Presnock

You should contact the BOI by phone or email at least and make the appointment - for mine, as soon as they said I could book an appointment I went immediately. They are very accomodating.

Mike is so correct! No one really knows for sure, even the Thai RD folks haven't all been read in it seems, and until we see the final nothing could be even close to resembling all that we read here.

You should be aware of the new income tax law interpretation that took place this year 2024 and implications for possible more changes to come. By coming on a temporary visa, it should enable you to visit several areas depending on type of life you want to lead here and experience the weather differences.

some of the youtube videos also mentioned that ATM and credit card charges would not count as remittances into Thailand but I am not going to go through them again as it doesn't matter to me

actually, when immigration changed their policy saying that we could not use a joint account for accounting funds, I had to open a separate acccount at BB and needed to give them my ss number. Not to worry though as I won't owe them any taxes .

But unless they change the rule on getting a Thai tax number many will continue to ignore that until someone forces them by changing that law which according to some of the videos has been suggested but shot down for some reason. I have not clue about anything financial except for US tax on my pension. Same goes for Thailand and my pension. GOod luck to all.

shows you how much I paid attention to the clip...just passing it along as I continue seeing the same questions from people though none of us including ALL the experts legal or not has any real clue what will be coming out of the this government on finances and taxes among a myriad of other problems facing them. Though I do hope that the expats remaining here have no serious tax problems due to these govt "discussions".

what research. I have only a us govt pension - dta protected, ltr no 90-day reports, royal protected after DTA so like I said I just have seen some videos that folks tell me about so I check to see that is all, I don't really need to bother with any of the crap folks spread...especially when they deeply go into their income finances..like I could really care if even if I had a clue as to what they were saying. anyway hope you and your taxes are okay once we get the word (s) on them from the TRD.

there is another interesting video done a week ago on youtube - "ChocolatemaninThailand" interviewed Thomas Hardin, "the Director of th American International Tax Advisors" concerning the worldwide income tax program but not a whole lot of information that hasn't been suggested concerning the program but he is an American with a lot of experience I guess here in Thailand. He does say they plan to increase manning both farang and especially Thai advisors once they know what is happening and when. He says it will definitely take an advisor to help one do the Thai taxes other than the really simple ones. But we just must continue to wait so that WE OURSELVES can see the final program that the Thai RD has planned for expats. Good luck to us all.

Actually, I didn't note the time on the original message - thus my answer now sorry...

actually, when you first apply, they give you a list of quite a few possible organizations to join prior to getting an account. I just chose ACA but there were some that one could join for $15 only too...once you have an account, you do not have to remain a member of that organization - only need to be so in getting an account. You do not need anything USA, address, or phone number. Yes as far as I know, but I have my pension sent to SDFCU and then do a wire transfer on any monies I need here. They have several different Credit cards for you /wife or whatever, my wife and daughter are also on the account in case I suddenly depart. I have seen on this forum something about Chase but don't know for sure. SDFCU gave me an acct over 5 years ago and no problems with any transfers - normally after I send a wire transfer it has taken 1 day to apprear in my Bangkok Bank except for once it took 2 days but that was the only non 1 day deposit. I am not sure what wise charges for transfers...the cc watchers will also check with you on any suspicious activity on your card. Good luck! I recommend SDFCU as a secure and safe bank for me. We needed a monthly statement (which we get anyway) but my daughter needed a statement signed by someone at the bank for her summer college course membership in Korea - I sent an email advising the bank of this and the following day we had the signed letter in our secure email from the bank.

actually I take everything said on these financial issues as guesses, some more probable or possible than others, but all are still guesses no matter who is making the statement. Even the TRD folks that sit in on the webinars are only guessing to as it doesn't appear that EVERYONE who has a vote on the issures agrees totally with everything. We probably will have to wait until the end of this year or early next year just to get the actual gazette report on this 2024 program as that is when the tax forms are due. I sure have no idea what will happen nor when it will happen. I thank whatever reason my finances are so simple so that I can totally relax...if the next world wide income program is birthed here, I still don't think I will leave Thailand unless the tax burden zoooooooooms! good luck to all of us.

I have been a member since 1996 - costs keep going up but since UNCLE pays about twice as much as me for that policy, I can afford it...1st wife used it during fight against breast cancer and everything went smoothly as we were in the states during that period. I haven't filed a claim in years but probably will do so shortly for last year's/this year's daughter visits to hospital. Previous overseas coverage office was great in providing letters but not so sure about this new one. Will wait and see. Many hospitals in Thailand are preferred providers so they should recognize the Fepblue anyway.

Actually, unless they wait until 2025 to put out the final paper on this, I think we will have time to digest the current year (2024) but I also believe that if they are going to go world wide income programs then it will take some time for that LAW to pass ... my feelings anyway.

