John Phuket

If you lived here for more than 180 days in 2024, and you did not bring funds into Thailand during 2024, would you still have to file a Thai Tax Return in 2025 even though no tax would be payable? Also, I wonder what the position is if a Thai person takes out a properly documented personal loan from an overseas company - would that loan money be taxed ? Or would it even need to be declared to the Thai Tax Authorities?

Obviously, there are not a lot of Expats on this forum who were here 40 years ago. Back then long stay visitors had to declare at the revenue department that they had not earned any money in Thailand during their stay. Without the resulting Revenue paperwork, a farang would not get through immigration and out of the country.

Wake up Guys ! sooner or later Thai Immigration will ask retirees for a copy of their Thai Tax return and/or their Bank Books in order to grant a long stay visa. . Unfortunately, many farangs are in denial and will do nothing to negate the effect of these laws which are in effect the same as in countries like the UK and USA where you usually have to declare money that arrives in your bank account from overseas. But of course, there will be many legal loopholes and solutions. Thais, ie spouses, do not usually pay tax on gifts or on money they receive as loans but go see a really good accountant who understands Thai Tax laws before it's too late.

Does anyone know of Thai Health Insurance that covers up to a few million baht if you have to go into intensive care for a prolonged period even if it has a big excess. ? My ex thai bupa policy costs me baht 165k per year but only covers for a max of 240k in the IC.

Thanks to everyone who responded. The pdf info looks good although last year I was also asked for copies of all previous retirement stamps in my passport.

Does anyone have the latest requirement to renew a retirement visa in Phuket? I understand about the bank requirements but are photographs of you both outside and inside your house also required? (or even a video ?) Is a hand-drawn map of where you live also required? And are there any new requirements that might have been introduced recently? Thanks for any input

We are supposed to travel to Italy in the third week of September this year. Although my Thai wife submitted her Shengen visa application via VFS more than TWO months ago and despite repeated phone calls to VFS she has heard nothing back at all. The VFS tracking system states her passport is at the Italian Embassy but the application has not been granted or refused. She has also tried calling the Italian Embassy many times but all calls go unanswered. I mention she has previously been granted more than five Schengen Visas including two from Italy. Therefore the Italians have kept her passport which means she cannot make any alternative travel plans or travel outside the country. We will also have to shortly cancel our travel plans at a very considerable expense. Checking online this does not seem to be an isolated problem. It seems to me that the Italian Embassy treats Thai people with utter contempt.