JohnnyBD

You may be right. There's a real possibility that all LTR-WP visa holders may be grandfathered in if a worldwide tax law is passed, especially since BOI advertised and promoted them as being tax exempt.

I am waiting approval of my LTR-WP visa and I'm not concerned at all about what may happen in the future if Thailand taxed residents based on worldwide income. Why, because, 50k for a visa is small change to begin with, and I will just less than 180 days in country if they taxed residents on worldwide income. Even though I'm pension rich, like someone said earlier, I am also investment income rich too, so you are not an outlier as much as you think. A worldwide income tax would also hit me very hard if I was a tax resident. Bur, I'm not one to panic. I will deal with whatever comes. Have a good day too.

We were all newbies in Thailand at one time. I hope he doesn't end up losing everything he has, like many before him.

That is what I've been telling this person. BOI is not going to comment publicly on future tax policy. Not raining here in Phrom Phong.

No, not at all. The person has emailed BOI 2 or 3 times asking if unremitted income would still be tax free for LTR visa holders if Thailand passes a worldwide income tax law in 2025. BOI would not answer him, because they do not know if any new tax laws will be passed in 2025. You just have to read back through the posts. He is trying to get BOI to put it in writing that unremitted income will be tax exempt if a new worldwide tax law is passed before he buys a LTR visa because he doesn't want to spend 50k for a LTR visa, and then have the laws change which would require him to report his worldwide income and pay taxes on it. That's what I understand anyway. Under the current law, all unremitted income is tax exempt for everyone, and remitted income is tax exempt for LTR-WP visa holders as per Royal Decree 743.

I think you are wasting your time asking BOI to comment on future tax policy or asking them to guarantee you that future foreign unremitted income will be tax exempt if you buy the LTR visa. If you want a 10-year LTR visa, you will probably just have to buy one based on the current rules, and then hope for the best like everyone else. Good luck...

Just curious how you know the vast majority on this forum and outside are pension rich, and not asset/capital gains rich. If they passed a worldwide income tax law, I would be paying about $25k to $30k to Thailand in taxes, maybe more. I didn't bother to figure it. And, that would be after my Social Security DTA and other deductions. if I loss my tax exempt status, I would just stay less than 180 days per year, so I'm not a tax resident. I'm pretty sure many others who worked long enough to have earned $80k plus in pensions, also have other income streams like me.

I understand what you are asking them, but I wouldn't expect them to answer you because they don't know whether a new tax law on worldwide income will be passed or not. Yes, BOI answered, that under the current rules, all remitted income is tax exempt once I obtained my LTR-WP visa. That's all I expected them to say. We already know, that under the current rules, all unremitted income is tax exempt for everyone, so I didn't need to ask BOI about that. It didn't matter to me whether a new worldwide tax law was passed or not because I wanted the LTR-WP visa for the convenience of not having to renew my extension each year and of not hvaing to do 90-day reports. If they pass a new law and I lose my tax exempt status, no problem, I will just stay less than 180 days every year, so I'm not a tax resident.

I'm pretty sure they don't know if any new foreign income tax laws will be passed, since it appears to be just in the early discussion stage right now.

I am in the process of purchasing a condo, and my contract shows two ways for me to pay for my condo as a foreigner. One option is, I wire the money directly to the Developer's account, and they will convert it to THB, and get the FET Foreign Exchange Transaction form from their bank and submit it to the Thai Land Office. The form is still known by some as Thor Tor 3 Form. Seond option is, I wire the money to my Thai bank USD account, then convert it to THB, then pay the Developer in THB. I am then reponsible for getting the FET form from my bank to give to the Developer to submit to the Thai Land Office. This part worries me, because the wire has to state that the money is for the purchase of "the exact name of my condo unit". You can check Siam Legal's website on "Ways to Transfer Money to Thailand for purchase of Condo". They have a pretty good write up. I'm not sure if I am allowed to provide the link.

