CMBob

27 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

 I see, thanks for that. I'll keep it in mind though was mainly thinking of my fixed account. If I'm going to have to file for refund of that regardless, I may as well do for both accounts.

 

Was mainly wanting to avoid the  intrusive questions and repeat calls from Provincial  tax authority as my experience was similar to Guderian. Made worse by her having never heard of a foreigner living here on basis of retirement and was convinced I must work here.

As the poster stated, I don't believe that the routine (filling out a form to have them stop withholding the 15% withholding tax) applies to any fixed term account.  I tried that with my "visa" account (at SCB where I keep the 800k in a fixed term account) and they told me the no-withholding routine doesn't apply to such an account.  It does apply to a regular savings account but, if your interest is below a certain amount in that account, they don't do withholding on the savings account anyway. 

I'm not sure why you get contacts from the tax authorities, they've never contacted me.  To get back the 15% withheld, I just go to the local revenue office and they file the income tax return for me (and I only do that every couple of years.....you can claim back the withholding tax for the prior three years and, with the interest rate so low these days, it's not worth the minimal hassle to do that every single year).  Getting the Kbank voucher deal (instead of a mailed check or direct deposit to your bank account like they did in past years) adds another minimal layer of hassle but, then again, it's only another 30 minutes or so, only once every couple of years, and I normally have nothing else important to do). 

I easily obtained a Tax ID in Chiangmai although I'd note that (1) I'm here on annual extensions based on retirement (I wasn't here 180 days at the time I got the tax number and they didn't ask about how long I was there....although they could see my retirement extension which started more than 180 days prior), and (2) I loosely recall that they wanted a copy of a certificate of residence which could involve some minor hassle in getting....along with a copies of a couple of passport pages).  In any event, I had the tax ID in hand within 15 minutes of showing up at the Revenue Department (people there were very helpful).

I obtained the Tax ID solely so I could file a Thai tax return for purposes of obtaining a refund of the 15% withheld from a bank account. (I've never had other income in Thailand or a work permit). 

Nobody has been required to do 90-day address reports since the end of March.  That permission (to not do the 90-day address reporting) currently expires on July 31st but Immigration as yet hasn't said when any new 90-day address reports are due after July 31st (I presume that Immigration will get a ton of them on August 1st unless they give a clue as to what's required after July 31st).  Regardless, a lot of people have been doing 90-day address reports anyway via online, in person, or by mail without any problem.

The OP has a unique situation....his permission to stay having expired so Immigration probably appropriately told him he can't file one by any method (regardless, even if he could file one, there's no need to do so at least through July 31st). 

Never knew it had any pond.  Are you thinking of the temple (Wat Jet Lin) that's a bit further south along Propoklao?

If you can't get to Immigration here in Thailand by your expiration date, I think you'll have to start over as mentioned above.  Just for the heck of it, I'd contact the Thai embassy there just to see if there is some slim possibility they can help you there (doubtful but worth a shot). 

Also, due to the very cloudy proclamations (police orders) here about the "July 31st" routine (which is definitely applicable to people with exemptions and tourist visas), there is a slim possibility that Immigration will relent here and grant new extensions to those whose extensions have expired prior to July 31st because they couldn't get to their Immigration office.  Probably doubtful (nobody knows for sure) but worth a shot to ask when you get back so you don't have to start over.  Good luck.

I always fill mine out on the computer (sometimes I leave the date blank and fill that in by hand).....worked fine two weeks ago.

Remember - one page only (both sides). And neatly write your phone number below your signature.

Some of these comments are a bit confusing.  So would ask Ubonjoe to respond to the following regarding somebody here on an annual extension based on retirement:

(1)  Do you believe the "permission thru July 31st" applies in any respect to somebody here on that basis where the annual extension based on retirement expires, let's say, May 31st?

(2)  If you think it does apply at all, is the application involve a waiver of any overstay fine?

(3)  If you think it does apply, what about the annual extension itself that expires May 31st.  Is it history (meaning gone) or do you think Immigration would allow an

application for a new annual extension on July 31st or some short time thereafter?

(4)  If you think there is only minimal application (waiver of overstay fines only), then would it be correct to say the person has to apply for another annual extension on or prior to May 31st?

I've experienced no problems with True.  I have heard from two friends who both have Sinet and they've experienced multiple outages in the last week.

Handled my annual retirement extension on Wednesday, arriving at 1:15PM and finished (with new annual extension and ME re-entry permit) at 3:25PM.  Although a bit longer than last year, a couple of hours isn't all that bad once a year. That time included the short time it took me to walk across the street to obtain a copy of the new extension so I could get the re-entry permit.   

This particular IMM officer had an issue with my not updating my Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) term passbook (which I've never done before).  I showed him that the same passbook has years of entries and it was not required previously.  I also explained to him that a SCB term passbook cannot be updated, regardless if I or the teller sticks the passbook in the update machine (yes, I am aware that it can be done with a regular savings account and perhaps any type of account at Bangkok Bank).  Anyway, after some discussion, he let it go.  I have been aware of this issue over the years and have asked SCB in the past to add some language to their usual letter saying this passbook cannot be updated; however, they've never added any such language in the past and I didn't bother asking this time.

On arrival, the parking lot was full (no slots) so had to drive around the building (slightly delayed at the drive-up 90-day-report window which had one car which left in 30 seconds). Parking is available across the street.  

12 hours ago, HaoleBoy said:

I don't have.  I have a "extension of stay" Retirement stamp to Aug 2020.  This is my first year retirement visa.

My previous Retirement visa I had for 4 yrs was the same.  I got my visa's here in Thailand not in my country.

