TroubleandGrumpy

Not totally true - some Thai girls and their Families do not expect or ask for much, and some ask for way too much. A lot of it depends on whether she has been supporting the family before getting married and as you said whther she has kids Each situation is different, but as a general rule if she has no kids and has been supporting the family, then she is worth more sinsod than a previously married Thai girl with kid/s. Yes I paid sinsod but since then (almost 10 years) I have not been asked for anything - best 'investment' I have ever made in my life.

I hear you about USA and some States - but I can assure you in Australia they get far more than you have experienced in US. I know because I have been through it (mine was OK and reasonable), but I have known many blokes over the years who were also screwed over (we call it financially raped in Aust). I understand that the marriage laws are very much the same in New Zealand, UK and most of Europe. Let me give you just two examples of many hours I could spend writing/talking about it. Father of a close friend (late 70s) owned a big farm and his wife passed many years earlier. He somehow let a young woman come and live with him (family did not know) and within 6 months he died. She refused to leave and lodged a claim through the Family Court - it took over a year before thge family were able to remove her. They engaged lawyers etc but had to make a $120,000 payment as 'settlement' of her claim, and when she left and they got inside, she has stolen and sold many of his assets - the police refused to get involved. Bloke I knew in Sydney was divorced and single for several years- He hooked up with a girl at a party and spent the weekend with her. She was from another State and he never saw her again until 9 months later - yep she had a kid and claimed it was his - he was forced to undergo paternity testing and it was his. He hired an investigator and it was established that she had done this to 3 other men - all in interstate cities. This was found aout because she had a falling out with a girlfriend and she told the investigator and stated it in Court. The Family Court ruled that although she had deliberately done it for fianncial support money, the kid was his and he had to pay - for 18 years. He was the reason I got a vasectomy, and they both and so many other similar stories, convinced me to rent and not buy until I had retired.

Nail on the head mate - and I think many well-meaning but ignorant of that fact people need to understand it more. The radical Muslim terrorists like Hamas would willingly press the button and kill everyone in the world, including themselves, if it means that all Christians and Jews will die. They see their own death in the jihad against Chritians and Jews as a positive thing if in doing so also kills them - they see it as gaining extra rewards in the Islamic version of heaven.

We all know that Hamas' strategy has been to allow and even failitate the deaths of civilians (and Hamas non-military supporters) in order to gain world media attention (headlines like this one) and from that many world leader's support and for that 'pressure' to stop Israel finding and killing/arrresting all of them. But IMO IDF has taken far too long to find and kill/detain Hamas forces - me thinks this will be a truning point and Israel will start developing an alternative stratgey. Perhaps they will leave and just build a bigger wall and refuse anyone from Gaza to enter Israel (like Eqypt does on their border with Gaza). Or perhaps they will try to maintain a presence in Gaza and from there try to enforce law ansd order and have a genberal election which hopefully will remove Hamas from the position of authority. IMO they should just leave and follow Egypt's lead, plus actively target and destroy Hamas cells when they pop back up or build more tunnels. Hamas aint ever going to stop being terrorists and killing military and non-military Jews, and you would have more chance of killing all the coackroaches in New York than eradicating all the Hamas military and non-military supporters - short of nuclear strikes - but the cockroaches would survive that anyway.

Perhaps they took an accidental wrong turn and were going in a direction that was not 'approved' by IDF? Not stating anything as fact - just summising a reason why someone in IDF fired missiles at those vehicles. Like many people - I will wait for IDF report and then decide - if there was no extenuating circumstances, then massive pressure will be applied to Israel to stop the 'mistakes'. Yes I know that means Hamas will have 'won' because they will still be there - but too many mistakes is just too many mistakes,and Israel will have to move towards taking a different strategy for dealing with Gaza.

I believe the IDF apology and admission - and I will believe their investigation report on what happened and why. I do not believe anything coming out of Al Jazeera regrading Israel.

