TroubleandGrumpy

Ditto. But the number 2 Million was being mentioned by TRD as the amount of international remittances into Thailand into any bank account that TRD will require the Banks to provide them with numbers and the account owner's details. TRD does not have the resources to investigate even 5% of those number of accounts (100+s of thousands) - but they will have the list on record in their computers, for if they ever decided to audit anyone in the future (if they dont lose or misplace or accidently delete the records). Their incompetence and ignorance is a big bonus in this regards.

Under the current tax system that is true - but - what about under the new incoming global tax system? As I have said to others with LTRs - you need to contact BOI and push them to make sure the LTR Visa remains tax free under the new system - meaning the new tax laws they are drafting and will get passed to start the new system. IMO it will be starting Jan 1 2027 - plenty of time, but you should move on it sooner than later.

Cheers - I will check that out.

The issue is not about those who are here - it is about the newbies who are now choosing other countries instead of Thailand. The Philippines especially makes it a lot easier and cheaper to apply, and does not mandate Expats must report to Police every 90 days and complete TM30s if in another province, and allows Expats to leave and re-enter the country at will, and does not mandate ripoff insurance, and does allow Expats to work or run a business and they do not have to hire 4 lazy Thais for every Expat employed, and they make the annual extensions simple and easy and minimal costs, and throughout the Philippines many locals speak good English, and lots of other Pros compared to Thailand. Vietnam and Cambodia are moving towards the Philippines model, while both Malaysia and Indonesia (Penang and Bali) also offer better deals and less stress. And all of those countries are not threatening to hit Expats with income taxes, and they just do not have the same number of negative media stories about crime and corruption, nor about buildings and roads collapsing and massive road deaths and other accidents. Make no mistake - Thailand is less attractive nowadays and other countries are more attractive - to newbie Expats. The waves of Korean and Japanese Expats in 90s, and then the Americans, Aussies/Kiwis, and Europeans in 2000s - are over. The sexpats and backpackers will always visit - and some will stay - but the glory days are IMO over. The rich and wealthy will still visit the island resorts - but they are a very small percentage of the overall numbers. Middle income newbie retirees are now looking elsewhere - Thailand has lost its lustre - it was inevitable. Philippines, Costa Rica, Vietnam, Mexico, Malaysia, Indonesia, Portugal, Panama, Spain, and Ecuador are now the most often recommended destinations for 'western' Expats to live and retire overseas. Thailand is often in the lists too, but they are not number one anymore - sometimes 2-4 and sometimes 9-10. But like many others here, I have a lovely Thai wife and home, and I will stay here as long as I can - ideally until in my 80s. But if Somchai at the local Provincial TRD Office demands that I pay income taxes based on his decision of what I should pay being a rich Falang, then I will be leaving Thailand earlier than planned. Likewise, if the Immigration Police impose another wave of draconian crackdowns on 'bad guys' that also kicks the proverbial out of the 'good guys' too, then I am out of here. Probably use Philippines or Vietnam as a base, and then travel to Thailand twice each year as a 3 months tourist.

I have been doing the same for years - NAS - but the syncing of google and msoft apps across multiple devices is 'problematic'.

True - that is an upside. But I can still access all my latest emails on multiple devices when out and about - and I do store some non-essential stuff on my phone. You can sync most apps like mail across multiple devices - access does not require cloud services. But yes I can only access sensitive documents stored as files on my laptop and HDD when I am physically at home. I like that - if someone steals my phone or I lose it or it gets hacked - I do not want them to have the ability to access sensitive files stored in the cloud. These days people dont risk breaking into houses to get this stuff - they steal or hack people's phones because it is much easier and far less risk. Perhaps the ideal compromise is to store in the cloud only those documents and files you are willing to risk losing. But at this time, cloud services are either all on or all off - they troll through your device and keep copies of every file. When I get an email I want to keep secure it is a simple matter of clicking - likewise when getting or making a document or storing photos and vids etc etc. it is easy peasy. My default storage location is the c drive (not folders) and that is automatically backed up (software) when the external HDD is connected. If the cloud remained as it was when it started - remote access into your own storage device setup - I would be OK using it. But hardware space and network access limitations bred the cloud solution - which the providers love to use/abuse. Businesses can setup their own server hardware services to use as the actual cloud infrastructure. But that is not really an option for the normal consumer user - at this time due to costs. But if they did offer that service (for a small fee) then I would be happy for one of them to sync my devices using my storage hardware - but not their current arrangement of taking control and ownership. Technically there is no reason they cannot do it - as long as I have acceptable storage hardware - but they choose not to offer that because of business reasons. I remember many many years ago asking a group of teens how Google made its money - they had no idea that they are the biggest company in the world and they make money by using our data and selling it packaged into whatever their customer wants (anonimised).

The Gripen is basic and reliable and easier to maintain and fly - perfect for Thai air force. The F16 is the 'base model' of the USA fighter jets but is heavier and not so easy to fly. Both are fairly equal overall in the capability - but the Gripen is generally cheaper. There is no way USA will allow countries like Thailand to have the top tier weapons technology that Thailand wanted in the F16 - and which Gripen does not have anyway. While the F35 is light years ahead as a base level plane - it is the weapon systems that truly make it stand out - and very few countries get the top tier versions of that systems technology (UK, Australia as examples). Thailand wanted the F16 with all the bells and whistles it is capable of having - not a chance that would ever happen.

