AlexRich

13 hours ago, rct99q said:

Not sure. The OP indicates that they are recently divorced. In most cases, but not all, divorces happen due to specific reasons. They usually just dont happen. This could be a breakdown in communication, one or the other becoming less desireable, mental issues, and so on. My remarks were to offer an option to uprouting oneself on the "idea" that Thailand offers something they can not find locally. The OP has a small nest egg, is still quite young, and could potentially offer a local person a decent life partner. But it takes effort to become that spouse others are looking for. If not coming to Thailand and obtaining one is a good option.

The OP is recently divorced. No shame there as it’s a coin toss now, with 50% divorcing. And it’s expensive, unless your wife is considerably wealthier than you are. If the OP is smart then once bitten twice shy. 
 

He’s not interested in staying home and making the same mistake, he wants a new life and a bit of adventure. He already speaks Thai and understands the culture. And I’d guess he also understands the many pitfalls and traps that people fall into. He strikes me as well suited to Thailand, with his head screwed on the right way. 
 

If you remain single in Thailand you can move around and enjoy all the benefits with none of the costs. If you can protect the bulk of your assets, then marriage in Thailand is an option, with the same caveats as at home. It can go wrong and it’s expensive to get out of. 

4 hours ago, gordog said:

Thanks for the responses.

 

As I mentioned in some posts. I have an elite visa currently, speak Thai (I have lived here sporadically since a teenager) and know the culture as well as a foreigner can. I just don't have any knowledge of business or investing.

 

Reading the responses it seems I need to do something with the 600k to create income. Given I don't know anything about investing, would the best option be to use a service or 3rd party, like this Vanguard that everyone talks about? As I don't think i'd be knowledgeable enough to pick investments myself.

 

 

Do some reading. As your a Brit I’d recommend Money Week. They offer fairly decent advice. Investors Chronicle is another decent publication. For someone with no interest in the markets a tracker fund would be ideal. Go for a well established fund manager, with a solid reputation. Avoid active funds (where the manager picks the stocks) as these can sometimes go wrong. A recent example being a fund operated by the celebrated fund manager Neil Woodford. It went badly wrong and investors lost a chunk of their money. So before you do anything read as widely as possible. 
 

Vanguard is a well respected fund manager, and over a long time a market tracking fund should do better than most stock pickers (active managers). Bear in mind there will be periods when the market dips, but over a long period it’s trajectory is upwards.

I personally believe this is the safest and easiest way of generating an income whilst growing your capital. Property generates rent but it only takes one bad tenant to screw that up, and it can be an asset that takes time to sell. Even if you buy in the UK you will still need people to manage it. 
 

The final advice is to avoid drains on your income. You don’t sound like someone who’ll fall into a party lifestyle or start funding a Thai family, or get conned into buying someone property in Issan. So I suspect you don’t need advice here, as you won’t fall into these traps.

What you are proposing is doable, as long as you plan sensibly. Good luck.

9 hours ago, dabhand said:

Same with me. Have been travelling to India on business for the past 20 years, initially full time for first 3 years then irregular visits thereafter. Maybe not the ideal locations, south of Mumbai and Gujarat in the main. However, to be fair, the transport infrastructure has greatly improved over that time but the poverty levels can certainly be over powering for those not used to viewing such hardships.

 

Did have a break in Goa on my last trip about 2 years back and that was well worth while, being poles apart from the other locations I had been to. Although the airport taxi on arrival was more like the India of old - booking a hotel pickup is definitely the way to go....... 

I’d like to see Goa one day and some of the famous sights, so a return visit is on the cards one day. But living there as an expat is simply not for me. Thailand has its issues but for me it’s a completely different vibe to India, and in key cities like Bangkok the facilities are first world. 

I’ve never been bothered by it, as I simply wouldn’t go anywhere that practiced dual pricing. If every foreigner did likewise it would stop. 

I’m impressed he was able to get on to the balcony below. I wonder how he managed that? That looks like a very dangerous manoeuvre. It just shows how quickly a fire takes hold. It makes sense to have an escape plan for fire.

My understanding was that, for income sourced overseas, you would only be liable to tax on income that you brought into Thailand during the same tax year.

If your earnings are paid into a bank in the UK then you are liable for UK tax. For example, I could live in Thailand but rent a number of houses in the UK. That UK sourced rent would still be subject to UK tax. 
 

I’m wondering if you set up a bank account in a foreign jurisdiction that doesn’t apply tax, and hold the funds until the next tax year, you might be able to legally avoid Thai tax? 

Eat cake.

1 hour ago, swissie said:

There is a fundamental question connected to this thread: Has OP made some money in the past in the stock-market or has he heard from "a friend" that "tons of money can be made in todays stock market" without lifting a finger nor needing any expertise?

 

I am afraid that the latter is the case, otherwise OP would not consider the 400K Baht for a marriage visa worth mentioning in the first place and within this context.

Have met a few guys, arriving with 20K US$, hoping to generate enough income by trading the markets. Sorry, no success stories to tell about.

