Aldo123

If they go beyond taxing remittances, and ramp it up to tax assessments on global income, then many middle-income retirees and long-stay (including many of those married to Thais) will probably leave. But maybe that's what the country's rulers want? To get rid of the farang kee nok? However, this sort of tax grab on 'foreign residents' won't pull in much money, except for a little from those who are anchored here (those who spent all their savings on a house/condo, or can't abandon their Thai family). The rich foreigners who 'live' here don't pay tax - anywhere (aside from US Citizens). They typically have at least three residential properties to ensure they are never 6 months in any single jurisdiction. So they will enjoy the 4-5 month Thai 'winter' in their condo in Phuket, then spend March - June in the Algarve, and finally, July through October relaxing through summer in their condo in the United States or Canada. Or, if they want to stay in Thailand longer, they will get a "Wealthy Pensioner" visa that - for now, at least - purports to exclude income tax as one of its perks.

I suspect the rules for O-Visa retirement extension will change soon - in other words the monthly amount will increase - if you are planning to remain in Thailand longer than six months. As of 1 January they would be taxing that 65k, so they might raise the minimum to 80k in order to deduct tax from the remittance, while still ensuring you are pushing the 65k into the local economy. My own thoughts are to adhere to whatever amount is the minimum remittance required, and also maintain the 800k (so both as some others above are doing). Then use foreign credit cards to pay for everything I possible can (groceries, car insurance, flights, restaurants, etc.) to keep the tax bill as low as possible. But if they try to tax all global income, I'll leave. They'd be crazy to do that, but logic has never been a strong suit here. Always be prepared for the unexpected.

Given the above recent arguments, I don't see why so many think this will not affect them. Seems pretty obvious to me. If you stay here longer than 180 days, the Immigration office will require to see your Thai tax return before they renew your O-whatever-extension visa. Showing them some Thai-US, UK or Aus tax return and waving the Double Taxation Treaty will mean nothing to them. This isn't new. Anyone on a B visa then a Thai work permit does this (or maybe their company does it). As others have said, anyone - including pensioners - living here more than 180 days next year will need to fill out, file and receive back the Thai RD's 2024 tax assessment/return and tax receipt showing what you paid that year (or confirmation from the filing that you own nothing - presumably as you show the taxes paid in the Double Taxation Treaty country's tax return). Only then will you get a new visa. As the article mentioned, that could take a couple of years to work out getting all the foreign paperwork together. Visas might be renewed on a exceptional basis during that transition period. If the new plan to tax all foreign income is confirmed to be based on global incomes, the bill will be high, if you've so far avoided paying tax on it in your home country (e.g. because you are a non-resident there) and the amount could therefore be high in Thailand. If it's based only on foreign remittances (each documented and maybe tax withheld by the Thai receiving bank), then maybe easier (to file) and cheaper and smoother for the visa renewal (retirement, marriage, etc). Meantime, fill your Thai boots/bank accounts with foreign remittances before 31 December and live off that ass long as you can.

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts on this, which is really interesting. Regarding the issue of health insurance for visa extension by means of retirement, can the insurance policy be from an international company (like Cigna), but not purchased in Thailand? A USD or EURO policy, for example? Or must it be purchased locally? Also, if you already have a Thai bank account with the 800k (or more) and it's there for a year or so when you apply for the O Visa abroad, and then extend for retirement, is that acceptable, or do they insist on a fresh overseas transaction to deposit the money?

Apologies if this is another basic question, but regarding the 'cannot work' on a retirement visa, that means only in relation to Thailand, correct? If you took a 1 month contract in Vietnam or Bangladesh, etc., that's none of their business regarding the visa, correct? If (as it seems we will) need to file income tax returns in Thailand, then would that 'foreign' income from 'work' outside the country while holding a 'Retirement' visa, get the visa revoked?

Ok, thanks I see what you mean. I thought they were all "O" visas, like you point out with "OA" and there are other like O for education. Anyway, thanks I wasn't aware of some of this.

Thanks, that's helpful. Yes, the marriage visa is a pain in the neck. But when employed it's necessary I guess.

Thank you, that is very helpful as I am considering switching to retirement visa. Not sure if I'd qualify as 'wealthy' and it's not clear (to me) if the 'no global income tax' on the LTR-WP will remain in the new rules. Need to wait an see I guess.

yes, but you know what I mean. I believe the process for the Non-Imm O visas based on either retirement or 'supporting a Thai' are a bit different. So that's what I'm asking. If you could choose either, and for those who have done both, which is better from the individual's POV

I've always had the marriage visa. For those who have gone down both routes previously, which would you recommend and why, please?

...like 'articulated lorry'

That's good news for everyone. Anyone who's been to a BigC or any large shopping mall at month's-end will know how busy it gets after the current single payday. Perhaps private sector already pays twice monthly? Or is it still once a month?

