Naam

2 hours ago, kingdong said:

thailand  just isn,t value any more its a 3rd world country  with 1st world aspirations and prices.

for those who are taxed through flesh till bone in their home countries Thailand prices / living cost are totally irrelevant.

11 hours ago, SenorJorge said:

Apparently Americans who aren't of Indian origin may apply for the ten year visa but if you are of Indian descent you must apply for the ten year.  Confusing.

void story. any citizen with Indian roots can apply for an OCI card (which looks like a passport) and is valid for life.

Quote

The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) is an immigration status permitting a foreign citizen of Indian origin to live and work in the Republic of India indefinitely.

12 hours ago, AlexRich said:

The question is where to stay in India? And would you be caught up in their tax system? 

 

I’ve been to Delhi several times, on business trips, nice hotels, driver, etc. I’m not sure I’d like to do it as a backpacker type. 

 

yes you would.

12 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Have you ever lived in India?  I have.  Would not do again by choice.

Mrs. Naam agrees, i don't. 

7 hours ago, Bang Bang said:

Indians on the other would be flattered by a farang wanting to stay long-term because there's very few such (well, with good reason). So, the local people, police and FRRO's would likely be as helpful as they could to help out (yep, complete opposite:-)

sorry mate... i agree with most of your comments but pertaining to residence you misjudge the situation. i (we) have residence permits, own propery in India and gave it a try to live there after spending 15 years in Florida and before the now 14 years in Thailand. i liked it (kinda... sort of...) but my wife could not cope. but then she doesn't really like Thailand either.

12 hours ago, SenorJorge said:

However, you can just get a five year multiple entry tourism visa and go home for two months once a year to avoid overstays.

and what will you say at the airport when leaving when asked for your income tax certificate because you spent more than 183 days in a calendar year?

7 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

I don't know much and would not trust much about Thailand company infrastructures, financial soundness, etc.  In the USA the reporting requirements are somewhat reliable and monitored (although obviously things like Madoff can raise concerns).  When I buy bonds or stocks in the USA I can view things such as Morningstar, and other financial review sources of companies.  Does Thailand have anything similar that anybody has any experience with?

yes Thailand has its own rating agency called "TRIS" wich rates True Corp. BBB+ whereas the last rating of Moody's is a meager single B.

paint your own picture!

On 5/19/2019 at 12:07 PM, watcharacters said:

It's good for you if you intend to sell your baht for Euros or GBP, but keep in mind the currency exchange fees eat up a fair amount of your baht.

true...  for people who consider 1-1.5% of the Baht's book value a "fair" amount. 

2 minutes ago, AlexRich said:

Firstly, I’ve no idea who the company is. The point was a general one, only consider corporate bonds with financially strong companies. 

point taken.

On 5/17/2019 at 11:59 AM, Brunolem said:

1. A Thai company, famous for providing mobile phone and internet access, as well as satellite TV, will soon be offering bonds, maturing between 2 and 5 years from now, with rates ranging from 3.7 to 5%.

 

2. These bonds can be purchased at local commercial banks, only next week. 

 

3. Obviously these rates are far better than those offered on saving accounts, even after a 15% tax deduction. 

 

4. As a long term resident, not concerned with the Thai baht exchange rate, would you consider buying such bonds, and if not why? 

1. what's the rating of this company?

2. there's no such thing like "can only be bought next week". bonds are tradeable till the last day of their maturities.

3. that might be the case but withholding tax is deducted on "savings cash" too.

4. i wouldn't buy because a 5% yield for a THB 5-year maturity seems to indicate a low credit rating when compared to a sound BBB+ rated company such as PTTP's

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PTT_Exploration_and_Production

who's longbond -denominated in USD and maturing in 2042- yields a meager tax free 4.555 %...

all aforesaid in my [not so] humble opinion as a long time bond trader and investor.