Yes, foreign lawyers are allowed to work here as consultants and advisors on legal matters. I have seen this guy on many videos talking about the tax issues. Speaks well, but again, until the final papers are published on any tax changes, and then the Thai Revenue Dept gives their input on individual finanacial/tax issues, nothing any of these agents or consultants tells us could be right or wrong. I have heard one of these guys on youtube talking about any foreigner with a financial system that is not simple, will have to have a Thai tax agent help him with the tax forms. Several "agents" have mentioned that their office plans to expand greatly! to handle all the queries and filings. Just saying that the more days that pass, the new stories come out, the more ammo these agents get for having a field dayl when the final paper is published. Glad mine is really simple. Good luck to everyone on these issues.

well one advice or comment listening to numerous you tube videos on this subject, a senior US tax (director) said that one "most likely" will have to have an expert tax advisor to help with anything other than a simple financial situation - his office will expand both foreigners and especially Thai tax people because they will decide how to interpret foreign tax laws so it seems to me that in the case mentioned here, no matter what the American might claim, it will most likely only be selected by the Thai advisors on the interpretation of the TRD but, TIT so anything could be possible once the final paper is published.

Well I agree with all these comments - I think a lot of the newer or tourists are coming here to take a break from their home problems - when I talk with anyone in the states, they talk about how negative all the people are too, plus here a lot of grumbling about the taxes - and then I see that this is a world wide problem and thus the OECD, CRS. FACTA. FBAR. etc that 138 countries signed onto (OECD) but all agree that there is too many people not paying their taxes due. From this grumbling here, I wonder how many that fits but to each his own. As an American, I believe that which was said by B. Franklin over 200 years ago - nothing is certain except taxes and death. I feel I will not be affected tax wise here but maybe some paper work for the Thai Revenue Department to leave me alone. Would really appreciate the final on this year's taxes - to see if they make any kind of announcement that ALL expats have to get a Thai Tax ID whether one has no assessable income. Once heard on a video that this was once considered but nothing came of it. Good luck to all, hope the bad stuff continues to happen to someone else.

there are an abundance of "experts" including the director of the American tax agency, and some other tax agents here in Thailand videos on youtube - just google Youtube search - world wide taxation of income in Thailand - look for ones less than 2 weeks old so you don't just get all the stuff one has heard too many times already plus all the comments here of disgruntled folks. One agent says that it is not necessary for ALL to get a tax ID currently unless one actually has assessable income into Thailand, severaly have mentioned that foreign credit cards and ATM's will not be charged as remitted into Thailand, but these are their interpretation and not a definite decision by the Thai Revenue Department. Another US tax agent says that he feels only 20% of expats here will be affected here in 2024 while 80% won't be affected at all. Anyway there are a lot more videos on 2024 if interested still in this, and many on the world wide income taxation that is "under discussion" and some of the agents feel that it will 2-3 years before that could be implemented - but, like all the agents and experts we have been listening to since the November announcement are only guessing - some based on experience but then that should tell them that just about anything could happen including droppin that world wide income taxation until some later date as they may have seen the numbers of expats that left this past week - anybody have any idea on how many did leave? For the rest of us we need to CHILL and carry on as if nothing will bother us.

WoW! I have seen vehicle fires before but recently all the fires I have seen are just awesome to watch but must be horrifying to the owners/drivers hope all always escape!

but the common thread is lithium battery - guess if it is in a fire, difficult to douse it - vehicles burn everything flamable I guess.

Yes, 2024 overseas benefits include "unlimited" for hospitalization with anything fully covered according to the benefits package.

You are correct, GEO blue obviously didn't read their 2024 brochure of overseas benefits. It is very clear, hospitalization coverage says "unlimited" and ENGLISH meaning covered in full. Even if you went to a non-prefered provider, it should also be covered in full! I would contact bcbs immediately, complain and ask "wtf over". The sole reason we probably have this very insurance is it supposedly covers everything without hassles. I used to have the "wellness card" to from fepbku - had it for several years, responded every week doing my exercises, and reports to fepblu folks. BUT it doesn't give the same result as use in the US does in that no pharmacy in Thailand has the right code for one to use the card, even within the hospital, most times I had to pay up front and then claim it back on the card. I have several hundred dollars and the purpose of the card is to buy OTC meds, and things at the pharmacies - a joke so I told them I wasn't interested in that anymore. I am also on the advisory committee and will bring this up too. Pls advise whatever they respond as it will affect my contact with fepblu. thanks for this info too.

2 years ago, we used my VISA card to charge airline tickets...then I read that the ransomeware hackers had obtained data on 5-million workers and users of that airline but that the owner refused to pay them so I do not know if that data was released or if some other hacker stole my data but then a few days later I was advised by my bank of two suspicious charges on my acct but that they had frozen them. Yes not my charges at all. Same story, cancelled immediately my card and then had to wait 6 weeks or so to get a new card. But that is the only time I have had a problem. Fraud office at bank does contact me often though, so no I advise them of anything out of the ordinary that I will be charging or out of this country. Good luck to all.

totally agree especially that which I hate is the TM 30 which is the owner's responsibility to report signing in but which the expat themselves are the one's fined if the owner doesn't feel like doing it or won't provide ID card copy and blue book for the house/condo/apartment/hotel...Why not just re-instate the tm28 and let the expat report without all the other necessary extra person's id etc?

I have an LTR and never heard or read anything about a mail in 365 -day report. All I have seen is an agent, including one's wife or whatever could take the form 95 to the BOI for that notification which is to provide them with one's current address or the bit about leaving Thailand during the one-year period and upon re-entry the 365 days begin once more. I believe you should be able to find the tm95 on the boi website...in your own account if not elsewhere.