The very good looking Thai girls can now work in upmarket places and other countries - where they can make a lot more money and have a better clientele. Why get paid so little by fat ugly sexpats in Pattaya, when there are now more upmarket places in Bangkok and Phuket, and also much more money on offer in nearby overseas countries - a lot more.

Good advice - except there is no need to use their cloud services. I have never let either Google of MSoft control and own my data. I back up all info to my local drive and also to an external drive - and that includes all kept emails and files and photos and vids etc etc etc. That is the only way to ensure someone else cannot deliberately or accidentally delete all my documents and files. If anyone seriously breaches their rules, they can and will cancel your account/s and delete all your files - legally they are not yours - they own them when you use their cloud services (in the Ts & Cs no one reads).

As we say in Aussieland - you Lucky Bugger - well done mate.

Agree. Plus put 20-50K aside each year and build up a pool of funds. Before long you have enough to cover most things - or at least a big enough deposit to cover an emergency, while you pull more into Thailand to pay it off. 50K a year sounds great - but the premiums go way higher as you age - and if you make a claim the premiums accelerate even more. PS - get a newer bike/car and get 1st class insurance with medical coverage (max 200K for a bike) in case of an accident - way cheaper than standard medical insurance and more likely to be what you need an emergency hospital for anyway.

Sad to know that some Expats are in that situation and have no cooking facilities - but I think most just dont want to bother and stick to buying because it is easier.

Buy the ingredients and cook it yourself - or get cooking lessons - or hook up with a Thai girl that cooks it for you. Best food I have ever eaten in my life - fitter and healthier than ever was when eating that fatty carbo loaded western sheite food. Last time back homer ordered a salmon meal - 2 of the friends also had it and they loved it - the Thai wife and I were very polite - but later we both said it was sheite.

I tend to agree with you overall, but most of the Expats I know in Thailand are not in that position. They are living in a house they bought (for wife) and enjoying life as much as possible given their health and financial siuation. They recognised long ago that the 'George Best lifestyle' never lasts - there is more to life than just alcohol and sex when one gets older (if they want to get older). Some of us are in a position of being able to go back home when the health and/or money become an issue - but some of us are not - but either way life is short, and you are where you are for many reasons (so own it).

Agree 100% - But an edit if I may - Perhaps, though, these types might not end up living in Thailand in their old-age. Perhaps, though, these types might not end up living alone in Thailand in their old-age. Some blokes were so financially wrapped that they decided to never let it happen again, which meant saving up money and retiring early to live in a country with marriage laws that were not written by woke feminist gender studies beetches and designed to allow women to financially screw over a man with impunity.

And keep it in a Super account, and the return is about twice that amount in a savings account - and tax free too.

The OP is right - and you just proved it (me too).

As always many of the posters here have no idea exactly what they are talking about. As usual I should just shut up and ignore them, but today I have decided to respond. Firstly - I do not like the Shins. I think all Thainese mega rich families in Thailand need to be reined in and also stopped from being in politics. The Junta Govt that many hate overthrew Yingluck and hit her with a BS charge and she was found guilty by those they appointed to the roles (they are mostly still there). Putting aside the issue - the core matter is that Yingluck as PM was responsible for a 'vote buying' scheme that ended up being a disaster and cost the country a lot of money. BUT she did not personally gain anything (other than votes) - it was a terrible idea that some of her underlings took advantage of - as they do here. She was not found guilty of corruption and receiving any financial gain - she was found guilty of a very bad decision done for political purposes. If all politicians are later charged for any decision they make that ends up costing the country money - then politicians will not make any decisions at all going forward. There are articles in both Khaosod and Bang Post criticising this decision because it sets a precedent that in the future those responsible for creating the 10K Baht handout could be charged and fined billions if it is found out that the handout was a waste of money and there was corruption and the scheme had a bad outcome.

They are all beholding to and/or members of rich Thainese families

Well I dont fully agree - but unlike those with the more severe second bout of <removed>, at least he does not make it all about Trump. I sometimes wonder if they know how close they are to being gender studies women? They use their cognitive bias and blame men Trump for everything !!

I could not have said it any better - so I will just add :- Slim attractive feminine women everywhere No fat ugly aggressive feminist women everywhere Tradesmen not great, but they are very very cheap Cheap movies in theatres without annoying loud Gen Z morons on their phones No need to drive a car with your eyes locked on the speedo in case you go 3-5Ks over some BS speed limit Makro and Markets - mostly good quality and very cheap Police that can and will shoot criminals who resist - complaints by criminals ignored Police that can and will take a 'quiet tip' to forgive a traffic violation Doctors willing to prescribe what they think will work - complaints it did not work are ignored TV/Movies advertisements that are normalising the lives of 'alternative' people as a 'message' TV/Movies that are not full of 'other cultures' and no DEI BS - only Thais Cheap airfares around the country - cheap hotels - cheap taxis/ubers Overall a great sense of 'freedom' to live my life the way I want to live my life (within reason) No Nanny State and No Welfare State Free hospital treatment (for wife and her family)

Went to Pattaya a while ago and most of the single old men walking around looked like their Mother and Dog had just died. I also see that in many Expats in other places too - not so many is one spot though. I think they are just unhappy and grumpy - glad I will never be that way - enjoy life I say, before you know it one day .............

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.