7 hours ago, AlexRich said:

It depends on how strong the company is ... strong cash flow, low gearing (debt), solid balance sheet, good management ... and it might be fine. Weak cash flow, high gearing, shaky balance sheet, and poor management ... and I'd give it a miss.

 

You want to make sure that they can pay the coupon (interest) and repay the principal (your investment) at the end of the term.

how does one make sure that...?

3 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

Three-phase 15(45)A meter installation fee (Note: (Including 7% VAT))  Fee 16,004.5 baht 

i paid something like 17,000 Baht for my 3-phase meter, was told "installation" and got two years later a full refund of this amount. go figure!

10 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

I think three-phase will lower my peak usage and lower my operating costs.

it won't.

6 hours ago, Percy P said:

With money the future exchange comes in stages,  exchange as you go not in one stage. I keep money in the Thai Bank in £ and exchange it as it needed. Today 41 tomorrow 43

or tomorrow perhaps 39?

34 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Would not the new airconditioners be protected? I think I want to run one 40K (bedroom floor)  and one 60K (living room floor) cassette AC units each about 12 hours a day. I'll get a couple of photos a little later.

i side 100% with Crossy. moreover, 48k btu/h units are available in single phase plus using a "lonely" 60k btu/h unit proves that you did not consider an optimal spread of cooled air. another indication for my assumption is that you are planning "floor cooling" which is a futile attempt with one outlet and return air at the same location.

Thailand likes any transfer, sky's the limit!

On 5/15/2019 at 2:10 PM, Peterw42 said:

On 5/15/2019 at 1:49 PM, carbon007 said:

I have been here 12 years and this is the first time I realise (have been explained) that a "Retirement" visa (which I have) is not the same as an extension of a "Non-immigrant O-A" visa.

Let us see how long time this distinction will be upheld

 

If you have been here for 12 years you have an extension of stay based on retirement, unless you go home each year and get a new OA visa. 

 

you get an extension of your stay not an extension of a visa.

a permit which is in every country of this planet called a visa gets rechristened as "extension of stay" by Thai immigration has to be accepted with a smile and a "this is Thailand"

13 hours ago, JimGant said:

Of course, for the wealthy Norwegian, if Thai taxes were higher than the 15% at source tax, then he'd do the "hold it offshore 'til next year" trick. Nice to have options written into tax treaties.

i don't have to do any homework because the option you mentioned is available for the "not so" wealthy Vikings. please spare me a rebuttal pertaining to poor Vikings who can't afford... as my answer might not sound gentleman like.

17 hours ago, Mac98 said:

I'm taxed but not taxed at home. You can declare pension up to about $24,000 and pay no tax. So does Thailand tax your tax exempt pension?

no!

14 hours ago, soalbundy said:

On 5/17/2019 at 2:38 PM, RickG16 said:

Falling fast towards 40 baht = 1GBP.

 

Can anyone offer some light at the end of the tunnel?...

Bangkok bank, notes buy, 39.63

£exit

On 5/9/2019 at 12:16 PM, fletchsmile said:

I live off my investment returns on my portfolio.

 

Part is dividends, but part is also take-out from capital returns: eg on investments that don't pay divs etc

since 29 years we live off our investment returns (bonds only), spend ~25% and reinvest 75%.

iron rule was: never touch the capital even though the last shirt has no pockets. however at age 69 and 76 we have started to make our heirs happy.

2 hours ago, theboogeyman said:

2 hours ago, Captain 776 said:

31.58 right now against USD.........EXPLAIN how that relates to rising fast

Well that’s actually the point it’s not actually rising fast. The baht ranks 20th in all of Asia lol.

show me any currency including non-asian ones which appreciated vs. USD, GBP and EUR like THB. rank 20th = my butt! 

1 hour ago, theboogeyman said:

It’s actually staying about the same and it declines a little bit once in a while honestly no the baht isn’t rising fast in fact it’s not really going anywhere. It’s risen a little bit over the last 10 years I guess you could say that lol.
Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

look at the last 20 years of USD/THB and then repeat "a little bit".