InlandSea

Would the principle on a CD purchased in 2023 be considered non-assessable?

First time caller, long-time listener... Hypothetical. Some American guy, let's call him IS, established a CD ladder in 2023. The five individual CDs mature at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years. The principle of each of the five CDs is enough for IS to live on for one year in Thailand. Assuming that Thailand taxes only remitted, assessable income... If IS remits to Thailand just the principle (not the earned interest) of one of those CDs each year for the next five years, is he exempt from paying Thai taxes on that (because the principle of each CD was from pre-2024 savings and is not assessable)? Thanks and I'll take my answer off the air.

Hoping you a lot figure this out by March of 2026.

Maybe this is a bit off topic, but last year I did the less than 180 days in Thailand so that I wouldn't have to figure this all out. I planned to do the same this year, but now that I'm looking at it I just can't do it. Going from Malaysia to the Philippines to Vietnam last year was interesting but it was also tiring. I really couldn't maintain a long term relationship and it wasn't that great for my physical health either. American banking kyc requires a permanent residence somewhere and as I don't have anything back in the States for that, the Airbnb/hotel route opened up a risk if I'd been found out. It also upended what to that point was my otherwise smooth transition into living here by dropping everything to hop on a plane and leave for 6 months. So, anyway, this year I just decided to give that up for 2025. It sucks, but I'll deal with it if I have to. I've tried to structure investments at end of last year so that there are not much in the way of dividends or sales that will trigger capital gains. I already transferred my retirement visa deposit plus extra last year as a <180 day non-resident. Just putting this out there as one guy's perspective and to see if others are coming to a similar conclusion.

T.I.T.

After following this discussion for 50 pages and looking at the other discussions and videos in various corners of the Internet, I decided to not exceed 179 days in Thailand this year or next. This year it's been Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam. Next year it's Cambodia, Singapore, and Japan. I'm now trying to qualify for the LTR in 2026, so I can finally make Thailand my long-term retirement home. We shall see!

Thanks, Sheryl! I'll check out that link. I guess it's Crocs for me going forward.

Sorry to piggyback here, but could Sheryl or someone else recommend a good podiatrist for fungal toenail treatment and possibly permanent toenail removal? Pattaya or willing to travel to Bangkok if needed. I have tried all the topicals and don't want the liver risk of pills. After decades of running sports and swimming and too many years in office shoes that didn't breathe, I've got at least three toenails that seem completely unsalvageable. I'd rather just get the nasty nails permanently removed rather than have the ongoing risks of further infection from irregular growth. I have insurance but would probably just pay out of pocket. Thanks in advance!

Q1: I understand that you can create multiple accounts with the same banks if they are at different branches. Can you create a second account at the same Bangkok Bank branch just for debit card/ATM (to protect your main account that might have your O visa deposit, for example) or do you just set a daily withdrawal limit for debit card/ATM? Q2: Other than bringing a wad of cash or using traveler's checks (are they accepted anymore?), what is the best way to have THB on hand for O visa agent and first-time apartment rental/deposit when you don't yet have a Thai address? I'm aware of Wise/Revolut/Remitly, but they have daily ATM withdrawal limits and/or charge fees after a certain limit. Should I just put money onto a Revolut debit card and then go to a money changer and pay the fees? Thanks

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=<deleted> outta luck????????????

It does look like a pretty good phone and it's not too expensive. This is probably a stupid/crappy question, but I usually try to buy direct from the manufacturer (i.e., Samsung), because I think there's less chance that some middleman will add software or more specifically spyware... Are there any retail stores that you feel are particularly trustworthy? Ideally a franchise with physical/brick-and-mortar shops in cities like Bangkok/Chiang Mai/Pattaya (for warranty service, if needed)? Or, are there Samsung stores in those areas that I can go to for the purchase?

