samtam

With or without due process? Who decides who are "all the worst convicts"? Karoline Leavitt rarely knows what she is talking about. And that's being generous.

Indeed, it would be difficult to deport US citizens, as there is nowhere to deport them to.

"Tesla relies on China for a significant portion of its battery supply chain, with nearly 40% of its battery material suppliers being Chinese companies. Additionally, Tesla's Gigafactory in Shanghai is a major production hub, with over 95% of components supplied to the plant being made in China." An EV doesn't really go very far without a battery.

Received an SMS from DWP yesterday confirming receipt: "We have processed your Life Certificate. You do not need to contact us."

Yes, I just corrected that in my post.

Much used in high rise construction in Hong Kong for decades, without any serious incidents. Only now are they replacing bamboo with metal frames....well for scaffolding, not construction. https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=28d2bf2905880196&rlz=1C1CHBF_enTH851TH851&sxsrf=AHTn8zoQQtPvMZ4ES6ViTZrP1hqvN_pDfA:1743741201237&q=bamboo+scaffolding+hong+kong&udm=2&fbs=ABzOT_CWdhQLP1FcmU5B0fn3xuWpA-dk4wpBWOGsoR7DG5zJBiLrs8IwWnU6ikyw0GotCtOu3QT06Rn9a8zLE-yMqYXpLjElciQyWyY08d71FOIfCyUWqVOK8i7ivIE80BH8IzCRO_5hTQGWBuw--kJICixsVQBCJuRkcfZXeCu8ImlA2pYBc8BtJuKciJxWfGL7R7EER6KIoTyBmNHpSQcjDF7B6aKlng&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiS7YSXxr2MAxXuwzgGHb3TG5oQtKgLegQIExAB&biw=1229&bih=594&dpr=1.56

Presumably that's going to have an impact on 1) Tax payments/assessments and 2) Immigration services. Here's a clearer image of the news, albeit in Thai:

I e-filed yesterday, or rather my Thai assistant did. I had the copy of the bank certificate to upload for WHT, but apparently it couldn't be accepted. The status page showed receipt of the filing, and that if documents were required, they could be uploaded then, (later). It was of course all in Thai, so I could read whether there was a facility to upload the bank's certified tax certificate.

The impact on tourism always the main priority of the Thai government. Those that live and work and service that mammon, not so much.

We received a letter from the government this morning asking us to complete a survey report of the building with specific criteria. Before that we had a civil engineer visit early this morning for site inspection, but it was not detailed. He will be returning to comply with the government's criteria. We are an older building, and whilst there are cracks, they appear mostly superficial, and the structural columns are intact. Our management is dealing with this in a very methodical way, but there are the usual suspects who spend their lives blaming them for any manner of things. I think many people, (myself included) who have been traumatised by their experiences, and there is a delayed shock that is manifesting itself in rather selfish and unattractive behaviour.

Can anyone confirm the e-filing online tax return deadline is 8 April 2025? Was just about to meet my Thai assistant to do it yesterday when all hell broke loose. Can probably do it on Monday, but he's rather busy in the aftermath.

I agree, although it is perhaps not surprising. I think they believe their wealth gives them superhuman powers that prevent them breathing in the harmful and deadly PM2.5 dust. Moreover, there now appear to be a few cases of hisos getting respiratory illnesses, some resulting in premature death. But the significant commercial interests that could prevent or mitigate some elements of the pollution seem more focused on money.

https://x.com/KhaosodEnglish/status/1902272341956288978 https://x.com/KhaosodEnglish/status/1902533309735039222

Thanks! Anything remitted pre 1 January 2024 is exempt according to Por 162....I think.

When you say fill out as normal, does that mean I can leave the income section (1) blank and the only figures I include are the interest income Section 3 (1) and the WHT refund Section 11 (13)? To be clear, I'm not going to state any other income, as 2023 & 2022 are pre Por 161 & 162. (The filing purpose for 2023 & 2022 is only for WHT refund.)

I want to file for WHT refunds for 2023 & 2022. I have the tax certificates for those years. Is that all I need to complete on the PND90 one each for 2023 & 2022? (For 2024 I will attach the WHT tax certificate plus the assessable income, which after TEDA means no tax.) I just want to be clear no need to file anything else for 2023 & 2022, (as these years are pre Por 161 & 162). Frankly I wouldn't have bothered for 2023 & 2022, but as I'm now going into the system, I might aswell have the WHT refunds. (I was trying to get an answer from TRD, but I think they're inundated, as they have not give a response when asked, and now I cannot reach them.)

Yes, I just completed my "Proof of Life" witnessed by my Thai lawyer. Whether the DWP check on false claims of UK residency to obtain the annual inflationary increases is another matter. The witness to the "Proof of Life" could lie on your behalf, but may face criminal proceedings too. Certainly the UK Government is looking to eliminate benefit fraud, given the dire state of the public finances.

I sympathise with the lack of interest and response from your complaints, but unfortunately it takes a few vocal and likeminded co-owners to get together and formulate a strategy. Obviously you have to have mostly Thais involved. By the sound of it, (no pun intended), you are unlikely to be the only co-owner who has an issue with AirBnB, or similar short term renters. As I said, it's not easy, and you will go through hell to get something done. We had a totally unrelated issue with the committee and their co-owner friends at my condo, involving a very important and rich family. It took about 2-3 years to get it resolved, and it was extremely unpleasant. But everything has been through 180 degrees, and it now works as it should, and what we did is now very much approved.

It's not easy, and it's not cheap, and with the type of people you're talking about, it might be dangerous, but there is a remedy; if there are sufficient numbers of owners who want to agitate, they can sue the committee and the juristic person manager for not following the Condominium Act.

@bamnutsak's comment from the above thread: Social Security payments could suffer interruption soon as DOGE causes ‘system collapse,’ former commissioner warns—‘start saving now’ https://fortune.com/2025/03/03/social-security-payments-benefits-interruption-doge-cuts-system-collapse-retirement-disability/ Social Security has never missed a payment. DOGE actions threaten ‘interruption of benefits,’ ex-agency head says https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/01/doge-actions-may-cause-social-security-benefit-interruption-ex-agency-head.html

I think it's fair to assume that you can now take nothing for granted in the US under the administration of Musk & DOGE.

Sorry. I missed any reference to US Social Security.

What about tax? 5% on THB780K after TEDA of THB500K is THB14,000 - or less, if you have insurance exemption.