mfd101

Rather like the dual Presidential system about to take office in Usofa under Musk/Trump.

He's not involved in politics. He's just an ordinary (albeit prominent) member of the public making comments on matters of public interest ...

At least some evidence for the Thai powers-that-be that it's action rather than announcements that changes the world for the better ...

Do you have any empirical evidence either way?

Yes, scams succeed mostly because of human greed.

Not in my experience. Au contraire.

Is this the same as the Chinese police-training scandal?

Yes, I would think that any jail term on her reentry would stir up many many fair-minded Thais to protest very loudly. She should just hop on a plane and arrive. Shouldn't be too difficult for the PT-led guvamint to move the guideline pegs around to accommodate changing realities.

Hanson has published assorted 3rd-rate history books. Their common theme is: "Our brave lads against the funny natives. No wonder we always win. We're free, democratic and Christian, and we always have been, right back to the Greeks."

There are millions of rural poor (and not just in Isaan) who have NO regular income at all (apart from some minor - ie unlivable - government handouts). I support a family of poor uneducated, illiterate Khmer peasants here in Surin (my b/f's family). The (not-fully) extended family amounts to 30+ members. I support some half-a dozen regularly. They have no other income. Their agricultural produce is for living off, not for market. They have no 'salesman' skills.

But most of the US debt is owed to itself! so not too much to worry about. The huge advantage of running the international monetary system.

Success breeds complacency and the (temporary) end of success. Germany & Oz are current examples. But nothing is forever. Failure breeds political & social change. That's the great advantage of democracies over authoritarian regimes: the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. As for the French, they have a death wish.

If, as in my case, your entire income is excluded by the DTA (Thai/Oz) from being taxed in Thailand, do I still have to declare that income for assessing? Or do I just sit quietly with my TIN & do nothing?

Rational decision-making would have cancelled the submarine long ago (with quiet thanks to the German government in reaching that end). And the thanks could be made concrete (so to speak) by ordering the new frigates from Germany.

Nice in theory but - as in EVERY country - it's the government of the day that gets to appoint the relevant members, with or without further consultation.

My partner and I will go slow on this, waiting for the news to penetrate (if you'll pardon the term) here at the edge of the jungle. Too many ifs & butts at this stage ...

Poor Pitak. He's virtually bankrupt!

So how come these 'students' are also 'Chinese volunteer police'? What are their duties & powers to be?

As far as I'm aware, Pacific Cross is a Thai company. I think it operates in other ASEAN countries, but I don't think it's a Thai branch of a non-Thai company.

Mmmm, well in my case I have a 3 million ฿ insurance with Pacific Cross. Expensive because taken out at age 72 or 73, but I'm happy with it and with the service they provide at annual renewal (polite & helpful). At age 75 I haven't made any claims as yet. Submitted each year with OA renewal & passed by Immigration without comment each time. (This last time in October I commented as they leafed through my financials that my 40-years-younger b/f is rich & I am poor. They laughed & said: Yes we noticed that from your bank book.)

The investment AND its earnings are free of tax in Oz. That's part of the early retirement package from my ancient federal government superannuation scheme (CSS - closed to newcomers in the early 1990s precisely because it was too generous). I expect that the relevant clause of the DTA means that the earnings of that investment - untaxable in Oz - cannot be taxed in Thailand. It would be a weird outcome if that were not the case.

My understanding - but others may know better than me - is that the requirement for a THAI insurance cover no longer exists.

OK, that makes sense. Certainly better than my (2) above. Will follow up. Thanks for that.

I bring in over 1 million ฿ each year, converted from Oz dollars. It is all derived from 2 sources: my investment of my lump sum on retirement from the Australian Public Service in 2004 (ie well outside Thai assessability) + fortnightly income from Oz federal government current expenditure (ie Thai-assessable from Jan 2024). I was forced 2 or 3 months ago - by my Oz bank (NAB) - to take out a Thai TIN, which I did assisted by the helpful & polite ladies at the TRD office here in Prasat Surin. So I now have 3 options: (1) Fill out Thai tax declaration, pointing out the relevant (difficult to understand - even for me) section in the Thai/Oz DTA, which appears to say that my second source above - the only relevant one - can be taxed ONLY in Oz; OR (2) Do nothing, on the basis that my assessment is that I have no tax due to Thailand (now or in the future); OR (3) Consult the nice ladies at the local TRD, where they probably have not seen or heard of such a thing as a DTA. Mmmmm. I think I should do (3), but I'm inclined towards (2), at least for the next 12 months ... to see how matters evolve. Any relevant comments?

4 years to go? (yawn).