No wonder. Even top Investement funds are not yielding more than 10% in the long run. So, how much Capital would one need to generate an income of (let's say) 40'000 Bht a month? Assuming that a long-term yield of 10% can be maintained over many years? You do the figureing.

Short term trading? Most serious trading-platforms/brokerages inform their customers that on average roughly 80% of their customers lose money over the long run.

 

As the old saying goes: Thailand is nice if the assets that one has accumulated over time in the "western-world" will suffice.
Thailand does not accomodate undercapitalised "Western-Dreamers". But it does accomodate overcapitalised "Western-Dreamers. For better or for worse. 

if you have around 250,000 GBP to invest and you generate a 5% dividend then you would be able to have 40,000 Baht per month on average. There are a few solid blue chip stocks that might do that. 
 

As far as tax is concerned my understanding was that it would be free of Thai tax if it was earned in the previous tax year? So dividends paid in 2020 could be brought into Thailand in 2021 without a tax liability.

I’m not in Thailand so have not put that to the test. I’d be interested in knowing if my understanding is correct? 

I think these are typos. It wouldn’t be worth the hassle.

The greatest spy novelist, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy a classic.

9 hours ago, 473geo said:

 The return I get is the enjoyment and satisfaction of creating a future for my wife and children, I don't need to own a house, I prefer to create a family home that will be there for my family for years to come, this has given me so much pleasure already, there will be no disappointment whatever the future brings

Oops ... I thought you were the original OP? Buying for a girlfriend. With kids and an established relationship it’s a different matter. But I’d still only spend an amount I'd have no problem losing. 

20 hours ago, simon43 said:

Yes, that is what I do from Laos.  I'm an online science teacher ????

Can you do this without being taxed in Laos? For example, in Thailand if your income is overseas and you bring some into Thailand in the next (as opposed to current) tax year it is not subject to tax. 
 

The other question is what is their internet like, is the service good? I spent a week in Vientiane a while back and really liked it, particularly the French bakeries, which was an unusual surprise. And Beer Lao, my favourite in South East Asia.

Thank you Simon.

9 hours ago, 473geo said:

 

To girlfriend it is lost money, money that could have paid for a house for her, and so many farangs wonder why their relationships fail, well I guess if you put a little interest on your money above the interests of your future companion that may provide a clue ????

I don’t mind what you do, it’s your choice after all. But many people have followed the same path only to find themselves minus a home and minus a wife or girlfriend. I don’t see you ever getting a return as the house will never (and probably cannot) be sold. Best of luck, but I fear you’ll end up disappointed. Like many others before you.

1 minute ago, 473geo said:

Really? words to help you? from somebody who lives in fear of failed relationships, and may not have a million baht back pocket money to spare on a modest home, or would rather lose money in 'renting' rather than give it to a 'girlfriend' or wife in the shape of a home and future

 

Each to their own but advice is best taken only when one can evaluate the source

 

I’ve never viewed renting as lost money because I can generate more from the capital than the rent. That’s an argument that sits on firmer ground when you have full legal title, as in your home country. 

12 minutes ago, cookiesnmayo said:

Having lived and rented in Thailand for nearly 3 years and already spent a sum of money on rent not far off what my gf claims we could build a house for I do have to wonder whether it'd be better to continue spending on something you have nothing to show for apart from receipts to your landlord or making a slightly risky investment that depending on circumstances I might be able to recoup one day

Either you’re paying too much in rent or you are being lied to about the build costs.

I am puzzled how you could believe that you would be able to recover any of the costs?

Personally, I wouldn’t do this unless I could easily absorb the costs. Otherwise, don’t do it.

On 12/10/2020 at 12:27 AM, simon43 said:

Laos is about $650 per year for a business visa, work permit and local ID card.  No requirement to show any funds in the bank, or indeed, show anything at all except your passport.....  Actually, I have never even met an immigration or police official, except on my initial entry into the country at Nong Khai.

 

Although the borders are closed due to Covid, you can gain entry with your business visa, quarantine etc.  I moved here from Thailand in 2019 and am very happy here ????

I think I may have asked you before, but can you obtain a business visa and conduct business online, i.e. not in Laos? 

I’m not sure what restrictions are in place but once you get there it appears to be relatively easy to extend visas, as long as you can pay the fees. 

7 hours ago, John Drake said:

When you're with the Flintstones
Have a yabba dabba doo time
A dabba doo time
We'll have a gay old time

Fred and Barney ... who would have known?

23 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Interesting. Is that an Irish thing? New to me. 

 

Quare Hawk - Kildare - Irish phrases and sayings you need to know (irishslang.info)

Actually, I think you have nailed its origin. Because the people that I know in Glasgow who used the phrase had Irish parents and grandparents. So that is probably where it came from, and they’ve picked it up from Ireland. That’s interesting. And as I said it had nothing to do with homosexuality, it was more about oddness.

Just now, Jingthing said:

Interesting. Was that a U.K. thing? New to me. 

A Scottish (west of Scotland) term. I don’t think it’s was used in England, and perhaps not in other parts of Scotland either. It’s not used today, at least not by anyone under 70.