Mike Lister

Yes, only on income earned after 1 January 2024, so make sure you have a statement or valuation dated that date, or thereabouts, that's how people can figure out what is what.

You know all that after only 17 posts, wow, I'm impressed, do you read tea leaves too!

And when trying to cross the road, and for many, when trying to think and chew at the same time.

Booking.com as I recall, we use both Booking and Agoda. Yes, BF is breakfast.

Yes, after I wrote what I did earlier I found the link to the UK Embassy in Bangkok and the government link that sets out exactly what you wrote, I did update my post with that link. The only slightly grey area appears to be the need for an autopsy which it seems may vary based on the person and their circumstances. I'm sorry for your loss by the way.

Thanks. The link I provided earlier explains this process but I'd already asked the question before I found it, thanks anyway.

How can we do that, is there a mechanism for providing such details to the embassy? EDIT TO ADD: Here's the UK Embassy version of events, chapter and verse in detail. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-after-a-british-person-dies-in-thailand

You are not differing at all, I was referring to the UK State Pension which is what the op enquired about, you are talking about something else entirely, private company pensions. I think the difference between the two types is that UK private pension transfers will involve mostly UK banks, the State Pension transfers are in the hands of the likes of Worldpay or Citibank.

If you die in hospital, only a relative can authorise your remains be removed for cremation and in the mean time, storage fees must be paid. The cause of death mentioned by the hospital will be accepted and no autopsy is required. If you die at home or elsewhere, foreigners are typically sent to the Police hospital in Bangkok to confirm the cause of death, this comes at a cost that is chargable. If there is a Thai will, the will is subject to Probate Court which takes between 3 and 6 months on average, the going rate appears to be about 30k Baht plus court fees/costs. Power of Attorneys may or may not be recognised or accepted, banks may refuse to honor them, Thai wills are normally accepted. The police will contact the Embassy as a matter of course, each embassy will have its own process for contacting relatives etc. but this should probably not be relied upon. It would be reasonable to expect that if the deceased has a wallet containing bank cards, the police may contact the bank for address details etc and that the bank would freeze any accounts. I have no evidence for this, just that it seems probable.

I receive my UK pension here in Thailand, it's deposited directly into my Bangkok Bank account. It's a reliable and punctual transfer, there are never delays or issues. The rate is nearly always very close to the current TT rate and I doubt I could better it, unless I put a lot of effort into rate watching and making WISE transfers etc, effort I'm not interested in expending. It takes away a lot of concern about ex rates and the timing of transfers, over time they will balance out, mostly it means I can budget my expenses with ease and certainty.

"In the future".....that people can see such things is truly amazing, presumably an AI system will calculate such tax! Ah Mr Farang, we assess you owe us X Baht tax this year because you have a rental property/investment account in the UK that will have earned Y income, okay? If anyone believes that will come to pass, I own a bridge that's for sale in San Francisco.

Such melodrama about something so trivial and inexpensive, do you not make up that difference from other savings that result from living here!

Exactly, it's the same in Chiang Mai, perhaps in Nakon Nowhere things are more strict.....but I seriously doubt it.

You're paying VAT and probably sales tax also, unless they are serious amounts I wouldn't get too excited.

That is certainly one option but it's not the only one. For me personally, I have no intention of giving up my UK based investment accounts because they can't be fully emulated here, at the same cost, with all the same options and with the same low level of risk. But I will establish a year end valuation at that will have to serve to satisfy thew Thai RD.

We travel within Thailand frequently, in the past four years I've not needed a new TM30 once, or needed to register again etc etc. My wife books the hotels in her name but I always show ID also and am registered as a guest. You must be doing something wrong if TM30 is an issue for you.

I stayed in hospital and had my entire thyroid removed, apart from the pre-op procedures, the operation and the recovery, it was just spiffy.

Exactly, which is similar to what many other countries do.

Or, more sensibly, you could go ask at any MoFA office!

MOFA is that accredited office, there is a branch of MOFA in most cities and they alone are the sole source for translation approval and certification.

Many if not most US banks can use IAHA, the problem is they don't always want to. https://tipalti.com/global-ach-international-ach/#:~:text=International ACH transfers can be,if that service is available.

Yes, bed and breakfast will work.

I'm not suggesting to claim or book profit early, only to track the principal amount. In the UK for example, a capital asset can't escape filing a capital gains return which will show the profit that is assessable to tax. I own a UK property that I rent out hence it is liable to UK CGT. The equity in that house comprises principle and profit. My transfer of an amount equal to the principle will always escape tax because it was earned before 1 January 2024. When I sell that house I can either use the UK CGT return to distinguish profit from capital or I can use the purchase price and keep the profit offshore. Capital gains might be a different issue but I'm unsure, I imagine a year end valuation will still be useful.

Better still, travel with somebody else's wife or girlfriend, that way the booking can never be traced back to you.

Potentially yes, if the profit was earned prior to 31 December 2023, it is potentially assessable for Thai tax, if earned before, no.