I have a Scandinavian relative and he knows one of those blokes that have done that - they are in Hua Hin. I tried looking for the post one of them about it last year and why he pays income taxes in Thailand and not back home - could not find it. If you did not know the taxes most scandinavians pay omn their 'retirement savings/super' is extremely high - in fact it is higher if you live overseas, than if you live in the home country. Their system is very much more complicated than the Aust system - it is run by their Government so need I say more. Yes Australian Account Based Super Funds' earnings are not taxed. But Accumulation Phase Super Fund's earnings are taxed - at 15%. Converting from Accumulation Phase to Account Based when a person retires and then receiving regular "Pension Payments" has a few ATO and CLink 'issues' (gotchas) and now doing that also has potential Thailand taxation issues too. The former issue is why I remained in the Accumulation Phase and the latter issue is another positive for having made that decision. I can stay in Accumulation Phase until I turn 75 - for the time being I will withdraw irregular payments fromk my Super account as and when I need them. Yes that spreadsheet is OK - I have made one of my own and have calculated that I paid more taxes in Aust on my Super 'earnings' last year than I would had to pay in Thailand - but the difference is not a lot so going forward so I will stay paying taxes on Super earnings/growth in Australia. Having said that, my read of the TRD Guidlines is that growth in a mutual trust fund is not 'taxable income'. However, that is obviously for mutual trust funds in Thailand and not specifically for Super mutal trust funds in Australia - they could be said to be the same thing - but I will stay away from lodging a tax return to find that out.

Good riddance - we are all far better off on this topic sharing our opinions. I have met a few dipsticks in my time and what is very much a constant with them is that they immediately abuse anyone that dares disagree or criticise what they state - and they never defend their stated position.

No - not the same. After a short period of time (1 year) in the west the wife is entitled to claim up to half of the husband's assets. In the west, after 2-3 years it is very much a given that she will get at least half the husband's assets - whether they were acquired by him before the marriage started or not. In Thailand what is the husband's prior to the marriage is his, if the marriage breaks down. Regards custody of kids and child support, you are correct - but she does not automatically get half of the assets - only half of what they have both accumulated since they got married (perhaps you mean that when using the words 'marital assets'). In Thailand the marriage laws are very much 'designed' to keep the couple together, in the west the marriage laws are very much designed for the women to get as much as possible from the man. They were not always designed that way, but a*ole men who deserted them and kids, and men hating feminists,caused the changes that we made - but they went too far - way too far. Now in the west you have a*ole women screwing blokes over - the exact opposite of the reason why the marriage laws were changed.

Yes mate - crazy biased divorce laws are why many of us left the western BS behind. I recall one debate I had with a feminist about Greg Norman (Aussie Golfer) going through a divorce and whose wife was demanding half of everything he had earned at golf and business ($millions). I pointed out the clearly logical and rational point that Greg's wife had done nothing more than any normal wife (not a golf coach or business expert) - why should she get half of his $millions. When I got all the usualy khrapp back about supporting and enabling Greg to achieve in life etc etc., I pointed out that Alan Bond was sentenced to jail for his corruption that netted him $millions, but his wife was not punished - why not??!! She had enabled and supported him !!! If looks could kill I would not be typing this right now. Western women are so full of BS they think they are entitled to all the upsides of a man but none of his downsides - the divorce system here is far more reasonable and fair.

very hard to watch women's basketball - both because not many want to watch it, and because it is so bad.

I know of a few people in the same position as yourself - paying taxes on their Aust Govt pension payments. That is taxed now only because the contributions made into that Govt super fund were given additional taxation benefits and done at a much higher rate. Other Super funds did not have those same taxation benefits, and that is why payments from them are not considered by the ATO as taxable income. I would get the latest information regarding paying income taxes in Thailand, inluding all the deductions and allowances applicable to yourself, and calulate exactly how much tax you would pay in Thailand versus in Australia. I have heard there are a few Scandinavians in Thailand who are getting their 'retirement' payments sent direct to their banks in Thailand, because Thailand taxes them a lot less than their home country does. But it means going through the process of dealing with the home country tax office (ATO for you) to set things up in that way - once done the ATO will stop taxing your Pension payments - but I dont think it will be easy.

