paulbrun

....suspected case of murder....

As opposed to being suspected as a case of….????

clear case of suicide, I reckon..?

Cant blame that one on the foreigners!!!

I bet they can..? If the foreigners didn't want to visit Koh Racha, they wouldn't need oil for their generators etc..!

Very good information. I was not considering using them, but my son might have..? I once took, by accident, a Thai flight that was routed through Mumbai, and it was the most awful experience. The food was very dubious, my fellow passengers were making the most disgusting noises all night, and even the strongest aftershave didn't help to clear the air..! I couldn't face the return trip, so I paid extra to change the routing..!

Excellent. Report them to PTT. I have often been suspicious of this sort of thing, but either you have to stand there and watch the dial, or get out pretty smartly, before he can zero it again. There was another PTT station, in Sansai, that I caught short-selling me on fuel. I checked the pump against a 20 litre jerry can, and it was short by almost a litre.

Doesn't Thailand adhere to international maritime law. It would seem not. An anchored vessel should display a white light on a mast. But I'm sure the trawlers don't display running lights either... Was there no one on watch. It looks like the trawler in the photo has radar, what good is it if you don't use it?

That will be another 'uncharted' hazard to bear in mind..? Most fishing boats do have running lights, but I expect the anchored barge was unlit. The owners should be liable..?

Maybe it refers to the minimum speed at which it should be driven..? 100 km/hr

The Thai gov't, in their infinite wisdom, charges 3% excise tax on trucks and PPV's (think Fortuner, etc.).

The tariff is 17% I believe on the new eco-car category (Nissan March, etc.).

It is about 30% (correct me if I'm wrong; these are ballpark figures) on normal cars, sedans.

The pricing of vehicles here due to gov't tax heavily favors 1 ton pickup trucks. The SUV's slide by in the same category.

You can buy a new Toyota Vigo Hilux 1 ton pickup, loaded, with leather, power everything, DVD, GPS, etc. for less than many common humdrum sedans....

My understanding is that Thailand is the second largest market in the world, after the US, for domestic sales of 1 ton pickups, from an article in the BK Post biz section about a year ago.

It's no wonder everyone buys and drives these behemoths. They're cheaper to buy than a small car!

This raises a question I've been meaning to ask. One ton of what? Clearly these pickups in Thailand arent even as big as a 1/2 ton pickup in the states. A one ton pickup in the states is often a duelly with a big V-8, V-10 or Cummins engine. The pickups here in Thailand are what we would consider "compacts", so where does this one ton designation stem from? I can tell you I've put a one ton payload in my truck and the springs and shocks are totally compressed. I see vegetable hauling pickups modify the supension significantly to carry any kind of real payload.

There used to be a very good tennis instructor at the sports club in Land & House on the Mae Jo road. He also taught swimming, and he's a really nice guy. I forget his name, but it would be worth checking out. There are tennis courts at the Gymkhana Club, but I'm not sure if they run proper classes to teach children..?

More of the same, country-wide, is needed to show there is public support for the prime minister, and his government...

It's not that they stopped coloring it, it's that they made all suppliers color them uniformly.

"octane-91 petrol will become yellow, octane-95 petrol blue, diesel B5 red." So I think your "clear" gas is actually probably slightly yellow.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Cheating-Pet...ns-t334023.html

On a slightly different topic, I am having trouble (again) finding 95 octane gasoline in Phuket. Shell were selling V-Power gasoline at most of their service stations until a few days ago, but all have now stopped and the attendants say there will be no more..? So now I don't know where to get it. I have tried using 95 gasohol in both my old cars, but the engines don't like it, and run very badly. Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

This is thanks to China and their great idea to build dams...

Exactly...!

Yes, I have just bought a number for a car here in Phuket. As the previous poster said, they hold regular auctions of interesting numbers. But I just went to the vehicle licensing department, and asked to look at the list of available numbers. I picked one out, and the nice lady thought briefly before telling me it would cost me 500 baht. All official, as I got a receipt..!

Interesting..? The exact same thing happened to me yesterday. When I was told the fee was 300 baht, I commented that this was 3 times what I paid last year. He said nothing. And then my 10 year old son, who was with me, asked very directly why I had to pay this 300 baht..? I explained to him that it was for 'administration' purposes, and he said he would do it for me next time, and only charge me 100 baht..! The guy laughed and looked a bit embarrassed, and asked him how old he was, which school he went to etc. I got no receipt, of course. As another poster mentioned, it used to be free, then went to 100 baht for a long time, but I always got a receipt. Now it's 300 baht and it goes into theit 'slush' fund..? I guess it's inevitable, and something we just have to learn to live with..?

I had 1.75 million US$ 'accidentally' transferred into one of my bank accounts a few years ago, but the bank noticed their mistake before I did, and took it back. I kept a copy of the bank statement, and framed it..! What would I have done, if I had noticed first is a very good question.....?

reduce administration, centralise excellence and deliver beneficial economies of scale.

aka slash jobs, collect the few useful brains together ... what on earth does the last bit mean ???!!!

less calcification in the kettle...?

