AlexRich

There is some truth in that, with double tax agreements between countries. The problem is that if the tax paid is below the tax that would have been paid in Thailand, the Thai tax authorities will seek to recover the difference, If Thai tax would be 50,000, but you paid UK tax of 25,000, the Thai authorities will tax you 25,000 instead of 50,000. There will be some exemptions of course, but the whole system is going to get messy in the future. Big winners will be tax accountants.

I believe that Thailand is part of OECD agreements involving bank information. If you have a Scottish address for the account the information will not go to Thailand. If you have a Thai address on your account it will. Either way, if you are in Thailand for more than 180 days you are a tax resident, and your Scottish bank interest is taxable under these new rules. Not including that detail in your return is tax evasion. The problem is that even if they don’t know now they might find out on the future. Countries are being more and more open about information swaps. So it makes sense to organise your life to have residency in the country that has the least tax impact, and only be in Thailand below 180 days.

Planning a retirement in a foreign country is a precarious business, as all the advantages are being whittled away by global agreements on tax. Rules change frequently. Makes sense to visit Thailand for a proportion of the year, and then move to another country or retain a home in your home country. But it is a significant challenge for anyone who who is married with children at schools in Thailand. For them it is a whole new world. I can't help thinking that we will see an exodus of expats and a much lower level of foreign expenditure.

It is true that we don’t know the full facts. However, anyone who does their homework on how to live in Thailand knows that hitting a Thai, and an old man at that, will only get you in serious trouble. So you need to keep a calm head all times.

Two weeks isn't enough time to acquire a balanced view. Most Brits in Thailand are well behaved. There are some bad apples in Thailand, some are foreigners but many are amongst the local Thai population.

Hitting an elderly man is just shameful. I think Matthew needs to spend some time in jail.

I think that going to Ao Nang would benefit your health, so it sounds like a good plan.

Trump just got a reality check.

Donald J Trump was tonight found guilty on all 34 counts. Is he now finished as a Presidential Candidate?

There is a daytime UK Channel 4 show called "Bargain Brits in the Sun", about people born in the UK but living and retiring in Benidorm, Spain. It appears to be a place where drag queens and gays go to retire. The programme is full of them, possibly because they are more entertaining on camera than your average retiree.

You've got the gym covered, you just need an intellectual challenge. The most obvious one is to learn Thai ... speaking, reading and writing. Not only will it keep you occupied but each month you will steadily improve your ability to communicate with the local Thais. You'll have a much richer experience and understand the culture better. I agree with your take on the foreigners who spend their time drinking their life away, but it is not the only option available.

Apparently, interpretation is not your strong suit. Phillips & Associates Attorneys at Law What are considered sexual advances in the workplace? "There's no rubric or rulebook on what constitutes a sexual advance. For example, it could be physical touching, it could be groping, and it could also be more subtle types of physical touching. And a lot of time these types of physical conduct are accompanied by perverse comments, propositions, emails, text messages ..."

You can interpret "inappropriate advance" more widely than just inappropriate words. The fact is that not one knows the exact details of the so-called advance, and whether it involved placing hands on the subject. And it wasn't just one advance, according to a report that I viewed on You Tube it was escalatory ... so the guy had enough and lamped him. Your interpretation of what constitutes an inappropriate advance is narrow, mine is wider.

Oh, that’s all right then? Just have a chat and a coffee with a persistent sex pest. That’ll sort it out. The article is not clear on what exactly he did but “sexual advances” covers a multitude of sins, you’ve chosen to write it off as a minor matter, but advances suggest more than a chat on What’s App. He didn’t get lamped for nothing.

You think all conflicts can be solved by talking? The Russian was dealt with in the only language he understands.

Do you think the Russian asked her to lunch? Inappropriate advance means a little more than that ... like getting handsy or otherwise physically over familiar. Either way, I don't blame the Brit for what he did ... and I doubt he'd get more than a slap on the wrist if he were Thai.

Yes, did you? Or were you stoned?

I’d be very happy with a “Mexican suicide” … dying whilst sleeping on my porch wearing a sombrero.

The only good Russian …. etc. I don’t blame the Brit for reacting that way towards someone who was sexually assaulting his wife.

I’m not alone in my opinion. No due diligence or audit of how funds are applied. I don’t doubt some genuine people get funding, but don’t ask us to believe that plenty of the unworthy and out and out grifters don’t benefit also … but please continue to gaslight us all that this fundraiser is worthy. Are you involved in this fundraiser? That might explain your objection to my first post, that got a very popular response.

I don’t decide either, I express my opinion. That’s what Thai Visa forum is for. You don’t need to like it. What other people do is up to them. The problem I have with GFM is that it is a platform that can be used for grift and fraud … with no due diligence undertaken by the platform to confirm that any claims made are genuine, and no attempt to find out if the proceeds are applied for the stated purpose. Anyone can claim poverty, no proof required. I would only donate to people I knew and whose circumstances I could verify. And I would do it directly, not on a platform that retains a fee. What you do is up to you.

This is a forum you muppet, where people express their opinions. I decide what I believe, not you or anyone else. I don't care whether you or anyone else contributes to Go Fund Me. If someone chooses to go to Thailand uninsured it is their decision. And the unintended financial consequences when something goes wrong are down to them and their family. No one else. Anyone who can afford to go here frequently, can afford to get back once. As for assumptions, you are also making them ... assuming that there is no financial resources available for this other than charity? You make your assumption, I make mine.

That’s what insurance is for. And if you didn’t take insurance out and your family is under resourced, that is not the world’s problem. My guess is that the deceased has sufficient assets to cover these costs, and if access is a problem his beneficiaries can get a short term loan to cover the costs until such assets are released.

No, I am not doing that. What I am doing is responding to a cretin who insults people in his posts because he doesn’t agree with their opinion. He’s getting back what he dishes out! If you or anyone else knows this guy and wants to contribute, fill your boots up. I couldn’t care less what you do.