1 hour ago, bkkcanuck8 said:

When I talk about source of funds, I am not talking about where the funds came from but whether the funds are taxable or not.  If you have money transferred from a financial institution in which you hold a retirement account (non-taxable) -- or you have a company pay you directly using SWIFT to transfer funds (potentially taxable).... it likely does not have anything indicating whether the source of funds is from new income or savings.... they are both just international transfers.    

In that case, in any investigation you may find yourself involved with, the onus would be on you to provide evidence that you have been complying with the Tax rules. It is the same worldwide. You need to comply with the rules of that particular country. Remember Tax avoidance isn't illegal, Tax evasion is ?

7 minutes ago, siplanbahtvisa said:

Hi Ronuk, 

if one doesn't go over the limit allowed per person per travel and if one has a family go together and multiply that by how many times one has in the passport. Over time, it does add up

Hi, as I said, I think best you seek legal advice. I am not sure a forum is the best place to discuss, under the circumstances, what you are trying to achieve   

3 minutes ago, siplanbahtvisa said:

Hi Ronuk, 

 

Can i show the withdrawal slip from a bank abroad where i'd withdrawn my money and brought over in cash? would this be enough

Not sure that would work. There are limits on the amount of cash you could bring from your country and limits on the amount of cash you can bring in to another country such as Thailand without declaring at the the time the amount above the set amounts to customs.

Personally, I consider you need to seek legal advice to be sure of not being in a whole lot of trouble.

Be careful because you could end up with the whole lot being confiscated. I know what happens here in this type of situation ?

8 minutes ago, siplanbahtvisa said:

Dear UbonJoe, 

 

can i solve the problem of proofing the money transfer over by 

1) go thru the middlemen (like a friend of a friend or like a lawyer firm) for a fee and everyone is happy?? 

 

or do i need to fly to like australia and open an account there and then transfer from thailand and back to thailand. If i am doing this way 

a) does thailand allow to transfer money out of country to australia? 

You have the same problem. You need to prove the money you have in Thailand came from a foreign source before you can transfer it out.

3 hours ago, elviajero said:

Thailand has a self assessment system so it would be up to the 'Tax Resident' to submit a tax return to declare any taxable income.

I regularly transfer money in to the country. All the information is there for the bank to see exactly where it came from. Kasikorn Bank for instance uses 2 lots of coding.

If you look at your account you will see 'TRN' after the date the money arrived. This denotes it was an International transfer. Move further along the line of that particular transfer and you will see the another code at the end. In mine for instance it says 'MCL' and then a series of numbers. This denotes in my instance that the funds came from the UK and which institution sent it. 

As you are most likely aware, a foreign individual even working and paying taxes legally in Thailand cannot buy property for instance with any money earned in Thailand and that includes condos. The company can buy the property yes, but not an individual. Individuals can only buy property in there own name and right with funds sourced outside of Thailand.

Hence an individual needs to aquire from the bank what is called a 'TOR TOR SAM' basically that is a paper that proves the individual moved the funds in to Thailand from a foreign source and even then each movement of money needs to be recorded at the time of transfer as solely for the use of buying a property. This can be done in minutes at your bank and isn't a problem with legitimate money.

Just to finish, the banking system in Thailand knows exactly where the money is coming from ☺ 

Seems to be all sorts of problems at airports, border crossings and I/O offices being reported the last few days.

Something is afoot. Maybe immigration themselves being investigated has woken them up a bit? Either that or they really are about to crack down.Who knows.

1 hour ago, bkkcanuck8 said:

 

I have no doubt that there are opposing interests at play here, so yes they want people to visit and spend money -- especially those running small businesses or are in tourist related industries.... but then there are many "elite" (HiSo) Thais that have little interaction with foreigners and don't quite like us generally speaking.   As far as they are concerned we foreign influence to areas like Issan and cause many problems with our western influence (i.e. the wrong people getting uppity).  On average we are poorly mannered and grating on many nerves.   It is in the interest for business operators that have lots of business from tourists and bringing more of them in is their interest.   The higher you go in the food chain the more they would actually prefer to see less tourists and less western influence -- and they feel that encouraging this level of tourism is not in their interest.   IMHO, Right now the pendulum of influence at the higher level is more interest in getting control of the situation and reducing the western influence. As such I can only see an increasing number of hoops being introduced for the next several years.  I do not foresee any point where it pushes back to a more relaxed situation.... just maybe hopefully reaching a point where they just halt the progression of introducing more hoops.

I for one, sincerely hope they do reduce the western influence. That is why I came here. The west and it's Tourism particularly, has ruined everything it has touched.

Yes it brought money in but did it really make life better for the country's people? I wish we could go back 25 years when the locals really were truly happy to see us.

Then again, you only need to get away from Tourist areas and things are a whole lot different.

I have just come back to Bangkok from 5 days in Ban Amphur and needed to go into Pattaya for the first time in 18 years yesterday.

I haven't missed anything I can tell you that. I was shocked how somewhere could go so far down the pan in 18 years.

17 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

The TE visa is very expensive and at the end of the five years you get nothing in return, and as far as I know

there is still this ridiculous 90 day reporting, I am not interested in what other countries do, but if you want to

mention other countries, does the Philipines not allow Westerners who marry Philipina girls, live in the Philipines

without all the hassle they would get in Thailand?

 

Then there is a further choice. Move to the Philippines or stay here in Thailand with all its faults and expense. If you consider it bad here now, you may want to consider what could be in the pipeline in the next 12 months. 