Having just gone through the usual nightmare, of trying to get a new second passport, and having to deal with the usual 'civil' (oxymoron..?) servant-type over the phone, any changes they make one hopes will be for the better..?

Forget about 10 working days. They held the passport for almost 3 weeks, even though I paid 'double' postage to get it sent EMS to my home. They said there was a 'mis-understanding', and they thought I was going to pick it up..

And then when they did finally post it, they forgot to include my surname in the address on the envelope, and the local postman understandably became a little confused, and it took a couple more days. before I finally received it..!

I have had similar problems in the past, and not just in Thailand. My other passport was issued in Indonesia, and there were similar delays there. The cost is another matter - 150 gbp for a new passport which still has 7 years left..!

European passports are, I believe, extended by simply adding more pages, and if a replacement is needed, they're issued for about 50 euros, or thereabouts. But not the UK. We pay full price, every time. How do they justify this..?

There, I've got that off my chest..!

Thank you very much for the contact details of your lawyer in Bangkok. I believe you posted them before, a few months ago, and I made a note of them and passed them to my friend, who at that time was considering hiring a new lawyer..? Unfortunately he didn't, and he is now having to pay a large tax bill..! One of his problems is that he doesn't live here full-time, and comes only for a few months each year. But he will still need a lawyer, to sort out the mess he is still in regarding the lease..? I have passed your information to him again. Thanks again.

My lawyer, who is in Bangkok, is competent and tenacious enough to get my former lawyer, who cheated me, disbarred for life. They are both Thai. It would be worth getting in touch as I think that if he believes your friend has a case that can be won, he might take it even though it is in Phuket.

He is Thammanat Yorbithol at:

Thammanat & Associates

249/17 Soi Ladprao 122

Wangthonglang 10310 BKK

(02) 539-5156

I have just found out that my friend 'agreed' to canceling the lease, because the lawyer told him that by reducing the length of the lease, he would also reduce the amount of tax that he would have to pay. It didn't. In fact, the original amount was about 600k, and this was increased to 850k, and the lawyer was warned by the tax authorities that he would be sued, and debarred for life, if he tried to circumvent the system anymore..! I reckon this lawyer is probably going to have to move elsewhere, and/or practice in a different area of the law in future..? Unfortunately, I have still not been able to get a copy of the 'original' contract that he had with the lawyer..? Thanks to everyone for their comments. It has given him, and me, food for thought..!

If the lease was properly registered at the land office (all leases over 3 years must be) then how can it just be 'cancelled' unilaterally?

Sorry, I didn't answer all your questions. The tax appears to be mostly assessed on the 'theoretical' income the lawyer (owner) got in rent from the lease. There is also a large amount attributed to 'insurance', about which we know nothing..? And finally, there is another large amount added on at the end, 350k baht, about which there is NO information..?? The tax assessment, by the way, is on a commercial tax return, Por Ngaw Dor 90, and not on one for a private residence, 91 or 93. Maybe the lease is (was) not illegal, but asking a Thai to be nominated as the owner of a property, when in actual fact it is owned by a foreigner, is illegal, I believe..? No, the lawyer is not a friend of his, but is, I understand, a friend of the previous owner of the land, from whom he bought it..? I smell a rat, but it may be difficult, or more likely impossible, to prove..? I will not post the name of anyone on this forum, but I will, if necessary, let you know by e-mail.

What is the nature of the tax assessed? Is it income tax on the lease income for the 30-yr duration of the lease? If so, it's actually the liability of the land owner (lessor), and not your friend, the lessee. Sounds like the lawyer screwed up and is looking for you to pay the land owner's tax bill. How could the lawyer cancel the lease and why is the lease "illegal"? Is the owner of the land a friend, etc? The issue at hand is that it is a tax on the land owner's income and has nothing to do with your friend who leased the property. The tax could have probably been avoided completely if the lawyer had instructed the land owner properly (see below). I'd very much like to know which lawyer assisted your friend.  Hope this helps.

Many (possibly a majority) of the land leases in Phuket under this type of arrangement have been drafted in a manner which have exposed the legal land owner to significant tax liabilities. The tax liability arises from tax assessed on the stated prepaid rent for the entire lease term plus penalties. 

Unless the land owner filed a "Phor Ngaw Dor 93" to the Revenue Dept within filing due dates, he (or she) could be liable for tax assessed on the entire lease rent calculated in the year that the lease was executed. The "Phor Ngaw Dor 93", as I understand it, allows for a landlord to elect the tax to be calculated based on annual rent payments, as opposed to calculating the tax in one year as a lease might stipulat. This treatment of lease income, in many cases, eliminates any tax liability that may have existed if the rent had been calculated in the initial year based on the entire rental payments. 

Thailand utilizes a highly progressive tax structure. Tax calculated on all rent in one year(as opposed to spread out throughout the lease term) creates a significant tax liability for many landlords.

The Land Department and Revenue Department have processed a number of cases of this type. It remains a significant potential problem for many landowners in Phuket.

There are many legal advisors in Phuket who have been drafting these lease for years and did not warn their clients of the potential problems and/or the necessity of filing appropriate tax returns.

