TroubleandGrumpy

I read an article on Pattaya Mail recently - they interviewed a lot of Expats and asked them what they were doing about 'the income tax issue'. The responses they got were - Never heard of it - Not on your life - Doesn’t apply to me - The Tax office said “Go Away”. Some Expats admitted using a tax consultant because they felt threatened, and some said they already have a work permit and pay taxes now. The vast majority are not getting a TIN and are not lodging anything, because they view that they are getting non-taxable money (Pensions) - and/or the money they bring in has already been taxed and is largely savings made from years of working - and/or with all the allowances and deductions available they do not have to pay any income taxes. I recently saw a youtube interview that included a senior tax official, and she said that she believes that Thailand will follow the lead of all their neighbours and exempt Govt Pensions from being taxable (which she thinks are exempt anyway). She also indicated that as with Malaysia. Indonesia and The Philippines, they will probably also exempt any money already subjected to the taxation system of the Expat's home/source country. I very much liked her opinions and views, not only because she was saying 'good' things, but also because she knew what a DTA was and knew the details. She said to the interviewer in response to a question about taxing Pensions (paraphrase) - 'No that will probably not be taxed - because under all DTAs all foreign tax residents in Thailand are entitled to the same rights and privileges under Thai tax laws as afforded to Thais, and Thai citizens do not pay income taxes on any Govt Pension or payment. Therefore under International Tax Laws and DTAs, Thailand cannot tax Govt Pensions or any Govt payment'. In summary it was agreed that if any Expat (tax resident) is earning income that is taxable in Thailand, then they should get a TIN and lodge a tax return. But it was clear to me that if an Expat reasonably believes they are not bringing any taxable income into Thailand, then they do not have to lodge a tax return. That situation will change if they are earning income overseas but do not bring it into Thailand, if/when Thailand goes to a global taxation model (as do most other countries do). The suggestion by the interviewer that it might be safer to lodge a return just in case, was agreed to by the Expat tax consultant (of course), but it was not actually agreed to by the Official - she said nothing. Instead she gave a commitment that over time TRD will provide a lot more clarity about what is taxable and what is not taxable. Plus she noted that there was not a place in the 2025 tax return to advise the amount of any Govt Pension received, because Thais dont pay income taxes on Pensions. The Expat tax consultant (IMO to drum up fear/business) said that it could be done in a separate letter attached to the tax return - the Thai official said nothing and just looked away (and we know what that means). As for a long time now - I am waiting and watching before doing anything. I know Government enough to know that if you file a document once, they will wonder why you have not done it again the next time around. If as the Thai Tax Official indicated (both verbally and non-verbally), I am not required to file a tax return in the future, then it would be wise not to file one now. Plus I have written advice from a tax company that I do not have to file a tax return because I do not have to pay income taxes based on the money I remitted and my allowances, deductions and exemptions - their caveat being 'under the current tax filing directives from TRD'. Given somewhere about 20-30 million Thais dont lodge a tax return on the same basis - I accept that advice.

Wife has a couple of family members who work in the public service in Bangkok - they dont have a clue how many Expats (like us) are living in Thailand. They estimate about 2-3 Million Foreigners - but that includes all workers (both seniors like Toyota, and building site workers, and those working for a living, and those retired or married - all foreigners). They literally have no idea how many Expats (Western and Japanese and Korean, etc etc) live in Thailand long term as either retired or married persons. To find that out would mean adding up the number registered in each Province in one year and then categorising them all into various groups, and the adding that up across every Province in the whole country - that has never happened and probably never will. And that only gives totals for that one year - they have no idea how many have lived here 1, 2 or 5 or 10+ years. The best chance for a true picture of Expats living in Thailand is if this Census reports that there are lots of Expats living in Thailand full time and who have been living here for many year - is if Expats do the Census. One question is how long have you lived there - and like I said the Census does not ask for ID or for proof or for any personal info other than name, address (it accepts minimal address details) and the month of birth (for age). It is a Census and the information is not specific to individuals - it is for obtaining totals of people living in all the locations across the country (you know - for future hospitals, roads, etc etc). Over time it gives demographical information, and shows the changes from Census to Census - eg. last time 200K lived in XYX province, and now 350K live there. Thais should do it too - but the majority dont and as always there is no enforcement - so they use averages. The more Expats that complete it the better - that is all am I saying.

Yeh - not impressed myself either.

What is wrong with so many Expats - why are they so negative? Why not just complete the census online - easy peasy. Something to hide?? Technically it is a requirement - but that is not why to do it. When there is a media statement in a 2-3 years saying the Thai Govt does not believe that there are many Expats living in Thailand, the lack of information provided in the Census of 2025 will be basis upon which they do it. Immigration does not share the detailed numbers of Expats from those doing 90 days and extensions - unless asked for by PM or a Court - and even then it is their 'best guess'. They dont even share their data between the Provinces - there is SFA totalling going on - that would be work and they (Thai Govt workers) just dont care. They dont know the death toll in that building collapse because they dont have the records of the Expat workers - let alone the illegals (and in this case mostly Myanmar people I would say). But as the bar girl said to the Priest - complete it or not - it is up to you.

