Presnock

Yeah, good luck on the LTR. I too hope that there is no major change in the benefits - besides the taxes, no 90-day reports either and over all cost not much more or even less than the yearly renewals...they might even change the cost of those as some are suggesting too. If they did that along with the widening of taxes that would ensure no retirees would come here.

BTW I note fm another forum user that there will be another webinar on tomorrow fm HUAHIN. Wonder if it will say the same things, SUGGEST other wild things or just advertising their service. I will listen/watch or whatever and read the comments of others. Though as I have said, I know exactly what my resposibilities are until the government comes out with something telling me something new or nothing new. I know that Mike has to frustrated with the same folks complaining without offering constructive thoughts. Hang in there Mike, smile enjoy life here!

What i was implying is about those that brag even openly about never paying the taxes anywhere and I have continued saying many times here that this new interpretation of the thai tax law might not affect any of the retired expats as some ASEAN countries that also changed the way they look at taxes after July 2023 OECD agreement and are not taxing pensions at all nor anything that has been taxed in one's home country even though they are tax residents in SEA. I still believe that IF the Thai look at what the retired community does in benefits probably outweighs anything that they change if they do go to a world wide even program. Though some people are I guess leaving quickly so as not to become tax residents, I guess it would obviously cost them too much. The OECD program if one reads their documents that a forum reader provided a link, the main reason for the changes is to enable countries to get taxes that are paid as a "fair share". Good luck in any case

I agree with your last sentence. Hope it all works out for you.

none needed as like I said I constantly get questions about other subjects too that were answered just a few minutes earlier...but the big problem is how slow the government moves in order to inform the citizens of progress on any major change be it taxes or elsewhere. Have a great day!

Fully clear and thanks Mike! Alway appreciate your comments!

MIke your should be the last one to ASSUME anything positive from this forum members. Not sure if you notice, but I still get questions about very basic income remitted in to Thailand on other forums and even on this forum see daily that many people must have been asleep over the last 6 months concerning this and other issues. Just like the visas, daily asking the same questions asked yesterday. I have no doubt whatsoever that you and a couple of other members have gone out of your way to keep us all informed of what you know or hear and I appreciate it - when it first started, I too was like many of the other forum users but learned along the way how to find out information for myself about my situation and I definitely am not panicking at all. No one should be yet! in my opinion, we just have to wait. Thanks though for all your assistance!

Mike, as I see it from my perspective, I would agree that it could be mandantory to get a Thai Tax ID if the Thai government changed or interpreted their tax ID law to indicate that whether income is assessable or not, once (60K or 120K whatever amount they choose) has been remitted one must obtain a Thai Tax ID although even by having such an ID would not mean that one would have to file tax forms unless that income is actually assessable under the tax laws. Just saying as that is my operational opinion. Have a good one!

Sounds to me like a Danish tax office IAW OECD, CRS, FACTA or whatever, has forwared to the Thai tax revenue department, details of your pensions/income which may or may not be assessable and you should be aware of if there is a DTA or visa status providing taxes or not status of your income.

That sentence may be partially right but to make it CORRECT it needs in the third phrase, "within 60 days of having assessable income" amended to the original and then it would put an addition caveat on whether or not one is required to get a Thai TIN. Some of us, unless there is a drastic change to the law and interpretations of the change by the government will never have assessable income in regards to the Thai tax laws and therefore, if we are not required to file taxes nor get a Thai TAX ID number then to me it is fairly clear that at present I do not need to get a Thai Tax ID. I do not receive assessable income nor do I remit assessable income into Thailand.

I also see read foreign forums and note changes in those countries too but the governments there quickly changed their rules so that there was very little on the forum like there is here. Most of them were only affected in a minimum way but even those that were moving seemed to accept that as life goes on. In my opinion if one opts to reside in a foreign country for any reason, especially financial benefits then that person should always be aware that conditions could change drastically and should be willing to pay the consequences of past decisions. We are not citizens, don't have any votes whatsoever if we are foreigners so yes, we just have to accept local changes and move on. Here, it might turn out in the end that Thailand will not try to destroy RETIREMENT in this country as they should already have a pretty good idea of the financial benefits we do provide.

by not changing one's mailing address for a bank account other than the original address, it is my opinion (maybe mine only) that you are avoiding or evading taxes somewhere. I too lost my bank account of 50 years because after I sold my stateside home, I refused to use a relative's or friend's address in order to maintain that account. There are always ways to legally use your true address and still have accounts in at least the US. Like I said my opinion as I have seen some European explain how to legally get a local bank account in some countries without having a mailing address there.

