TroubleandGrumpy

AND anyone lodging a DTA exemption will probably have to do it in Thai and though a Thai certified accountant/lawyer. It astounds me how some Expats think the Thai RD is going to be more organised and efficient than the Immigration Police and 'better' or 'easier' to deal with. They just do not realise that Thai RD is not setup to deal with Expats who dont speak Thai - unlike the Immi Police. Hopefully they are not going to find out the very hard way one day. One bloke said he would just pay an agent - how someone here can possibly even think that is beyond me. I see this all the time, most recently when they are 'arguing' with each other about the road rules in Thailand, and quoting paragraphs from the road rules on websites back in their home country. A mate of mine said it a long time ago - "They are not our brightest and best, and that is the main reason we avoid them." Me thinks that perhaps many of the very 'active' posters (most argumentative) actually do not live, nor have ever lived, in Thailand - they just visit now and then (chasing the bar girls and parties).

History will show that the woke progressives supporting Hamas in their 'fight' were just ill informed delusional over-educated idiots.

You are an ******* if you believe any of the PR being sent out by the Pro-Hamas media. Just like they blamed Israel for the bomb that hit the hospital, when it was a Hamas accident - everything they say is a lie. They are all lies designed to make those silly people in the west who think they are merely 'independence fighters' seeking their own land. They are Islamic terrorists and what they want, and always wanted, is the removal of Israel and all Jews from 'the river to the sea'. Not one Jew lives in Gaza - that is a death sentance - but there are plenty of Aram Muslims in Israel living in there peacefully. These are not 'normal' Muslims who want peace - they are murdering Islamic terrorists - and you are a silly westerner they love to fool.

Is that AOC? Or one of those other pro-Islamic pro-Palestine idiots in the Democrats?? Exactly how can you have a 'resolution' - when one 'side' demands nothing less than the total destruction of the other side. I mean it is not like the USA UN etc etc have not tried to do this for the last 50 years. Israel has been maintaining a 'peace' by the threat of over-whelming force if the terrorists did anything really bad - which they just did. By the way - Israel is still 10s of thousands of rockets short of the number that Hamas has fired into Israel over the last 20 years. Hamas went far too far in their 'protest' and they are going to be destroyed for doing that - and yes it is a warning to Hezbolla etc etc. Israel has officialy declared war on Hamas - and it is Hamas that is causing any civilian deaths - by hiding behind them.

Israel PM has made an announcement that if Hamas releases all the hostages then they will stop. Hamas has not responded - if they do IMO they will demand that Israel stops and leaves first (so we can take back control of Gaza). Israel will not accept - they are going to destroy Hamas and this time, and they will not withdraw until it is done. Hamas only has to release all the hostages and the whole world will demand Israel stops. It is all on Hamas - all of it is on Hamas.

Hamas - all of them - if they are terrorists and support Hamas then they support the destruction of Irael and killing all Jews. Amazing how regates always complain when kids are accidently killed by Israel, but not the kids that Hamas deliberately butchered. No matter what you think of Israel troops - none of them will hack the head off a child and scream out a religious call. If you have not seen that yet - I suggest you go find them and watch - they are evil terrorist scum and I hope Israel kills them all.

If Hamas did not hide behind civilians - then no civilians would be killed. Just because they are not wearing a uniform, does not mean they are not Hamas. Saw a video recently of Hamas people sending multiple mortar rockets from inside a building - dressed as civilians. They are evil terrorist scum and I hope the Isreal army kills evey single one of them.

