are putting your faith in them to do the right thing by you (would be good to get your recommendations on specialists if allowed on open forum should I decide to take that route for ease).

 

 @khunPer really surprised at how reasonable the fees for IS on Samui are, being an island you would of thought they could name their price! Lot cheaper than some of the other areas I mentioned. Would you say that would be offset by higher property rental prices on Samui? eg. higher there than say Hua Hin? (any local rental sites you would recommend to do a bit of research?)

 

Out of interest I've always wanted to learn a second language but never really had the time or need (shamefully), but this is something I aim to do in retirement to better integrate into Thai society should I be lucky enough to be granted a visa. Being there 18 years any tips?

Huahin properties based on the news media and this forum are overrun with Russians and Ukrainians fleeing the war.  That has driven up the prices too.  Times have changed in Thailand over the past years and some things are changing today.  The new income tax program began in earnest on 1 Jan 2024 so after 180 days here, an ex-pat become a tax resident.  You need to be aware of that too. This is still better than anywhere that has cold weather in my opinion.  Food is great!

2 hours ago, MrJ2U said:

I'm all for wearing masks for peak pandemics or deadly smog days.

 

However I'm not wearing a mask now and don't plan to.

Practically impossible, expensive, and definitely to damned hot.

 

I see this not working.  A few idiots in positions of power with either stock in mask companies or totally paranoid about foreigners. 

pollution levels are reported daily/hourly throughout Thailand by at least "accuweather (locality)"  - the north has been reported in news media at world leading numbers. This mornings TNN news at  0600 reported that one could not see CM city from Doi Suthep overlooking the city due to smog.  News medie daily show map of Thailand with pollution totals and in almost all areas the readings are above the healthy level.  I have a 2.5 micron meter and in my area of Bangkok the readings have been above the healthy level almost every day for the past few months including all of last week.  Before it rained last week, the readings were in the 50's and afterwards over a 100!  google "masks and pollution" and you can read about the studies that confirm that quality n95 masks can block the 2.5 microns.  wearing one though is  personal choice!

I did the transfer in Feb 2024, went to the tent outside at 800 (opens 830) had all my paperwork done except for the couple of illin's at the tent about overstays etc, that everyone has to fill in.  Then and IO walks around and will check to see if one has done all the paperwork - he checked mine at 810, told me to go to the TM 30 office behind the main office (opened at 815) went inside spent 5 minutes with IO to fill in a new TM30 for the New Passport.  went back to the tent, they then called my queue number - looked at the paperwork and sent me to the walk-in 90-day report a mine was due that day but they kept all the paperwork and advised me to just come back and no waiting.  90-day report about 2 minutes max, went back to the window and they stapled the reports into my new passport and sent me in to window 2 which is for transfers.  took about half an hour of waiting and then I was out of there in no time.  No costs for sure.  Then came to BKK, landlord did a tm30 and I applied online for LTR through the Board of Investment, under the 2nd category of wealthy pensioner - 3 weeks later I have he new visa.  good for 10 years and only 1400+ USD, in and out of Thailand without further costs, easy in and out line at the international airport.  If I wanted to work he BOI takes care of that permit too.  Close to the elite visa but no 90-day reports!

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

If we say like this:

If you want to work, you need work permit. With such permit you can get business visa/extension.

For retirees, there is already a better option with only 800k or 65k per month.

For people with Thai children or married to a Thai there is 400k or 40k per month option.

Besides that, visas for education, rather long stay tourist visas and smart visas.

The weathy pensioner(1 of 4 categories if one were to check it out first) allows one to get a work  permit through the Board of Investment also, as  for the tax effects, there are several categories  there too, I never said that one didn't have to pay taxes and with the LTR the visa (work permited too) is 10-years.  In the 10-year period, if one travels in and out of Thailand, this visa is even cheaper than a retirement visa and it doesn't tie up any of one's money with required bank restrictions.  

google electric bikes/scooters in Thailand - easy enough to do and you get numerous shops selling basically the same bikes/scooters

Well the "bum gun" and paper wipe is much more sanitary than that of the west that uses paper only.  The toilet paper on the table is much cheaper for them to use than paper towels.  I for one, am of the opinion that sanitation in this regard is much better here but that is just me.