Great advice. I'll just buy it there. I hadn't thought about the warranty issue, but it reminds me of the hassle I had years ago trying to get a thinkpad repaired when abroad... It came with an international warranty, but I still had to ship it to an IBM repair shop and it took a long time to get it back...I wouldn't want to deal with that again.

Good point! I'd be SOL probably

I just thought it'd be convenient to have a phone up and running right away instead of having to shop for one. Haven't been in LOS for a while. Is it better/cheaper to buy it there?

Would this be a good phone to bring to Thailand? It's GSM, so it should work, right? I'd plan to sign up for DTAC or another prepaid plan when I arrive. Should I download any apps from Google Play/US beforehand or can I just get those in Thailand? thanks https://www.amazon.com/Resistant-Unlocked-International-A536E-DS/dp/B0B57CLKJ6

Thanks, that's what I thought. I know there is the option to make this work with a dual sim phone, but I'm planning to just get a separate phone for Thailand with DTAC or another local provider and keep my US-based phone as wi-fi only and stowed away until needed. The new, local phone/number would become my daily driver for calls and local apps and it wouldn't be a disaster if I lose it or it drop it, etc. I don't think I'll need to buy any international roaming on Mint under the wi-fi only scenario for the old phone. As far as the other info here, I will look into textnow as a backup option. Others mentioned Ting, which does appear to be a bit cheaper than Mint, at least for limited data, but not enough for me to switch at this point. Thanks all for the helpful info!

I have heard that Google Voice sometimes does not work for two-factor authentication or sms short codes, so I am planning on keeping my current Mint Mobile plan and phone number (but using wi-fi only for that phone once I move to Thailand, so that I don't have to pay for international roaming or potentially have an issue with 2FA). I'd then buy a separate phone to use in Thailand and sign-up with a local provider for that phone. Other than the cost of continuing the Mint Mobile plan, do you see any flaws with this plan? Would a US cell provider like Mint Mobile cancel my plan if they found out I was living in abroad?

What are the options when paying for an apartment/condo lease and initial deposit? Do they accept a foreign credit card or does it have to be a wire or cash?

I hadn't heard about "out of province" bank fees before, that's a new one. So, I could have a Bangkok Bank account in both Bangkok and Chiang Mai or mix and match with Kasikorn or SCB? That's interesting...I'd never have thought that one person could have two entirely separate accounts with the same banking institution but in different provinces. Do you know if it is possible to move an account from one province to another or do you have to close and re-apply? I am not sure how long I'll be in Chiang Mai, but I'd like to live in several different parts of Thailand before settling on one place.

If you initially set up your bank account in Bangkok but move to Chiang Mai, would you ever need to go back to the Bangkok branch or could you do everything in Chiang Mai (as far as paperwork for visa reporting (proof of funds), getting a secured credit card)?

Are most in-room safes in hotels and apartments big enough for a notebook/laptop that has a 12.4" screen? I know there's no standard size, just trying to gauge what others have encountered in recent years. thanks!

Thank you, Sheryl. It's great to get a reply from you, your forum posts have been so helpful on this topic. You're right, the in-country O visa after entering visa exempt is what I'd like to do (for some reason "OA" is forever stuck in my head). I'm just over 50 and in good health, but I feel that I always need to have some level of health insurance to avoid a financial disaster. I think what I'll do is contact AA Insurance Brokers now and look at April and some others, maybe Cigna? The thing with the stress test and doctor's sign-off is that I've already had my wellness check (which is a super quick, basic check-up here) and I think I'd have to pay out of pocket for any new tests or sign-offs - just another hassle and cost I'd like to avoid if possible.

Cost aside, is it safe to leave your apartment or condo in Chiang Mai vacant for a couple of months during burning season?

I plan to move to Thailand later this year and apply for an OA retirement visa. I am wondering whether it would be better to sign up for a health insurance plan (like April International) before I go or should I just get short-term tourist insurance to cover the first month and then work with a local agent and doctor to get the stress tests and forms filled out? For those that have been through this, what would you recommend? Thank you.