As that bloke found out the hard way, going back to 'serve out the 2 years' is not the way to do it. You go back because now because you are getting the age pension and benfits, and therefore you can now afford to live in Australia - permanently. Anything - ANY THING - that makes it look like you are merely do it to then p-off in 2 years can be denied. You must make it look like you are returning permanently - the rules have changed - portability is not a 'right' nor is the pension. Rent a cheap 1 bedroom unit somewhere and claim the rental subsidy. Open bank accounts, get a driving licence, get club memberships, etc etc etc - make it look like you are staying (forever). Report everything you are doing to Clink - write a letter and upload it online. Update your assets and liabilities - try to save up some money - apply for jobs (you wont get anything of course). Do your tax returns - and do not go visit Thailand or anywhere else overseas. Do not say to anyone that you are planning to return to Thailand - no one. CLink gets a lot of 'reports' - especially about old blokes going overseas from old women whose hubby 'spilled the beans' on another bloke. Then - after 2 years and 3 months in Aust - ring CLink and ask what the rules are about portability - ask can you visit OSeas. Say it is too expensive to live in Australia and that you are getting nowhere - and you cannot find a job to top up the pension - bla bla bla. Dont mention Thailand, other than saying you are thinking of maybe living on Bali, or Philippines, or Thailand, or Vietnam - because cheaper. Say you have spoken to a few blokes down the club and they have said how cheap it is - and that Thailand was much cheaper too. 2-3 months later send a letter to Clink saying you are going to stay with an old friend in Thailand for a few months. 2 months later send a letter to Clink saying you are going to stay in Thailand for maybe a year or so. Stay. All Done. There are blokes being denied the pension and/or portability, because they spoke too much and CLink decided that they never inteneded to stay living in Australia. The rule is simple (idiotic but simple). Yopu must be in Australia to apply, and you must intend to stay permanently in Australia. Once you have the Pension and have 'qualified' - then you can 'change your mind' and moive overseas and keep the pension. I did it in reverse - I returned to Australia 5 years before pension age and waited. Told everyone I was staying - did all thsoe things above and a lot more. 2 months after getting the pension I moved back to Thailand - no problems. CLink is simple - they are all feminist man-haters who despise the idea of an older bloke having fun with young Thai girls. That is how you MUST view them (not 100% are) - because everything you say and send to them 'will be held against you later'. Tell them nothing (other than what you have planned).

Seems to me that quite a few people are arguing what 'this clause' or 'that clause' means under a DTA. @Sheryl Is merely pointing out what the rule states - there is no point arguing about it guys. Exactly how the Thai RD determines how any applicable DTA clause will/wont apply, is solely up to the Thai RD. This is not the West where the rules and laws are detailed and people can 'push back' on what they mean in application. This is one of the many issues that the Thai RD must now address - they never have for personal taxes in the past. We will all have to wait until the Thai RD releases its clarifications and exemptions and determinations, before 'knowing' anything. Arguing over what a clause/paragraph in a DTA or the Thai RD Guidelines is a waste of time. IMO best to start preparing and planning and wait - best case scenario, worst case scenario, acceptable scenario. The Thai RD has been 'operating' for decades based upon very few detailed definitive 'guidances'. A lot of their rules/interpretations have been sorted out in Court - it is a very complex thing writing tax laws/rules. This change is being made (for obvious reasons) to an 'interpretation' that was ratified in a Court over 30 years ago. The reason is simple - the Govt needs more money - but they have under-estimated how hard this will be (far too many issues). My plan is simple - and it seems others are of the same thought. I am bringing forward remittances into Thailand this year (for 2024) and will bring in the absolute minimum in 2024. Before the end of 2024 it should be clear what the Thai RD is going to do regarding remittances into Thailand by retired/married Expats. It could also be that the Thai Govt does what Malaysia did, and defers implementation for a few years. Malaysia did that because it was going to take that long to determine all the rules and clarifications etc. and publish them. If I am going to be 'forced' to lodge a tax return in 2025 and it appears I will be paying income taxes - then we are leaving Thailand. Unless it is a resonable amount and I get something in return - legal rights, no 90 days, no annual begging to stay, health services, etc.

My thoughts exactly - I hope he has not already paid the deposit.

Maybe Enoch Powell's unheeded words of wisdom will come true soon. Seems to me, as an outside observer, that pro-Palestine demonstrators have the right to 'peacefully' show their support. But to allow that 'support' anywhere near the Cenotaph, or other people supporting Armistance Day rememberances, is wrong. And if/when Hama nutters start shouting out viscious hatred to Israel and to Kill the Jews - they should be arrested and jailed. If they dont get arrested, like those who abused people in a BLM/LGTQ rally, then people will eventually take the law into their own hands.

Judging by all your argumentative (UK centric) posts - same - BLOCKED. And no one gives a rat's rear either - especially not me.

She means 99% of the Thai girls she meets at work?

