Robin

Seems to me that much depends on how "savings" are defined. I have money in a UK bank in a "savings account" so for the RD is this automatically classified as "Savings"? Interest on this account is taxed at source in UK. Also in UK I have property purchased with a bank loan, now paid off from income. If I sell this property, is the money from the sale "savings" and can it be brought into Thailand free of tax.? If I as going to buy a Condo here in Thailand to live out my retirement. I would want all the money from sale of UK property to do this, not just 70% that the RD might leave me

It seems to me that the crucial thing is what is considered to be income and what is savings. Until this is resolve, we are all just speculating. In my own case: I ownsome property in UK, now rented out, but all bought from earnings (mortgage repayments,) or capital, ( bequests.) My retirement plan has always been to sell this property and live in LOS on the income from investing this capital. Selling this property will incur CGT in UK and I will calculate and pay this on selling. If I bring the proceeds of the sales to Thailand. will it be regarded as savings, capital, or income?

Sister-in law is building a single floor residence and a single floor retail unit in rural Phayao, (Amphur Chun) Each unit is about 8m sq. with flat sloping roof. Local builde is doing this as turnkey project for 2,000,000 Baht. Not yet finished, so I cannot comment on work standards, but this is a price by local Thais for local Thai. There are so many variables for any project that you would need to specify the work required and get quotes and local references

So much talk of the "Family bakehouse, but why is it being kept a secret. Nowhere on this thread can I find clear directions or any location of this 'doyen'." Nothing on Google either. I am only an occasional visitor the CR, but I would like to try a decent steak sometime. Does the owner want his restaurant kept a secret, or would he like more customers?

Are we expected to believe this??

Could have ben the last of the barrel; When I worked behind a bar in UK the dregs of the barrel often smelled like this. Rotten Eggs smell (hydrogen sulphide, ) is the decomposition of the yeast in the beer. it often happens, I cannot see why the bar owner needs to make a fuss about it. Could it have been the way the comments were made? If I had been the barman, I would have poured the customer another beer. On the other hand, it was not unknown for bar staff to give troublesome customers duff pint to get rid of them. if the cap fits???

If the bar owner was held responsible for the behaviour of his employees, the guards, this might not happen so frequently

It started with the first Thai girl I ever met; sick buffalo, sick mama,... etc. Quickly learned to say No with sufficient emphasis to stop the request there and then. Over the years, (>40) I have become more heartless and immune to being called a "Cheap Charlie" After many bitter rows with wife, she has stopped passing on requests and family has learned that Bank id for borrowing money, not Khun Robin. Perhaps I have become more relaxed on this now, and will consider request for loans on merit, and perceived ability to repay. but giving money is not to be considered. Fortunately, the one time I did relent and lend money, sister appeared to regard repayment as optional, and huge struggle to get money repaid. Now use this s an example as reason why I am not in the money lending business. Banks, Village loan sharks are better equipped to extract repayment. Thge only nser to any loan or gift request should be a loud and firm NO!

I was under the impression that smoking 'indoors' ( aircon premises,) was illegal in Thailand. Like so many rules, widely ignored. A ew bar owners in Nana once tried to ban smoking in their bars, but this was ignored, by staff as well as customers so now smoking is the norm again and non-smokers have to suffer. Just think of the revenue missed by RTP by not raiding every bar/club once a week.

Vehicle manufacturers must make special models for Thailand with inferior brakes.

Primary tourist destination?? It will need a railway (been coming for years) and some hotels first. Health hub. Phayao hospital is busy already, serving locals.

Bleach? Avoid the stronger versions of Vixol, as it can attack the grouting cement.

It is not only Thailand. Builder friend in UK described Ready-mix delivery drivers as the biggest bunch of crooks he knew. I noticed that on a local building site, concrete deliveries were poured into 1 cu.m. bucket and this was craned to the pouring site. Also, the 'mix' of each batch was checked before any was poured. The driver must have already sold the concrete he is skimming off, as it will not keep long in his truck

For once, I agree with Anutin. Thailand does not want this type of person. Send him back to his home country.

What can be called "Cat Flu" is a common name for Feline Immunovirus, which is an infectious viral disease among cats (and dogs). It is generally fatal and highly infectious. it is spread by the saliva or faeces of an infected animal, and since, in a warm country like Thailand, the virus can survive outside the animals body, it can spread quickly through a population. There is no cure for the disease. It can be prevented by annual vaccinations, given by your vet, which are virtually 100% effective. It is common in Thailand because many owners do not have their pets vaccinated. In say UK or US most pets are vaccinated annually, so there is no population of vulnerable animals to keep the disease alive. Vaccine takes 1 week to become effective, so it is too late to do once the disease strikes. Search the net for more information, or see your local vet for which vaccinations your pet will need., starting at 3 months.

After living in Thailand for many years, I get the impression that few governments dare to implement any unpopular policies, even if they have a mandate to do so. Since many (most) Thais do no pay any tax at the present, it would not be popular to make the pay, even a small sum. Not difficult to make a start. Walk through any village or town and ask at every business or shop. If they do not have any accounts or have not filed these, hit them with an estimated tax. demand. if this is paid, double it for the next year, and so on for every year. Once RD hits on the sum actually being earned, accounts will soon be produced. Oh the screams of protest! Would any government dare to continue?

If you keep a cat, or any other animal, you are taking on the responsibility for its care. Take it to the vet as possible and try to help the poor animal.. My experience of Thai vets is that they do not overcharge farangs, but care for the animal. Why do you think that 1000B will be the vet's fee. A small sum to keep n animal alive. Pay up you miserable cheapskate.

My experience with Nat West has been that they are paranoid about scams and seem capable of recognizing other UK high street banks as being genuine. Very insular attitude. HSBC are better and acknowledge that there are other banks in the world.

When the subject was brought up at the beginning of the year, I asked, through khun wife, who was paying tax, or had to file a tax return. Answer was that nobody local did. Wife, who runs a beauty shop, said that if RD wants a tax return, they come visiting and asking for it. if they do not, then nobody is bothered about tax returns. It seems that billions of Baht in potential revenue is lost this way. Imagine the screams of protest if Thais were asked to pay tax on their income. No government would have the courage to implement such a policy.

My retirement plan is t sell my property in UK and liv here on the proceeds. Will the money from property sale be classified as 'income'? The property is owned outright and been paid for years ago. Not subject to UK CGT. All seems a very grey area. How will RD know what is going on? Say I visit UK once a year and bring back £5k in cash. the change to ThB at one of the money changers, not a bank. Who will know what is going on?

What can you expect in a country where you can pass your "driving test" without driving on a public road, or knowing how to change gear?

Toyota Vios?

Thanks very much, such valuable information. At las I can see a way clear to continue my life in LOS. I wonder how many potential retirees have been put off by this nonsense. Taksin had his faults, but at least he understood some economics and gave us the Retirement visas and other benefits.

How do you ever get to the end of this thread? Nothing but endless adverts after the first page. Whgat I hav read so far answers many questions, but not all, and I would like to follow it to the end. I would pay for a AN now option without aadverts

Will there be any difference between income and savings transferred from home country (UK in my case.) Should I sell any property in UK and move he money to Thailand, will this still be classified as 'income'? I imagine that a number of potential retirees will be thinking of selling their property in UK. Is property considered as savings, even if bought from income with a mortgage?