We clearly have different opinions about whether it is taxable in Thailand. Hopewfully our discussions on the matter will give members what they need to make their own decision/s. Looking forward to your post with link/proof it is taxable. PS - anything from a tax accountant stating it is taxable is not worth the paper it is printed on - they are after your business and will and do say anything - there are SFA consumer laws here, and the TRD does not manage taxation 'experts' like the ATO and Consumer Affairs and Financial Advisers Ombudsman does in Australia. I agree 100% with your second paragraph, but I will point out that unlike the TAT and Thai Immigration, TRD do not care one bit about Expats leaving Thailand - that is not their issue and they will not take that issue into account (unless told to back down).

You sound like someone else mate - argumentative and never wrong (enlighten me/us). Please read my latest post vefore this and then please read the TRD Guidlines for 2022 and the Australian Thai DTA - all of them. Then and only then will you see what I have seen which make it IMO not taxable. PS - also look up the Thai definition of the word Pension. You are one of the many that have stated that the pension is taxable - please provide where it states clearly that the Pension is subject to income taxes in Thailand. Please post everything you have - so I can refute/correct it all in one go. Year 2022 | The Revenue Department (English Site) (rd.go.th) australia : article 1-5 | The Revenue Department (English Site) (rd.go.th)

IMO the Australian Pension is NOT subject to income taxes in Thailand. There are several reasons for that opinion. Taxation is an extremely complicated and 'difficult' area - in Aust we are extremely lucky to have the ATO - they are IMO the best in the world (I worked in IT in Canberra for 20+ years). Often this tax rule states this, and that rule states that, and both are in conflict, and another one says another thing altogether. Over many years those rules and situations are rigorously 'fine tuned' and publicised and the tax experts and public are 'educated'. ATO has over the last 3-4 decades done a great job in doing that - the TRD are a total clusterphaarrk of disjointed and conflicting arbitrary rules and interpretations. Most TRD clarifications come from Court cases - they are not rigorously removing conflicts, confusions. ommissions and errors. The issue with your question starts with being a tax resident in Thailand and/or a tax resident in Australia. I am both at the moment, and if you pay taxes in Australia (which you have already on any earnings/super etc) you probably are one too. That is a huge issue and grwatly affects income taxation in any other country. The secondary issue of whether a Govt Pension is taxable in Thailand is confusing, but IMO TRD does not consider a Government Pension (in their Taxation Rules) as taxable - but it is very much (like everything to do with TRD) open to interpretation. A 'Pension' in the TRD guidelines is any regular payment made to a person - some Companies pay a person a 'Pension' over many years in return for their service - that is taxable. The next level is whether under the DTA the Aust Govt Pension is taxable. There are many clauses and interpretations possible - mine is that it is not taxanble in Thailand. If this matter ever goes to a Thai Court for a decision - then and only then will it be clear. But even that will be subjected to 'correction' - I just cannot see the Aust Taxpayer (and therefore Govt) being happy to pay their taxes straight to the Thai Government for every person on a Penbsion and residing in Thailand for 180+ days each year. There are more complications than those above that I have only just touched on - this could go on for hours. IMO the ASust Govt Pension is not taxable. Having said that, I know one of the 'confusing' facts that has IMO caused the misinterpretation that the Pension is taxable. In Australia, the Pension (like most CLink payments) is considered 'taxable income' - but as you know it is not taxed - it is subjected to and then exempted from tax by the ATO. When a person recieves the Pension they are 'deemed' to have a taxable income that is above the tax free threshold, then if they earn money from another source, then that income is 100% subject to payment of income taxes, because it is above the tax free threshold. I think some people have confused the Pension being taxable income with being taxable in Thailand. IMO the Aust Govt under the DTA does not want its taxpayer's money being paid to the Thailand Government, and the DTA does not clearly state that the Govt Pension is taxable in Thailand. Now what TRD might think about that is unknown (they dont make the DTAs) and IMO is best left alone like a sleeping dog. IMO all Expats should avoid lodging a tax return in Thailand unless they are clearly earning income overseas (real income, not Pension) and are bringing that income into Thailand untaxed. If, like me, you dont think you have to pay income taxes in Thailand, then keep records of all payments in Australia, all transfers to Thailand, and all deposits in Thailand, and write down the reasons why you think you are not liable for income taxes (keep a file each year). Then if I am wrong (could be - doubt it - but could be) and the TRD comes knocking asking why you have not lodged a tax return, then and only then, go see a tax expert/consultant and get formal advice. If you see one now, IMO they will say "yes yes pay us money and we do a tax return for you' now and every year going forward. If you want to play it completely safe, then go see one towards the end of this year - when things will hopefully be clearer. In Thailand it can take many years to resolve the simplest of issues (criminal cases, maryjane laws, covid mandates, etc etc) - IMO this new 'tax regime' will take 2-3 years to sort itself out - best to stay quiet until then. All Thailand has to do is release a statement (like Malysia and Philippines have done and others?) making it clear that they have no intention of taxing Retired Expats who bring their own money into Thailand under their implementation of the required OECD CRS driven tax laws, designed to reduce money laundering and tax fraud. That Thailand has not yet done that despite the clearly concerned Expats (and poptential Expats) could mean they do want our money, but more likely it is because they are dont know what to do and how to do it (and refuse to look, listen and learn from their neighbours).