Personally, I am quite happy here. I have absolutely zero complaints. 

I also happen to think the TE program is the best idea the Thai Government and immigration have ever come come up with for those of us that want to stay long term. And yes, I am more than old enough to get a retirement extension but prefer to use the TE option. I am left alone and nobody bothers me. As for the 90 day report, I really couldn't care less about it either way. I actually see it as something else for people to moan about.

In fact, the only thing I see wrong in this country is the amount of ex pats and visa runners moaning about it.

If I wasn't happy living here and felt hard done by about how things are done, I'd get out.

23 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

You are just saying what I have said in some of my recent posts, the under fifties who don't want to get married, need some more

assistance from Thailand Immigration, there are a lot of quality people among them who want to stay in Thailand long time and

make good contributions to their economy.

The TE visa is there for the under 50's who want to stay long term and have no wish to get married. It's a government led programme so they have  been given the option. It just isn't free but if as you say, younger people want to stay long term and make good contributions to the Thai economy, they shouldn't be too put off by the cost. As they say, 'you can't have your cake and eat it'

Very few countries offer the visa options that Thailand does.

1 minute ago, lkn said:

 

So if you do not call in advance, you cannot go through fast track?

 

I ask because I don’t want to be driven around in a golf cart, but I read another poster had problems getting fast track immigration and it took a TE staffer 10 minutes to clear it up. Not sure if this person had announced his arrival in advance.

If you fly in Business class you will have a fast track pass anyway. You don't actually have a fast track pass issued to you by TE although you do have your membership card. I an not sure if that alone will get you through the Premium lane, I have never tried as I use the services of TE as that is what I paid for although invariably, I will have a Premium pass issued by the airline too.

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

^^ thank you. Cheaper to pay an agent once a year for extensions. If I was travelling a lot would be worthwhile though.

It's worth the money to live here with absolutely no issues with immigration, no re-entry permits and a full 12 months stamp each and every time you enter the country. You are left alone for 5 years.

3 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Why an hotel confirmation?

Are bureaucrats so stupid that they do not realise one might be staying with friends or that guest houses are often not on line and do not issue confirmations.

And, are they so stupid that they expect one will stay at the same hotel for the entire 6 months?

 

Silly question of course. Yes, bureaucrats ARE stupid.

The law states here in Thailand, unless it has recently changed, that you are supposed to notify immigration if you change to an address that is different to what is stated on your landing card. I doubt many bother but the law says you are/was supposed to do so.

Just now, lavender19 said:

OK but when you have been on an retirement visa for the last 12 years and been legal and have adequate funds you think they could see that I am not one of the bad guys.I would like to know what checks they do and why it takes a month when if you pay it takes 30 mins.It all sound like another money making load of cr-p to me.

Unfortunately it is how it is. At the end of the day, Thailand makes it relatively easy to live here legally and some people do it not so legally. I only wish it was as easy to live in my place full time in Florida as easily as here. Fact is, there is no provision to do so even as a retiree from the UK that can prove enough money to be totally self funded and no burden what so ever on the US.  Unfortunately, it is harder to live here now hastle free as has been mentioned in post 11. There are ways to live easier here but it is more expensive than a retirement visa. That is exactly why I chose that route.

6 minutes ago, JB300 said:

How does the expediated immigration work?

Do you have to inform TE so they can have somebody meet your flight or can you just join a "Special" queue?

There is no queue. There is a dedicated lane for TE members next door to the Immigration office. As Joe said, you are escorted throughout the whole procedure from the gate right through until you get in the Limo. Nobody bothers you and wants to know anything. They even collect your Luggage while you have a cool drink supplied by TE.

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

I can't open the details. How much is the 5 years option, please?

500,000 bht with 24 car services and fast track immigration.

2 minutes ago, lavender19 said:

I know and another friend has to do his next week and is then leaving the country the following week for a couple of months

Looks like he may have to shell out 4900 baht.

I doubt there is any written rule on how long they have to process an application. I suppose it all depends if you live nearby and can go back if your not in a hurry or if you live miles away and want to get it done on the day, as to whether you pay them to get it done quickly. 

Getting a few connection problems this afternoon.

Are they are very busy centre that is offering an 'Express' service? Maybe they have seen an outlet to earn an extra few bob. Happens everywhere in Europe these days for all sorts of things....Pay your money and jump the crowd.

1 minute ago, thaitero said:

Is this how common to be questioned like this when having a valid visa in passport?

 

Depends how often and how many times you have extended or entered the country. 

2 minutes ago, Topah said:

So the whole process of taking photos with wife outside and inside house, going to the bank, getting korrors, signing papers, waiting countless hours in immigration etc. is not needed for 20 years if you get this?

 

I need to know which lounge it is at the airport. Anyone knows? 

Correct. No photos of your house and you don't have to deal with immigration. I believe the lounge is Louis Tavern but I still prefer to use Eva Air lounge on my open invitation.

Ao Manoa is superb.  There is even a very nice hotel there with pool.

It's kept away from tourist advertising. They don't want it ruined like tourists have ruined most of Thailands beach resorts. Never ever been asked for a passport or ID. You are free to drive and walk around as you please. Just be careful where you park. They do not like you parking or stopping anywhere other than in designated parking areas of which there are plenty. There are also beautiful beaches and numerous places to stay and eat outside of the Military Base. The military Base is only a very small part of Ao Manoa.

Sometimes I really do wonder!

Sorry for the multi quoting. I was only quoting meatboy but the software has a mind of its own this morning ?