Yes, you have your original Non-O either in your passport or referenced in transfer stamps in a new passport.  If you still have the same passport you had when you first got your "visas" here in Thailand, then look at that stamp (would be a Non-O if you got it here in Thailand).  If you have since gotten a new passport, then your stamps should have been (actually "must" have been since you've gotten new extensions) transferred to your new passport and those stamps will indicate the type and date of your original visa (on which all your extensions have been based). 

If it's a Non-O (versus Non-OA which you only could have obtained in your home country), then the health insurance requirement currently doesn't apply to you.  Simple as that.

I've been here in CM for umpteen Songkrans and I've never witnessed restaurants or grocery stores closing during Songkran (excepting a few mom and pop places where the owners took a short vacation to go to their home villages to celebrate).  Obviously the OP hasn't been around here before during Songkran holidays.

Mailed a card to the US from post office at Kad Suan Kaew (which remains open).  Sent it by "ordinary" mail with a 28 baht stamp....which, over the last decade, would typically take 14-16 days to get to the midwest USA; however, postal clerk was quite specific in telling me that now it would take 3 months to get there.  They do have registered mail but I didn't inquire about the cost or timing for that.

Is Lazada delivering anything here now?  I had an order pending for a kitchen faucet and they cancelled the order yesterday without stating any reason.  They did refund the money to their "Lazada Wallet" (essentially a future credit) and that irritated me as I paid via my Siam Commercial Bank account (and that's where they should have refunded the money). 

14 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

Sorry if this is becoming repetitive, but could someone please kindly re-post the link for the current CM 90 day report by mail address. Thanks in advance. 

The more correct address should be written like this (you can skip the bracketed Thai line if you wish):

NOTIFY 90 DAYS

CHIANGMAI IMMIGRATION

71 MOO 3  SANAMBIN ROAD

[71 หมู่ที่ 3  ถ. สน่มบิน]

T.  SUTHEP, A. MUANG

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND  50200

2 hours ago, jctv1944 said:

Can anyone please help me with some info regarding TM30?  Do I need a TM30 if I move into my Thai girlfriends house and live there?  If I need one, who signs for it?

Thanks

JCicero

Technically, yes and she (as owner) would need to sign the original TM30 filing. But, if you have no need for any extension at CM Immigration (or, perhaps, any other service there), don't bother; otherwise, probably ought to get one filed (it isn't that difficult).  

6 hours ago, ragabob said:

I am planning to do a Mae Sai border run, crossing with my OA voiding it then returning with either a VOA or the Visa exempt. Then back to CM to apply for a Non O.

Can anyone advise which one I should request if I have a choice, VOA or Visa exempt. I am from UK.

Also, my OA is valid until next Jan and I spent a fortune on Thai health insurance. Would one advise that I wait until nearer the expiry date or just get it over and done with soon. Stressful not knowing if I will get approval or not.

If you leave without a re-entry permit, yes, you'll void your OA (or any extension thereof).

A VOA (visa on arrival) for Thailand applies to 19 countries....and the UK currently is not one of them (so that's not an option for you).  You could, I suppose, get a tourist visa out of Thailand and return, convert that to a Non-O here in country, and then go for an annual extension of that.  Simpler and cheaper would be to just come back and get the 30-day visa exempt and proceed with the conversion to a Non-O, etc.  Would note that there are rules that apply to your application for your "first" annual extension here (whether based on 65k a month or the 800k bank method) and you might want to bone up on that and be prepared to comply.  Other posts/threads might help you with that issue.

Just my opinion but why bother doing that now if you have already purchased the health insurance and your current visa (or, likely, extension) is good until next January.  I don't see any good reason not to wait (and perhaps the rules might even change between now and then that might alter what choice you make).

19 minutes ago, Thailand said:

Returning from abroad still requires TM30 report.

I presume you're referring to updating a TM30 registration; regardless,  what you're saying has been the case for a couple+ years but the OP is reporting he was told no updating is required if returning to Thailand to the same TM30 registered address.  More reports will confirm who is correct.  

As they are moving the mentioned items to Promenada, service at the new (near airport) building ought to be much better for annual extensions, I'd expect.  Of course, that partially depends on how many officers are moved to the Promenada office.

I do hope, however, that Immigration doesn't only use the old upstairs office at Promenada as it's much too small to handle much of anything (it's probably smaller than the third-floor TM30 office at the new building). 

4 hours ago, Sophon said:

For fixed deposit type accounts nothing has changed, and the bank still has to withhold tax whether or not they have your tax ID on file.

Ok, thanks for that info.  I will just file the return every couple of years and retrieve the withholding from my fixed deposit account.

19 hours ago, YT3k72Em said:

1. You can take your yellow tax card to Krungsri bank and ask them not to deduct tax on interest going forward. Only the first 20,000 baht interest is tax free. With 4 million you will probably go over this limit anyway.  If they don't have a tax ID number on file, the default is to deduct tax from all interest.

My annual interest is below the 20k baht level (most interest earned via the 800k maintained in a fixed account to support the annual retirement extension) and I went to my bank (Siam Commercial Bank) a couple months ago, showed them my tax ID card, and asked them to stop withholding interest.  The bank employee didn't seem to know what I was talking about so called over one of the managers....but, after a clear explanation, the manager told me that they couldn't stop withholding and my only method was to file a tax return to obtain a refund.

Presuming this new rule (stopping withholding for amounts under 20k upon presentation of a Thai tax ID card) is based on some legislation or Treasury order.  By any chance do you know where one can find the new law/order dealing with this issue? I'd try it again at my bank if I can show them some basis as to why I can stop the withholding.  Thanks.