My only comment is that if you still believe that Hitlers Government in Germany was far-right, you have not taken a close and rational and logical look at what is happening all around the world, and you are (still?) believing the ledft wing media. Left wing Governments are the ones that imposed the most draconian and harshest rules during Covid and they were all in favour of the removal of people's rights. Left wing Governments all over the world are becomming more and more draconian in their imposition of Laws to force the People to 'comply' with their centralised ideologies. China is not far-right. Nth Korea is not far-right. Russia is not far right. Muslim countries are not far right. What is happening in Scotland is the reality of a left-wing Government - they just get worse and worse over time. Hitler's Party was named the National Socialist German Workers Party - they were yuet another variation of the far-left. There is only one thing that is the clear and absolute differentiater of left-wing from right-wing Goverments - and that is People's rights and freedoms. Whether those 'rights' come from a God or from a Constitution or from Both - the right wing political parties are very much in favour of giving People rights and freedoms. Left wing political parties are in favour of centralised committees making the rules, and that always results in the removal of People's rights and freedoms, when they conflict with their own ideologies. The political world is turning back to the right because more and more People are realising what is what and who is who. Maybe the reality of what is happening in Scotland will make more People realise the truth.

I just found this thread - please Mods could you please pin this thread to the start page - like most I only looked at the first page for whats new. @4MyEgo My understanding is that your statement above is incorrect for the majority of Aussie Pensioners living in Thailand. The Aust Age Pension IMO is not taxable in Thailand - the story is not ended. I know one website stated that it is taxable - but that is an opinion given by a staffer in that company who wrote the piece and it is not based on facts. The matter has not been tested in a Court or Tribunal. I have been seeking feedback and opinion from ATO, but I have received no reply. Unfortunately we are about to leave for golf and I have not had a chance to read all the posts - perhaps someone else has already pushed back on this issue. I will do that when we get back later today (after a snooze). Suffice to say now that if you read the DTA in full, there are many reasons/exemptions why most Aussies are not liable to pay income tax to Thailand on their Aust Pension payments.

For those Aussies interested in open discussions about Taxation issues - below is the thread to post in.

It comes from the TRD website - 030265guide91.pdf (rd.go.th) There is also one for the 2022 year on the TRD website - it says PDF buy it is actually a Word doc. - https://www.rd.go.th/fileadmin/download/english_form/2022/GUIDE_90_65_Complete.docx TRD have also created a 2023 list of linked documents. - Year 2023 | The Revenue Department (English Site) (rd.go.th)

Good point - I missed that - my bad. OP - take the offer and get a divorce - she may in fact recognise that as the only way for you to 'escape' from the financial demands from her Mother. Either that or migrate with her to another country (she may want to escape as well). Girls in Thailand are extremely under the control of their Mothers - they are totally and utterly under their control - way way more than girls in the west - it is just the way it is here - if the Mother is bad she will force her daughters to do things they might not otherwise do.

Yes indeed - Thais are very 'complaint' in general - they are very much more about 'social harmony' than its neighbours are.

get a life mate - insulting and arguing with other expats is not healthy (and makes you look like an idiot troll)

Clearly goat is a troll - deliberately provoking other members with negative insulting comments.

Indeed - thinking critically means being critical and that is not allowed in Thailand and most SEAsian countries

You need to read my post again - the only ones I called idiots are the Thai govt authority person making this statement. Over sensitive?