TroubleandGrumpy

Yes I did - for both my 'retirement Visa' and later 'marriage Visa' It was very clear that I would need to have no criminal record either back home or in Thailand. However, because of your comments I have checked the issue out and the Thai Visa Elite Visa is available even if you have a criminal record (as long as not serious) - so I assume you have that or something similar. I will stand corrected on your comments that Thai jails are better than those who are selling books and vidcasts and claiming they are hell holes. But I dont want to find out for myself, so I will continue to behave myself 🙂

Good - I wish more people (especially Thais) were aware of the simple methods to help reduce the chances of being scammed. I would recommend you/everyone get at least one more bank account (2 in total) - with another bank - for another reason. If for any reason your account is locked (failed ATM attempt to withdraw) while you are away and in another Province, you will be advised to return to your original bank branch in your Province to sort it all out (happended to us but I had a second account - now I have 3 plus the wife's 4). Thai Banks are not really 'national' - they are Province by Province based and many serious issues require you to go back to that Province's bank branch.

Maybe as per @oxo1947 and myself and many others, living in a semi-rural area within 30 minutes or so of a big city with all its services and attractions is an option for you and wife. I am sure the family will make good use of the house/land while you two are away, and there is always the option of going back if things dont work out. Moving furniture etc is cheap in Thailand - especially if you have relos or friends with a few covered utes/vans.

I hear you and agree 100%. We are less than 20 odd minutes to everything in Khon Kean - out West past the airport. I agree that this is the best way to live as a couple in Thailand (not as a single). I could not live on a remote farm with the nearest big city many hours away - but this guy likes it - for now - lets see how he goes when he is 60+.

Come on - take it like a man - it was a joke and I got you.

As an Expat with a crimnal record and having served jail time in the Bangkok Hilton?? I would accept that you are back in Liverpool or wherever - but you are still in Thailand and getting annual renewals despite conviction and jail time? Could you explain how you have been able to do that?

Jimmy Carr responded to a heckler complaint that he was offended by one of his jokes. He said "I am so sorry" with a look and body language of utter contempt for the person. The heckler responded with "Obviously you dont really mean that apology" Jimmy responded - "Oh, so you do understand that I can say something and not really mean it - now you are getting it".

Fair enough - there are some examples of Expats not being over-charged. But there are a lot more of this sort of thing happening. “The pricing was set on an appropriate basis of socioeconomic status, and it benefits Thailand, so it therefore doesn’t count as discrimination,” the court ruling said. Dutch expat to appeal after Thai court sides with higher hospital fees for foreigners | Coconuts

I find that hard to believe - are you still in Thailand as a regular Expat or do you just visit?

That is good. Also get a bank account (separate bank) that has a minimal amount of cash in it (top it up now and then from another bank account) and use that account for those type of QR and 'scan' sales. Keep any account with your 400/800K or whatever amount separate, and never use it to pay online or via your phone. I know a bit about IT security and 'physical separation' is the number one security measure. Some years ago I was using my 3rd or 4th account to make regular auto payments for rental payments each month. When I stopped living there I withdrew whatever was in there and left $2 to keep it open. For several months afterwards I was sent notices that my rent payment had not accepted, and despite calling and emailing this went on for over 3 months - I even got a threatening letter saying I would be evicted and a summons to the Rental Tribunal. They eventually realised their werror and stopped the automatic payments and apologised. But I would have had over $6000 taken from my account if it was my only one. Not easy to get another bank account here - and it will be harder after July when they change the rules - get a couple extra now is my advice.

So you have been there? What was the charge and how long were you in prison? If I may ask.

Lefties just cannot take a joke.

As long as this does not result in men with beards wearing dresses and demanding we accept them as being a woman, and men in dresses using the female's toilets, and men competing against females in sports, and biologically male trans 'couples' adopting children - then I am in favour. There is a 'trans' person who is very much against all these 'trans' activists and she is very outspoken about it - Caitlyn Jenner - and I agree with most of what she says. IMO if a bloke wants to be a women then that is AOK, but they should fully commit to it and dress and behave like a woman at all times (Lady Boy).

To be true - I think both of them will 🙂 Maybe this will be a battle of the 'injections' and who has the better ocktail mixer 😄

I thought Trump was being charged and will not be able to be POTUS - ROFLOL 🤣 Obviously Biden and the Dems realise that tactic has failed, so now they are trying another angle. Nothing will save Biden - Trump will destroy him in a debate, as long as the debate is fair and resonable. Meaning the questions are not like - 'So tell us Trump, why did you pay money to that hooker to shut up?" OR "So tell us Joe, how were you able to achieve such great economic and social growth in USA over the last 4 years, despite the decimation made by your predessesor." Trump under-estimated Biden last time and was far too arrogant and aggressive. I am sure this time around he will listen to his advisers and behave a lot less aggresively - and not like he did when debating Clinton et al - which is what he did last time he debated Biden. Maybe Biden's camp is thinking Trump will be far too aggressive and arrogant to an old frail man, and Biden will get the 'sympathy' vote.

Happy to see her publish a book and get publicity. That way other young stupids will see and/or hear about it, and they will realise that there is severe punishment in Thailand (and other SEAsian countries). I am sure it 'days' before she was able to wake up and realise the truth and use the toilet, but it would have felt like a month. And if anyone thinks that it is not worse in the male part of of that Thailand jail - they are very much mistaken. I have read a book and seen a few vids about that place - absolutely not worth it at all.

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)