Beginning to become really confused by the articles presented in this forum. Daily for months we have seen the economic dire performances, shrinking baht, closure of vehicle manufacturers, etc, and then today this article telling us that the Thai economy is BOOMING! If the statements in this article are all true, then many other countries in this region plus others are really suffering. I just don't know what to believe.

50 years ago while assigned to this country, visiting medical personnel advised me and my co-workers to avoid getting into the water at Pattaya as it was heavily polluted. I still see regularly on this forum either from a news release or forum member comments about waste water pouring into the waters of Pattaya. I sure am not very familiar with beaches around the world but I do believe that most world class ones would have visitors wanting clean water for swimming or other beach/water activities. In addition, I thought Pattaya was trying to advertise itself as a family-friendly city yet we still see stories almost daily about the non-family night life activities, violence between farang and locals, etc. In my opinion, Pattaya is not suited for family activities yet. Still much activity needed especially among the attitudes of many of the local businesses who don't want to change the current image and visitors.

IN my opinion, that is exactly the case, and shouild be very OBVIOUS to all the readers here!

I have never been in any country where an office within the government would predict the outcome of discussions on any particular bill, especially one that is so controversial. We know what has been initially proposed but the fact is, it would still take months of discussions for the world wide income taxes program to be approved, especially with some leaders within the government might be gone. SO should the BOI become a SEER, ask for a crystal balll or witch doctor and explain all the ramafications of this as yet tax program under discussion?

Yeah, you got that right! Fortunately my finances are relatively simple and I am not worrying at all. If Thailand does go crazy and wipes the slate completely clean and starts over with all new instructions including wiping LTR tax info, DTA treaties deleted and to start anew with taxes on everything everywhere then I might start THINKING about abandoning this great life here. To make things easier for my family, maybe just move to the states so their future might be better - though that would depend where there too plus the hassle and cost of the move. Anyway, everyone needs to continue waiting so relax unless you are leaving soonest! Good luck

Quite the letter and shows how diligently they plan to look for people that are filing necessary tax forms nor paying their fair share - exactly what they called it in the letter. I notice too that they are really interested in people acurately noting thier living address and updating if necessary to the point where if there is any question multiple jurisdictions could claim the taxes. After the July 2023 OECD meeting and signatories there must be even more details that we can access as banks do in fact start to advise us on what they interpret is necessary in following the guidelines. There is also details on FACTA and CRS in following with OECD search for people's finance details. I didn't read all of the above data in the overview but it is extensive and for you finance wizards, it might help all if you could check it out and analyze it a put it in clear language for us to better understand how they are going after our data and what the banks here should be prepared for. GOOD LUCK TO ALL

Yeah, Thailand just recently signed a trade agreement with China, and immediately local small businesses have started complaining about the amount and poor quality of materials pouring into Thailand. The first thing that they noticed were the "Elephant Pants". Now they see what other countries are learning. Just like the e-garbage Thailand signed on to China in 2017 when the Chinese govt outlawed it in their country so they started sending it to Thailand for "processing" storage, burial etc...oh yeah started finding it in warehouses in storage facilities not meant to be where they are! Another OOPS! I would be one of the last Americans to say that the US is not perfect as I am a proud patriot but I too have seen the decline brought about by greed, corruption, and lack of integrity of the US politicians. Presidential candidates are selected by the $$$$ of big business and pharmas, etc and then they are beholding to those $$$ and like Trump did in his first stay in the WH - lower the taxes and scrutiny of big businesses and all. Once a politician is elected, instead of working for the citizens and the country, they begin seeking funds for their campaign chest for the next election. Some spend 30-40 years in government and get very rich but never accomplish anything of note. November this year could spell the death knell for America in my opinion as neither candidate is capable of fixing the problems in my opinion.

