Presnock

My daughter started college in BKK and so while we live in CM, we are also renting a house in BKK so when I came to BKK I needed legally to have a TM.30 done by the landlord. I didn't really need to do one in CM according to the rules but I was doing a transfer of stamps in new p/p and they said to get a new TM.30 for inclusion in the new p/p. Was free and only 5 minutes so no problem from me. I was on a retirement O (19 years) but now have changed to LTR.

This is my opinion only but, I have over 60 years experiencing driving, 30 within Thailand and 20 more in foreign countries, some of which are as bad as here but not as crowded. The local drivers seem to me to have learned their driving habits from their very early days of riding motorcycles and eventually they come of legal age to drive a car. Some maybe go to a driving school but many even if they do that, still seem to be driving with their motorcycle skills. They always seem to cut corners even when in the mountains - really scare the whatever out of me to come around a corner and some idiot is way into my lane! They learned while on motorcycles, that they could totally ignore traffic laws and violate many laws right in front of a policeman who just ignores them. They learned on motorcycles that no matter how crowded the traffic, one can just zoom around others changing lanes constantly, etc without any regards to the other vehicles on the road. Mine opinion only of course but....

I used to provide proof of income with statements from govt office sending the pension funds but the past couple of years, they don't want any foreign reports, only the Bank letters about deposits, owner of acct etc. for the yearly extension. But TIT and who knows what they will accept unless you can talk directly to the IO there and ask what exactly will be needed since the US EMbassy and 2 others no longer provide income letters as they used to.

Also, at CM the tm.30 office is behind the main bldg and opens even 15 minutes prior to the main office and they have several IO that take care of any reports that need to be done. Is very quick and hardly any waiting so I also have done a report there, they staple the report into the passport so no problems. But having to go to CW in BKK from where I am staying is a loooonnng trip and I would prefer having it done by someone else.

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.

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.

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.

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.

plus no 90-day reports either.

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

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.

Once the embassy stopped issuing income verification letters, I began monthly payments and my income was strictly from a US government pension so I have never FAILED to pay taxes where none are due. I don't have a Thai TIN and don't plan to get one at least until they change the tax law to require that all ex-pats must get one. The law now says we only need to get on within 60 days of remitting assessable income - I don't have any.

Our daughter went to Korea for a concert in February. She went into Korea of course on her US passport as much easier. But upon her return she couldn't find her Thai passport but they let her in on her Thai ID card and had her fill out the lost passport at the Lost and found office. Surprised how easy it was.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Actually, my daughter goes to a Thai University and EVERYTHING had to be done in ENGLISH including the interview. And, due to other reports of "poor" English, new testing was supposedly being set up. I wonder what college this ladi obtained her degree - one of those that family money kept greasing the wheels of education I guess. Who hires that kind of graduate?

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

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!

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!