Aldo123

Are you sure that LTR 5 year+ retirement visa avoids Thai income tax? I thought it was a requirement, which kind of put me off, just like applying for PR for same reason.

This is why (and always has been why) it's better not to get Permanent Residence. It might make coming and going a bit easier, and you can use your THB account to buy an apartment/condo. But PR also meant Thai income tax. The yearly retirement and/or marriage visa was always the better choice. A hassle, but a better choice. Now even that seems set to change.

I think this is the problem for many of us. If rooted here with family, and retiring, and not wanting (or cannot afford) to lose 30% of your pension or other forms of foreign income, I guess one could live here 6 months (179 days) then spend the other half of the year moving between your home country (family and friends - 5 months) then a month on 'vacation' somewhere before returning to Thailand to repeat the process. Pretty expensive though - continuing to maintain the home in Thailand while moving around for 6 months. Works if you're rich, much less so if you're not.

That's my take on it. But wouldn't that be more expensive in the long run?

This is what I was wondering (about dual-tax treaties). For example, if you have savings income or an occupational pension income that is not sourced in either Thailand or your home country, but from a third-country, and you aren't paying any tax in your home country, can you just "refer" to the dual-taxation treaty with your home country? Or will they (Thai Revenue Dept) demand to see a tax return from your home country before letting you off the hook for Thai income tax? Aside from the US, most Western countries base their tax demands only on their nationals if they are 'residents' there. So many unknowns. But pity the farang pensioner here that is about to lose 15-25% of his small pension income. If he's living too close to the bone, he may need to leave. And if his only home was here (maybe bought a condo) then he's truly f'd?