Actually my older daughter (54) went to a local school in Pacific Grove, California.. They had a program with Arizona State in which the 6th graders took the SAT and my daughter after international schools until the Calf school scored higher than the national average that year. I realize too that public schools in the US have been failing more and more in providing a great education for all. Since my children have spent most of their school years overseas, I cannot really tell much about failures in the US but my co-workers always complained and mostly they said because of the teachers. But, if any parent can control where their kids are being schooled, you must closely follow what is happening at that school before it is too late. Good luck

Well what total experiences have you had? many kids re being raised by their grandparents who also have to care for the house and even in many case must still work while the parents of the children go off to the big cities for work. The grandparents most likely have forgotten any book-learning that they did have if they even went to school let alone high school or higher. Thus I note kids of fairly well-off seemingly families still being raised mostly by the grandparents and I seldom see any study time unless it is later when the children should be asleep. All the kids not matter how young are playing with their phones, music or games I guess. Our daughter was limited by the wife on amount of time she could do her phone time. I am older so never even came close to being hooked on a cell phone and sure can't understand the attraction and the amount of time people spend on the phones today. I note too a long-delayed US report on the health dangers of cell phones but doubt there will be any change in parentage supervision. Good luck

Most international schools if they are accredited with foreign educational organizations have many local Thai children, some schools offer scholarships for bright locals that couldn't normally afford it and these local kids are usually going to an international school specializing in either EU or US universities and some local Thais go to some of the top universities in the US or EU countries. I do believe that if a Thai plans on an overseas higher level of learning, they normally do not do it through k-12 in a Thai school only unless it has exceptional teachers as well as having a student willing to put in extra work. There might be such schools, but we originally sent our daughter to a school with a 2-year waiting list k-12 grades, lots of foreign teachers so she took the aptitude test, did well enough and enrolled, after two years he school fired most foreign teachers, dropped to k-6 grade only, and expanded the kindergarten because the scholl could charge much more per student since k'ers needed 3 teachers per class, after that, the reputation of the school faltered. My duaghter actually went to 5 different elementary schools - all with teaching and learning problems until we decided on an international school. Yeah it cost more, even more per year than college does but well worth every penny (or baht) spent based on results. My daughter didn't fall behind the class every year as my wife and I spent many hours also working with her every day. That is also why we recognized immediately to find a better learning environment for her. The teachers in the local schools loved her as she was their top student but not because of the teachers and their methods and the way the schools operated. Best of luck to all expats with children and their education while here. Friends who are happy with their kids schooling have always been at the international schools and has always been the same experiences I noted.

Yes, I too changed schools for my daughter when I was told by a teacher and the school head who reportedly prepared the homework papers, that the papers were correct and no changes were allowed yet I as an English speaker showed them in an online training program just how wrong those assignments were. After my chats with both levels, we moved and found a much better school. I favor the internationals schools that my family has experienced compared to the local schools - but early on in schooling I saw the difference between building a school progressive system as opposed to just making without chance of failing. good luck to all.

My daughter went to an International school that used online learning during the pandemic years. She graduated HS 2 years ago speaking, reading, writing 4 languages. She also taught beginner Chinese at a different HS during her junior year. The school purchased the online classes (1-12 grade) prior to the COVID years because of the pollution in CM where the school sometimes closed during the world class pollution. Besides Chinese (in which she even won HS awards), she self-taught herself Korean well enough to score at lever 4 on the International Korean proficiency test ( and now is at summer school in Korea at the Seoul National University) and pre-test for the summer language school put her in the level 4 class, she is native in English and Thai although she did not have to study Thai the last few years as she has a US passport too. She excels in Math and computer science both attributed to the online as well as classroom teaching. She said about the online teaching that she missed the interface regularly with both her friends and the teachers. While doing the online learning, there were many online sessions too with the teachers and it takes both in order for the online system to work. Our daughter is doing very well in college so at the very least, the online learning was not any kind of negative. Our experience with online learning anyway including foreign language training.

AS someone has already mentioned, How could the BOI know anything about a program that has not even been floored for approval nor voted on. We all have been waiting, especially those that feel 180 days is the max they can be here. You will have to wait like the rest of us. Unlike most things in this country and politics are slow moving...except for when a change might come forth.