TroubleandGrumpy

Maybe they should stop eating all the khrapp that they eat (fast food) and drink (fizzy sugar water) which makes them obese !! I wonder if the 'fat shaming' groups will protest about this blatant example of hatred towards fat people 🙂

Not impossible - but highly unlikely given their 10 year coup and attempt at being a political Party.

Absolutely true - and a great decision to not allow the Politicians free reign under a Westmister like Parliamentary system. Unlike in USA, and other countries, where the Head of State is separately elected and has certain Powers and Authority, the Westminster system does not have elections for the 'Head of State'.

Yes - but who knows what they might decide if the popwers that be dont want this thing hanging around during the senate elections/selections.

True - and I am sure the PM will want the job for many years and not risk it in an election. But politics is not a game that can be planned out ahead with any certainty.

Well you may be right about the term taxpayer - but you could also be wrong. If the TRD specifies that someone who does not have to pay any income taxes is still a taxpayer, then I will accept your definition. But in the absence of that fact, then I will interpret it to mean what I have always said that it means - someone who is obliged to pay income taxes. It is clear that the TRD has not defined anywhere near enough what the meanings are of all the terms used in the Tax Code. Malaysia made that blanket exception because of the negative outcry from Expats when they first announced this new rule back in 2022 - and they even delayed the implementation for personal taxes (not business taxes) until 2025. I am hoping/thinking that the Thailand Government will do the same - not exactly the same - but the same type of approach (fair and balanced).

Looks to me like it will be a Tory and Reform UK lead coalition against a Labour led coalition to be the next UK Govt. Rishi will wait until something positive happens this year before calling an election - it that is at all possible 🙂 But it is clear that this is an election for Labour to lose - but that has happenned before and nothing is guaranteed in politics.

I think the Old Guard want this all delayed until after the Senate elections. Another extension and then maybe another, and then the trial itself and decision will take months. They probably fear that disbanding MFP now will create a blowback regarding the Senate elections, more than they are already going to get. Once the Senate is elected and in place might also be a good time (for them) to dissolve Parliament and call a new election before the MFP can regroup under a new name (and maybe a new Leader).

Perhaps you are confused by what I meant when I said 'unless you need to lodge a tax return and pay income taxes'. If you read the section in the tax code about who needs to get a TIN it clearly states a 'taxpayer' is required to get a TIN "provides that a taxpayer or a payer of income shall obtain and use a taxpayer identification number (TIN)" It does not say tax resident - it says taxpayer - and as per the abbreviations a taxpayer is someone that has to pay the taxes. I am not saying everyone does not have to get a TIN - I am saying IMO that you should only get a TIN in order to lodge a tax retrun and pay your income taxes. Your statement about no one is being fined or arrested for failing to get a tax clearance certificate before leave the country, is as valid as mine that Expats who are retired and on a pension are not being fined and charged. They are both accepotable statements, because if they were we would have heard about them by now for sure. I have been active on Thailand Expat forums and news sites since 2010 and I have never heard of either happenning. Whether or not Thailand will tax Expat's pensions is not soley based on DTAs - although as you say they will have a big bearing on things (if the TRD accepts them as acceptable to use for exemptions). However, I also make my statements in that rgerads because IMO before the end of this year the Thailand Govt will make the same sort of statement as the Malaysian Govt did before they implemnted the same rule change regarding FSI (foreign sourced income). This below are the words as quoted by PWC on the detailed website link provided. Qualifying FSI is exempt from tax provided the income has been subjected to tax in the country of origin. FSI received from individuals is regarded as having been subject to tax in the country of origin if: a) Income tax or withholding tax on the FSI has been paid or is payable; or b) Tax is not imposed in the country of origin because of: i) The taxation system of the origin country ii) The FSI of the individual falling below the taxable threshold in the country of origin iii) Income that is given an exemption through a tax incentive iv) In the case of foreign dividend income, it has been subject to underlying tax v) Foreign dividend income that is paid from underlying profits arising from operating profits, which have not been subjected to tax due to: - Unabsorbed losses or capital allowances - Profit arising from capital gains - Tax incentives that are in compliance with the country’s substance requirements; or - Tax rules under a tax consolidation regime Is your foreign-sourced income exempted from tax? (pwc.com)

Good Point - I recall one member posted that he went into the local TRD Office and they said basically 'go away'. He did not work and he did not have a business - so they said not to worry about it. That may change soon of course, but I have a feeling that it will not - not a fact - but a feeling.

I agree - it is not correct to advise Expats to ignore the rule - but it is also not correct to advise them to absolutely comply. What is known, is that 100s of thousands of Expats over many decades in Thailand (past and present) have been remitting their pensions and acquired savings to Thailand for decades, and not one of them has been fined/charged by TRD for not getting a TIN and not lodging a tax return. I believe that in the absence of clear advice or action by TRD, I think it is better to say that this is the rule, but maybe 'wait and see' - because noone is certain that they will be taxing retired Expats' Govt pensions - or not. And if uncertain then seek professional taxation advice regarding your own specific situation.

