TroubleandGrumpy

Try again. Tax Free ........... in Malaysia. You want to avoid all income taxation world wide then I suggest you move to Monaco.

Read it again slowly. Malaysia does not hit the money that retired Expats bring into Malaysia - they extended that deal for another 10 years earlier this year.

Yes indeed - Thailand is not Robinson Crusoe in that regard. Played golf last year with a couple late last year who were in the process of moving from Spain to Portugal (used to live here and visiting old friends) because Spain decided to change their Immigration Rules from this year, and also dropped many of the benefits of the Visa that they had enjoyed for a few years. Portugal responded by saying to Brits and Others - 'you and your money are more than welcome here' - so they started the process to move. They are AOK with moving - they have a place in England the kids are currently looking after - they smelt of money and moving was clearly easy for them.

Never having transferred 20 Million Baht before myself - so like 99% of Expats I have no idea.

I know one and he says there are others there, and they aint coming back - Thailand blew it and now it is too late. His point is why come back and only have the same sort of sheitee happen in 2 years. Life is too short. No 90 days in Philippines, no Tm30, can leave and come back anytime, and they say annual renewal is a doddle. And much more Philipinos speak English than Thais. Has a bit of a Yankie feel to it too - like Chiang Mai and somewhat Udon Thani.

Ask your tax lawyer - 20 Million Baht (450 GPB) to move around and you dont have one? Sure mate.

You the third person to say about the same thing on this forum - The Philippines actually welcomes Expats and makes them feel welcome. I knew two blokes who moved there many years ago and they warned me Thailand would be 'trouble' - they were right. Thailand is overall better than Philippines, especially for us that have a wife and house here, but as somewhere to spend most of the year and visit Thailand for under 180 days, it is one of the best options in SEAsia. Malaysia is also good to Expats - but they set the bar a bit higher. Cheapest is probably Vietnam - but only if they ever go ahead with their Retirement Visa (Golden Deal or whatever).

Right now it seems we have 2 years to wait and see if/when a global tax system starts, and what it means for Expats. Until then, anything about what they will do or will not do is speculation - OK to plan ahead, but yet again, wait for the details in the land of ever changing hubs and harebrained ideas.

That is their plan - as stated by a senior TRD Official in a recent youtube video. But will they get it completed and implemented by then - who knows. Clearly their decision in late 2023 to tax 2024 remittances with 3 months notice, was a stupid and (as usual here) ill conceived and thought out. A huge amount of remittances did not happen last year and earlier this one - so now they are offering a 2 years 'freebie' because they desperately need the money coming into the country. Jan 1 2027 start of the tax year is their plan for a global system - but that is a long way away time in Thai politics and I doubt they will get it finished in time. If you have money that you can bring into Thailand this year and next year, then (assuming this applies to all Tax Residents) then make hay while the sun shines IMO (once passed). It might still be shining in 2027 and beyond - who knows. Hopefully, they will also recognise that people looking to bring their money back into Thailand, want a far better exchange rate than at present - therefore maybe they will 'encourage' the Baht to drop in value. Who knows what these clowns will do - but I will wait for the Baht to go down before bringing any larger amounts into Thailand in 2025 and 2026 - if/after this new decree is passed.

Blocked - life is too short

Doing banking without smartphones is easy - card, ATM, cash etc (and secure) - no problemo with or without. Getting the news without smartphones is also easy - no problemo with or without . Stopping the negatives of Social Media - that is a good reason to get rid of smartphones. But it aint gonna happen.

He has certainly been considering it and making plans - just in case. And he will get plenty of notice before they come to arrest him and send him to 'real' jail. But perhaps he will take it on the chin and thus support his daughter as PM, because if he runs, she is 'gone baby gone'.

"The ugly face of falangism" - is insulting a group of people based on them being generally old white males (racist?). Some Expats do have contempt for Thais - that is true - but the vast majority are just sometimes extremely annoyed by their ignorance and corruption (not all of the Thais are - but a lot). Regarding your silly tax avoidance comment above, I am reminded of the Bard - ""The lady doth protest too much, methinks." And when you commented before "why should those that pay the correct tax subsidise those that don't want to pay" makes me think you panicked and lodged a tax return and paid taxes - so you want us all to do the same - and are annoyed we did not?

Nail on the head hit ...... they will do anything and everything to hold the Baht up as high as they 'require'.

They set interest rates 'independently' - nothing else.