Yes, I think that sums up the situation for many here. Can I ask why your Private Pension is taxed in the UK? I'm assuming you are non-resident of UK. Is it taxed at source, regardless of your residency status, then you file a tax return as a non-resident? Or does the UK consider you a factual resident if you have assets there - even if you haven't lived there at all for years? I know the rules changed a few years ago.. but they still are not clear to me.

Ah you mean I will be banned, as we can't post any negative comments? Oh dear, so this is still the "Nation" and Yellow Shirty Mods running things, is it? Right, well let me know.

Hmm. I disagree, to get big name recent additions to Hollywood or UK movies on "Thailand" Netflix accounts requires the use of a VPN (out of Thailand). Or as the OP am I missing something (I ask as I don't know - VPVs are usually detected by Netflix)

I know of at least one friend in Thailand whose doctor found colon cancer in a scope. She proceeded to surgery at same Bangkok hospital. I think around 30 cm of colon were removed, but it didn't result in a bag (I think that is for rectal cancer outcomes - but could be wrong).

Agree with an earlier reply. This 'story' is a product of the right-wing rag Daily Snail, slithering in its latest take-down piece on its Tory pal's decimated NHS. While the 1,500 quid per month might be correct for the most basic package (a room with khow-tom for 3 meals per day), it wouldn't cover all the other things needed (private health insurance, hard to get for elderly who don't already have it, and the dreaded change to Thai income tax for foreign residents). And you sure wouldn't get to jump that nurse (a s/he, BTW? Can't really tell).

Aside from 30-40 year old Hollywood films..?

I don't think these 20-30k private hospital 'packages' you see advertised reveal the full amount of having both endoscopy and colonoscopy. What I've been quoted (in Bangkok) is up around 65-85k, because it also includes the anesthetist's fee and the Consultant Doctor's fee (the physician actually doing the investigation). You need to make your own enquiries before 'buying' these packages advertised. Also, health insurance companies stipulate they will only cover this depending on age (usually over 50 or 55), any indication like symptoms that need proper internal investigation or previous record. So you need to check your policy.

Really frustrating that Shania Twain AND the Corrs are touring SE Asia right now and Bangkok isn't on the radar. I recall Bryan Adams was here in March (?), but what's going on? I recall the Scorpions on one of their (many) good-bye tours were here - but that was like more than a decade before. It filled the arena with Thais and Farang. Shania is smoking hot right now - google - (voice and body) as is Andrea of the Corrs. What missed opportunities!

While this has been thrashed out a hundred times here, and while it is now generally agreed that only money remitted to Thailand will be taxed, we also generally agree a yearly income tax return will be required by Thailand. It doesn't take much imagination to guess that form will also ask "what was your global income in 2024?" So if it's 3 million baht annually (Pension or whatever) and you only remitted 1 million baht, will the RD then say "attach the DTA form that indicates where and when the rest was taxed in the other country?" Then what (if it wasn't taxed?)

Me too. Could jump ship and return if necessary. That's also why I never bought anything other than a car here. Never trusted them, and as you point out above, they could change the rules yet again - and at any time without much notice - as we have seen. The LTR Wealthy Pension Visa will probably get axed next.

Not sure if this was ever fully addressed, but two questions: 1. Does the new interpretation order mean Thailand intends to tax all residents (over 180 days) on their entire "Global Income"? Or does it mean they only plan to tax foreign remittances/income brought into Thailand each year from one's global income that same year? 2. Are foreign pension incomes under the Long Term Resident visa for "Wealthy Pensioners" (5+5 years) considered exempt from all income taxation, or does that rule refer only to 'earned income' that is non-taxable? (in other words, could they still tax the pension income (passive income), but not 'earned income' from foreign sources?). Yes, I've read the BOI Website on this, but it's not clear either.

With thanks to Lorry for the comprehensive translation and thoughts on this, I'm still unclear on whether this will relate to 'declaring global income' to Thailand, and paying tax on all of that, or just declaring foreign remittances to Thailand. If it's the latter, US citizens aside, for most expats here who are non-resident in their home countries, they may or may not pay much/any tax there, depending upon what the income relates to. So if they have foreign savings and foreign credit cards linked to those accounts, and they keep their basic income source going into their home countries banks (pension, whatever), then they could bring in only the bare minimum of remittance of cash needed from UKP, Euro, AUS, CAD, etc., By that I mean only remit enough foreign cash to Thailand to pay rent and spending money for self/family and use foreign credit cards to pay for groceries, insurance, restaurants, gas/petrol, etc. If kept to only 80 or 85,000 Baht per month, the tax rate would be 20% on that. Sorry if I missed this in the 70+ pages, but I have been reading most...

Let's hope the Thai RD impose only a minimum tax on foreign retirees. Portugal used to be among the countries that didn't tax foreign income of expat retirees. They changed it a couple of years ago, but impose only a 10% flat rate for foreign-sourced income. That could be easier and certainly more acceptable than 25-35% which Thailand presently charges.