That is why so many blokes put up with their special type of 'abuse' - and then it is too late to leave - and next is that she/family kick you out. It aint ever going to be better to stay, and it aint ever going to be easy to leave. The plan IMO should be to go somewhewre where she cannot find you - perhaps another country would be best - The Philippines? Spain? Plenty of single blokes down Jopmtein/Pattaya way that have been through exactly what you are going through. Somewhere you can go and live by yourself for a while and let things work themselves out. After that maybe you can find another - but dont look there - look elsewhere for a good keeper.

Thanks mate - much appreciated. I wont smoke because of both lung issues and also because I might start again. But your post is full of usful information and is much appreciated by me and others too.

Yeh right mate - no wuking furries - I believe that totally - NOT.

And I figure you can also guess which way I would have voted too

Thanks mate - very much appreciated for sending that. Let us know how you go next week. Still looking and checking myself - found some research articles below. Medicinal Cannabis for Treatment of Chronic Pain - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov) Use of Cannabis and Other Pain Treatments Among Adults With Chronic Pain in US States With Medical Cannabis Programs | Opioids | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network Medicinal cannabis for pain: Real-world data on three-month changes in symptoms and quality of life - Kylie O’Brien, Justin Beilby, Michelle Frans, Michael Lynskey, Michael Barnes, Mihindu Jayasuriya, Alkyoni Athanasiou-Fragkouli, Philip Blair, David Nutt, 2023 (sagepub.com)

Indigenous - (of people) inhabiting or existing in a land from the earliest times or from before the arrival of colonists. Do you mean the indidenous aboriginees that came 70-80k years ago, or one of the many waves of peoples that came afterwards, with the last 'wave' being about 12K years ago - just before the seas rose (due to 'climate warming') and the land mass was cut off. And I guess you mean 'Australian' Indigenous - as in those that were on the land mass named Australia when found by the 'colonists' - Or are you referring to members of one of the many hundreds of nomadic tribes that wandered around that land we named Australia?

What happens is that the KK Immi Officers will do a home visit - make sure he has a 'witness' ready to talk to them. They come inside the house as a check that he lives live there, take photos with him/wife/them, and then talk to witness. That is all bundled, together with his application documents and sent to Bangkok. Bangkok approve or disapprove and send back to KK who then will give stamp in Passport if approved. There is an online check system for the Bangkok part - KK should have given him details or maybe not available to them. That is of course if that is the same system as they did down here. Maybe KK approve or disapprove themselves - I have no idea.

AND - That is how I spell and say their name - Abbo Riginee or Abboriginee

REPEAT: Great result - even greater to see all the woke progressive lefties become offended by the sheer audacity of the Aust People to reject their BS.

Great result - even greater to see all the woke progressive lefties become offended by the sheer audacity of the Aust People to reject their BS. (for my sins) Years ago I worked in Canberra for a while (not in Govt) and I got to know some senior public servants - yes some of them are OK (about 20%). This was the time of ATSIC and before Howard had won and abolished that corrupt waste of taxpayer money. He said that if we paid every single Abboriginee $1M each and told them to 'f off' and gave them no more 'additional aid/services/money' we would be better off in 15 years, and then going forward we would save $billions. I ran into him some years later when Aust had its one and only ever feminist PM, and he said he was wrong. He said that now it will only take 5-6 years to break even!! You guys have absolutely no idea how much money is wasted on Abboriginees - by all levels of Gopvernment and though Quasi-Governemnt Organisations and Charities and NGOs. Take what you know now and triple it. Our debt would dissappear in a few years if it was all stopped - and a lot of useless woke lefty people would be out of work - A LOT!

I am late to this post and cannot find the original post - I assume it is not back when this thread started in 2008. I am usually across all these sort of things - is there something I missed? Has there been a change of the laws relkating to the tax residency status for pensioners? Why are people saying pensioners will/may be forced to return to Australia?

Whenever I read opinions about coffee and all the stuff different people like/dislike, I am reminded of that movie 'Bucket List' with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson : Kopi Luwak Coffee The Bucket List - YouTube We used to have a coffee machine from Aldi (In Aust) that was great and cheap - lasted for over 6 years (could not bring it here). Made by Expressi for Aldi - looked it up on Lazada and it costs 5 times the price in Aust and the pods cost 6-8 times as much. We are sticking to Macconna - only 2 times the price in Aust - we like the taste and it is quick/easy. And no need to clean a machione every year - you should see the crap that gets inside them over time. I recommend you only ever use bottled water in a machine here - and clean them frequently too.