Unlike previous GOP POTUS', such as Reagan and Bush, the majority of Trumps supporters are not in the 50-60+ age category - they are in the 18-29 age group. When Reagan retired as POTUS after doing such a great job for 8 years (best ever?) he was replaced by a Bush who screwed it all up, and the People went to Clinton, a young good looking smooth-talking personality who resonated a lot with women and the younger generations. That the young people of today (and white women) so strongly support Trump, bodes very well for future GOP POTUS candidates. I can see GOP Presidents until 2040 and maybe longer. Trump 4, Vance 8, 1st Female POTUS 4 to 8. Not predicting that - the reality is that each election is very different, and in politics a day can be a very long time. It has taken a while, including 4 years after a 'stolen election', but Trump will finally get to lay the foundation for a long GOP reign in the POTUS role. IMO in 2030 the US People will see the results, ignore the MSM lies, and vote Vance in for another term/s to keep doing what Trump has started. After that, the gods of politics will decide. https://www.newsweek.com/young-people-most-optimisitc-about-donald-trump-presidency-cbs-poll-2017544 The most optimistic people about the next four years are young Americans, according to a new poll. The survey, taken by CBS and YouGov, found that 60 percent of all Americans are optimistic about a second Trump term, and that number is even higher among Americans aged 18-29, where 67 percent of them said they are feeling good about the incoming president. And with that, after being very active in politics under many names on social media and forums, this old man is bowing out of politics. I have been active in politics for a long time, and I became very active since I retired in 2013 (sometimes too much). Now that Trump has been inaugurated, I am going to leave 'the field'. It has been a great time, and a bad time, and the best and worst of times, at times. But through it all I knew what was right and what was wrong, and I stayed true to my convictions and to the truth. It is not because he is a Republican that Trump was re-elected as POTUS in a landslide victory in an almost Reagan-like manner. He was re-elected because he is the right person to lead the American People away from all the woke liberal progressive insanity and institutionalised corruption that has been damaging their lives for decades. I leave the game and walk off the field, not to any applause or admiration or condemnation, but with knowing that I did my bit. But, I leave the field with one more post about what IMO is real and what is fake, and the real difference between those things in the world of politics. Many years ago an Irish Statesman named Edmund Burke said: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” However, that is wrong. Edmund Bourke never sad that. JFK said that. In a Presidential speech in 1961 JFK attributed the words to Edmund Bourke - but they were his own. What Bourke wrote in 1770 was: “When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.” JFK 'modernised' those words and gave them meaning within the context of the 1960s. The attribution is fake - but the meaning is true - and truer words have never been spoken by a politician since JFK spoke them in 1961. Trump got as close as any, when he said: 'You are all Fake News".

And with that I am out of here - away from all the lunatic woke insufferables that dominate here. I would like to say a few kind words, but my Mother told me never to tell a blatant lie. Trump won and the World is a better place for it. Not a perfect man, but a man perfect to remove the lunacy of the woke liberals from western societies who are happy to have boys in girl's bathrooms, to permanently mutilate confused children, to let in terrorists who hate our culture, and to fund never ending wars. So it is goodbye from me and goodbye from him.

No mate - they never will understand - brainwashed deranged haters.

The upholding of laws and moral values is something you lefties dont agree with???

@earlinclaifornia Cheers mate - I am pleased to know you have integrity and honour, and that you have changed your avatar having lost our bet. There is only one thing that an Aussie likes more than a man who admits he was wrong, and that is one that makes good on a bet he has lost. Credit where credit is due mate. And with that in mind, I have changed my avatar to that of Trump winning trophy, and I will only hold you to using that avatar of Trump/Vance only until the end of the week. Cheers mate - or as we Aussies say - Here's to you Champ.

Yep - the left thinks that anyone that tries to "enhance people's economic security, real wages, personal security and the prospects of their kids" is far right. They are truly delusional and hopefully they will soon be removed in every western democracy.

Revenge is a meal best eaten cold - and how it is going to be 😁 Trump tried to mend the divide last time, they used that against him. IMO this time he is going to do what the Democrats always do, but never say they will, Trump is going to destroy all things woke liberal. From Education to the Border and everything in between - if it is woke - it is OUT. Just like IN Argentina, Trump is going to tear them all down - sack all of them. Meanwhile Musk will be gutting what is left of the public service like a big fish. Any left wing nutter NGO reliant on Federal funding or tax breaks, is 'out of here'. Long answer - and could say a lot more - but Trump will lead for all 'real' Americans and destroy the woke liberals and their institutions and their rules/regulations that have been tearing down the American values. Peanut will be avenged !!

Clean Sweep for GOP - POTUS, Senate and House - All Over Red Rover 😁 Latest Election 2024 News and Updates | Fox News Elections Center PRESIDENT SENATE HOUSE

There are many things and reasons why Harris and the Democrats got resoundingly rejected by the American People. One of them that shows the divide between the Dems and the People, is that Trump supporters chanted 'USA USA USA', and Democrat supporters chanted 'Kamala, Kamala, Kamala'. The Dems are all about feelings and emotions and this results in boys being in girl's bathroom, but the GOP and Trump are about economic strength and wealth generation and morals and laws . The Democrats have lost POTUS, House and Senate - all will be controlled by the GOP. Trump will push forward massive changes, and most of that will be a total destruction of all things woke and liberal. Any GOP Member or Senator that does not support Trump should be expelled and banned from the Party. Like him or not, Trump has been given a massive mandate by the People and the House/Senate must support him achieving that. Unlike in 2016 when the People really did not know what Trump is going to do - this time around they know exactly what he stands for and will do - and they voted for him to do just that.

Thanks - that worked.

November 2036 - maybe. The People will not forget 2020 and its dubious results, nor the years 2021-24 for a long time. And I am sure they will be reminded by GOP 🙂