Thanks - my bad on posting the wrong one - the current one is now saved.

There are many clarifications and information updates that TRD are supposed to provide - the issue of what constitutes assesable income under this new loophole closure is just one of them. The only rule that has changed is that the loophole whereby income such as capital gains and rent would be seasoned for 12 months and then remitted tax free. Expats have been for decades remitting their pensions and savings into Thailand - nothing has changed with regards to that money. If/when TRD specifies that under the new rule all long-term Expats who become tax residents and remit into Thailand more than 60/120K which is now defined as assessable income (which means taxable income) are required to get a TIN and lodge a tax return, then I and many others will agree. At which time I would say those deciding whether to leave Thailand or not (and can), will make the decision to leave Thailand. Until then it is all about what constitutes income and what TRD intends to apply taxation to - especially Govt pensions. The rues are not always the issue in Thailand - it is what they decide to enforce and how they interpret them. There is a rule in the TRD Tax Code that states all foreigners leaving Thailand must first get a tax clearance certificate - what matters is that it is no longer enforced. It would be wrong to tell any Expat leaving to Thailand they must get a tax clearance because it is the Law.

I dont have a link - I searched using Google and that was what I got.

This list from a non-official guide (meaning not TRD approved so dont take as gospel) is very detailed and would also be useful for you - especially this list from the first page: SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS a) The tax year is the calendar year, tax returns must be filed the following year, before 31 March. b) Only income remitted to Thailand is potentially taxable in Thailand, income that remains overseas is not taxable for foreigners. c) You must spend more than 180 days per calendar year in Thailand before you are considered tax resident. d) There is no double taxation but some income may be taxed at a different rate. e) Dual Tax Agreements exist between Thailand and over 60 countries, each is different, you must read and understand yours. f) Tax returns are filed using the honour system. You must declare your income, without any supporting paperwork and this will either be accepted or not, just as in the US and UK. g) Income that is taxed overseas will not be re-taxed here. Tax paid on income overseas can be used to offset any Thai tax assessment on the same income. h) Assessable income in Thailand may take many forms, bank transfers, cash, cheques, overseas debit card and ATM transactions etc. i) Generous Tax Exemptions, Deductions and Allowances (TEDA) exist, along with a zero rated tax band, to create a significant tax free buffer for many tax payers. j) How you use your imported funds in Thailand is of no interest to the RD and does not change the taxation of those funds. k) For the most part, the various tax treaties do not limit the extent to which pension, dividend, rental and interest income can be taxed by Thailand.

This is the thread -

Dont get sick or have an accident, the medical charges for foreigners are way more higher than for tuk tuks. And dont come without medical insurance.

Helps that if you are are taking them now, to take the packet with you to the Pharmacy. Note that if there is a white blind drawn down and blocking the medications behind the counter, that means there is not an authorised pharamacist in the store at that time (out for lunch etc).

Party and Night Life in Thailand = Pattaya. Party and Night Life and staying in a beach resort and visiting beaches and islands in Thailand = Phuket.

No you do not need a Tax ID - unless you need to lodge a tax return and pay income taxes. There is a thread all about this issue - but basically if the money you remit into Thailand is not income, as defined by the TRD, then you dont need to lodge a tax return or pay income taxes. There are a LOT of details and issues that the TRD has still not clarified, and my advice is to research and learn, and wait until you decide that you do need to lodge a tax return and pay income taxes.

You need to give more info. Are you a Thai Citizen - I assume Yes. What country is she a citizen of? How long has she been working in Thailand? How long have you lived together? When are you going to get married? With that info, I think the Visa Expert (Jack) can point you in the right direction/s.

There is far more to this story than is being provided - but best not to speak ill of the dead. Suffice to say that she has been a serial protestor for many years (not just this current issue). Take a look at who she left eveything to in her Will - that says something that IMO should not be said right now.

I am not a Pattaya/Jomtien type person, but I would take that if the only other option was to live in the boondocks like this guy - with no services and other modern things nearby. I have seen a few of his vids over the years, and being young he has been able to make a real go of things, and he has built up the farm really well. However, I am not sure that when he is 60-70 that he will still be OK living on a remote farm - but he certainly seems happy doing what he is doing.

Thailand has been losing out on a lot of potential business development over the last 10-15 years under the Junta and the prvious Govts. Probably the best example being that Tesla chose Malaysia ahead of Indonesia for its SEAsia Regional HQ and Manufacturing, and Thailand was not even in the picture. 20 years ago that would not have been the case. Thailand manufacturing and business devlopment from overseas has been going down for a while, and this Visa is IMO a reaction to the fact that not much 'development projects' are being committed to in the EEC - no where near as many as they said would happen when it was first announced.

Perhaps they need to talk to Elon about what 'real value' is based upon, when it comes to the satellite business. Maybe he would make an offer - just to keep them off the market for 5-10 years (unless he needs them). But would there be enough tea money to go around - probably not.