Mike Lister

Whatever next, before long they'll be insisting that everyone drive sober.

Yes, pretty much.

The 150k is not an allowance, it's a zero rated tax free band that everyone gets. The 60k is the personal allowance that everyone gets also and if they are married, the spouse gets it too. So, that's 120k in allowances for the tax payer and the non working spouse. After all the allowances are deducted from the assessible income, that gives you taxable income which is applied against the tax tables, of which the first 150k is zero rated or free of tax.

It's amusing that you're such a prolific poster but unable to use google to research a subject, nevertheless, I'll humor you, buddy!: Trolling is when someone post or comments online to deliberately upset others. In short: Trolling is when someone deliberately tries to upset others online. https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people/trolling#:~:text=Trolling is when someone post,likely to make things worse.

If you have to ask that question, you're trolling!

I joined in 2007 but not under my current name. EDIT: sorry, 2006.

The Thai based health insurance policies are not the best because of the way they are governed and the rules here in Thailand, increases in premiums, cancellation, additional exclusions etc. An international policy via Dubai or similar is a much better deal but the premiums are not tax deductible. Another consideration is a life insurance policy with say AiA that includes a health insurance rider, that would be good value, safe and also allow the tax deduction.

Also keep in mind the other things that can reduce your taxable income, things such as life and medical insurance premiums and investments such as LTF funds.

I see that you have the 60k personal allowance but I don't see the 190K deduction for being over age 65....or have I missed something?

I think it's about trying to influence poster behaviour, isn't it. When idiots troll others and nobody says anything, they think that behaviour is OK and that nobody minds so they continue. But by telling them they have voted with their feet and will not read anything they have to say on any subject in the future, that has potential impact which makes people think, it also sends the signal, don't waste your time on me again, I'm not interested.

I think that was true in isolated cases in the past but as a general rule I don't think it is and I think steps have now been taken to resolve that particular issue. If we're honest and objective about it, being a mod is sh*t and very difficult job which few of us make any easier on a consistent basis. You can please some of the people some of the time.....etc.

But that's exactly the point isn't it, a forum is different things to different people. No matter what part of it you try to improve, restrict or grow, somebody somewhere will feel just as you do now.

It would be much simpler and better if people wouldn't troll by emoticon in the first place and instead, tried to articulate their thoughts rather than posting silly childish faces! If this were a kindergarten and all the posters under age 8, I might see things differently. But one minute there are intelligent and in depth discussions about taxation, economics or politics and the next we're faced with a wall of sad emojis, posted by people who presumably don't understand the subject matter or can't be bothered to join in.

You might explore if a legit agent or lawyer can do this for you, I was told by my long trusted agent that they could legalise a document but the cost was around 1k per page.

From the internet: - "A foreign government certifies that the document is legitimate, - A translation service certifies that the translation of the document is correct. - A local government validates the document issued overseas based on its legalized certified translation. Eventually, only a government department (generally the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) can authenticate and legalize a document issued by a foreign government. It is a fairly simple procedure when all the steps are done correctly". The last time I tried to do something similar was to try and get a yellow book at my amphur about one year ago. The amphur wanted a certified copy of my passport. The MOFA would n't certify the copy and the translation, unless the UK embassy first certified it as a genuine passport!!! I gave up at that point.

Yes, sorry, mea culpa! I got drawn by successive trolls, my apologies, now all three on my ignore list..

What is getting to be rather monotonous is the degree to which you think you are never wrong about anything and also the degree to which you are pedantic about minutiae! Regrettably, my ignore list is where you must go because you add no value to the discussion, in fact, you detract value from it. "How do I make additional voluntary contributions? You can contact HMRC to obtain an 18 digit reference number. You can then use this number to pay online, at your bank, or via online banking. The contact number for HMRC is 0300 2003500, lines are open between 8am and 6pm. You can write to us, and include a cheque for the amount DWP have advised you can be paid". https://community.hmrc.gov.uk/customerforums/sa/c8f2046b-4ab7-ed11-9ac4-00155d9c773d#:~:text=You can contact HMRC to,advised you can be paid. "You can usually pay voluntary contributions for the past 6 years". https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions/deadlines

Additional Voluntary Contributions or Voluntary National Insurance Contributions are the same thing, it's semantics, just like opted out and contracted out is. And yes, I did make voluntary NI contributions to increase my years paid to 29, just prior to retirement.

And you need to stop following me around and delivering your one or two word answers, if you are able to formulate a sentence and have something to say, say it. In the meantime, if you have observations on this point, I suggest you read the post the adjacent post.

I haven't lied. The rules are that any returning expat is allowed to have their state pension uprated, the rules state that the definition of returning is the intention to spend at least six months each year in the UK. I bought my flat in the UK in 2018 with exactly that in mind. In 2019 we spent six months there but covid prevented our return. And please, don't get righteous with me or try to occupy the moral high ground on this. I've been here in Thailand on a full time and permanent basis (or attempted to be) since 2004. I have told HMRC and DWP from Day One of my whereabouts and my intentions. I have never ever tried to defraud either by receiving unauthorised pension increases, winter fuel supplement etc.

If it's genuinely a portable air conditioner that's fine, just be sure it's not an evaporative cooler which works the opposite of air conditioners.

Completely agreed on all points. The article however is a lot of spin, the fact is that international tourism at 27 mill. is very much in line with forecast and expectations, if not in line with TAT's hopes and desires! The reality is that global recovery is slower than expected (by some) and the overly strong USD has had a negative impact, as have the wars in the ME and Ukraine. There appears to be a lot of wishing and hoping at the center of government whilst ignoring the global economic realities. Another aspect if that mouths appear to be getting ahead of brains in many cases, the desire to say things, anythings, is powerful.

Such irony, it's sheer genius.

It's a political hot potato, the first government that does that will be accused of hypocrisy and will alienate the votes of the older crowd, quite rightly so, give with one hand, take away with the other.

The source that can't be named (actually it can, it just can't be quoted)m is a government spin mouthpiece, treat all content with suspicon.