Thank you. This is very helpful. It sounds much as I suspected, that the lawyer screwed up, by not filing any tax returns on the 'supposed' income from the lease, and now the revenue department has caught up with him, he expects my friend, the real owner, to cough up 850k baht to cover his liability. The real problem is that my friend now has NO lease, and the property is in the name of the lawyer, who can of course sell the property anytime he wants, to recover the taxes due. I think my friend is in a 'No Win' situation, and unless he is prepared to risk everything, by taking the lawyer to court (?), he will probably have to pay up, and learn his lesson. The question then is, what does he do next..? Can he form a company, and put the property down as the company registered address, and part of it's fixed assets..? Or should he 'sell' the property to someone he can trust, and come to some 'private' agreement with them..? Thank you again. I am going to look for 'professional' advice, to see if the lawyer can be made liable for his own mistake..? Unfortunately, I think it is written in the contract, between the lawyer (lessor) and my friend (lessee), that all costs and legal liabilities are at the expense of the latter..? I will post an update, once I have more information.

What is the nature of the tax assessed? Is it income tax on the lease income for the 30-yr duration of the lease? If so, it's actually the liability of the land owner (lessor), and not your friend, the lessee. Sounds like the lawyer screwed up and is looking for you to pay the land owner's tax bill. How could the lawyer cancel the lease and why is the lease "illegal"? Is the owner of the land a friend, etc? The issue at hand is that it is a tax on the land owner's income and has nothing to do with your friend who leased the property. The tax could have probably been avoided completely if the lawyer had instructed the land owner properly (see below). I'd very much like to know which lawyer assisted your friend.  Hope this helps.

Many (possibly a majority) of the land leases in Phuket under this type of arrangement have been drafted in a manner which have exposed the legal land owner to significant tax liabilities. The tax liability arises from tax assessed on the stated prepaid rent for the entire lease term plus penalties. 

Unless the land owner filed a "Phor Ngaw Dor 93" to the Revenue Dept within filing due dates, he (or she) could be liable for tax assessed on the entire lease rent calculated in the year that the lease was executed. The "Phor Ngaw Dor 93", as I understand it, allows for a landlord to elect the tax to be calculated based on annual rent payments, as opposed to calculating the tax in one year as a lease might stipulat. This treatment of lease income, in many cases, eliminates any tax liability that may have existed if the rent had been calculated in the initial year based on the entire rental payments. 

Thailand utilizes a highly progressive tax structure. Tax calculated on all rent in one year(as opposed to spread out throughout the lease term) creates a significant tax liability for many landlords.

The Land Department and Revenue Department have processed a number of cases of this type. It remains a significant potential problem for many landowners in Phuket.

There are many legal advisors in Phuket who have been drafting these lease for years and did not warn their clients of the potential problems and/or the necessity of filing appropriate tax returns.

I 'urgently' need to get some info about a tax 'assessment' that has been made on my friend's property. His lawyer provided him with a 30-year renewable lease (in his own name), but has now been 'found out' by the tax authorities, who are demanding a fairly large amount of money to cover all the taxes that he would have paid, over the full length of the lease..! His lawyer is demanding that these 'taxes' are paid by my friend, and he has also cancelled the illegal lease. My friend now has a large bill (850k baht) and has no lease on the property that he bought here for his family. Neither he, nor his wife, are Thai, hence the need to have a Thai nominated as the legal owner of the property. Does he have any leg to stand on..? I am just trying to help him find out if there is anything he can do, as he is not even in the country, and the tax demand is due by the end of this month. Anyone with any helpful suggestions, or the contact details of someone that could help him, please let me know. Thanks. PS. My feeling is that his lawyer screwed up badly, and got himself in trouble, and is looking for my friend to bail him out. Which he will probably have to, or he risks losing everything..!

Wing 41..?

He maybe needs it to carry on a boat, which is what I need one for. Thanks for the link to Probike. I will follow up.

I know a Brit called Paul, maybe I should report him!

Honest guv, it wasn't me..!

It depends.In A bull Market mutual funds tend to do what the stock market does.They worked really nice from 2002 til October of 2007.But then I'm guessing most of them went down 35%-40%,or more.

About gold if you buy it when it's low you can make some money when it sells at A higher price.i'm not the one that you should be asking if the time is right to buy gold.

Can someone let him know when is A good time to purchase gold?

Gold is already very expensive, but the price does fluctuate quite often. I have been buying gold for a while, but obviously, I wait for the price to drop before I buy. If you are buying for the longer-term, then you should choose the right time to buy. Also, the way you buy gold is important. Are you thinking of buying gold bullion, or jewellery..? You don't have to buy 'physical' gold, and have the security headache of where to keep it. You can buy gold 'online' from a broker, and they keep it for you. That way when you come to sell, it does not have to be assayed again. Thai gold is pretty good, in terms of purity, but only a bullion dealer will be able to supply the genuine 99.999% pure stuff.

Great news..! My son has been pestering me about doing this for ages, and he goes to BIS..! We will come by to see you on Saturday. The last thread I saw mentioned someone doing this in the south of the island. Near Nai Harn, I think..? Let's hope for good weather..!