I believe the TRD has stated that all pre-2024 income (ex., 2023 income remitted in 2024) is tax exempt. Any assessable income that was remitted in same year it was derived (ex., 2023 income remitted in 2023) was always taxable. Going forward, both the previous year's income (ex., 2024 income remitted in 2025) and the same year's income will be taxable.

If he did, it didn't have anything to do with taxes, but only to confirm that his income was legitimate.

I agree. No doubt here either. That's when I will start staying less than 180 days. I'm still waiting for my LTR to be approved, but I doubt that will save us.

Your point seems to be that we can determine whether we are remitting just the principal or capital gains, and I agree that we should be able to make that decision. I hope that's the case. I was just pointing out that if I did remit the principal & capital gains, I get to choose the cost basis method, not TRD.

There's about 6 acceptable cost basis methods in the US for stock sales as per the IRS. The average cost, lowest cost, highest cost, FIFO, LIFO and specified shares. I believe Fidelity uses the FIFO as default, but you can select the cost basis method you want as your default. I set my default as highest cost. But, I can still select the specific shares to sell when I place my sell order. My Fidelity tax forms show the capital gains based on which cost method I used, so that's what I would use to determine my assessable income if remitted.

Just to be clear. It's a 5-year Certificate of Deposit with a US bank. The monthly interest is paid directly to my US brokerage account, and then it's transferred to my US checking account the same day it posts each month. I spend the interest in the US and do not remit it to Thailand. So, when the CD matures in 2028, I will get back the original money I invested in 2023. Is the original money I get back considered pre-2024 money?

Yes, it's a 5-year Certificate of Deposit with a US bank. The monthly interest is paid directly to my US brokerage account and then it's transferred to my US checking account the same day it posts each month. I spend the interest in the US and do not remit it to Thailand. So, when the CD matures in 2028, I will get back the original money I invested in 2023. Is that original money I invested in 2023 still considered pre-2024 money if I remit it in 2028?

You make a good point. What if you sold a pre-2024 security in your home country in 2024, reported & paid taxes on any gains in your home country, then invested in another security. Then, in 2026, you sold that security, had no gains or a loss, and then remitted those monies to Thailand. Is it assessable income or not?

I have a real life question: I have a 5-year CD that I bought in the US in 2023. It pays interest monthly. The interest is transferred to my US checking account when it posts each month for use. I report and pay taxes on the interest each tax year. When the CD matures in 2028, under the current Thai tax rules, if I remit the CD money to Thailand, can I classify it as pre-2024? If you think the CD money becomes assessable income, do you have any TRD guidance to support your opinion?

I have a real life test question: I have a 5-year CD that I bought in 2023 in the US. It pays interest monthly. The interest is transferred to my US checking account when it posts each month for use. I report and pay taxes on the interest each tax year. When the CD matures in 2028, under the current Thai tax rules, if I remit the CD money to Thailand, can I classify it as pre-2024? If you think the CD money becomes assessable income, do you have any TRD guidance to support your opinion?

You really don't lose the flexibility of the $100k in bank. If you need to withdraw it, you can buy the insurance at that time. No need to pay for the insurance unless you decide to withdraw it.

I read where there is a minimum amount needed, it's called "substantial earnings" test to qualify for credits. And, I believe it increases every year, so you have to be above that amount to earn the credits. Can probably google it without calling SSA. Just a suggestion.

Some may do what you say, but many will just file and pay their taxes. I want to spend more time with my loved ones anyway, so I will just spend 5 mths in the US, 5 mths in Thailand and spend the rest of the time traveling with my wife outside of Thailand. It's not a problem for me. I know others who live here, but work outside of Thailand, and are here for less than 180 days, so it's not a problem for them either. I feel badly for those who don't have those options, it really sucks.

I just opened an acct with SCB about 10 days ago in Bangkok at the Phrom Phong branch. I'm an American. No problems.

I have Thai bank cards, but sometimes use my USA Chase Bank card to keep from using all of my THB here. The exchange rates are very good and Chase reimburses me for the 220B fee, so there's no downside to using it. It saves me from having to make SWIFT wire transfers which have incoming wire fees at my Thai banks.