Mike Lister

It helps build conspiracy theories that all governments are covertly united, with the global elites, to pimp the poor.

Business people and commuters in Thailand don't want to be walking to their place of business and have to negotiate drunks and hookers, that is why zoning laws were introduced into Bangkok and the hours restricted. The bars may have been closing at 2am but the pop ups were littering the sidewalk for several hours after, now there's going to be both? This wont end well and wont last. For example, I believe the UOB head office was persuaded to move to lower Suckie, next the The Landmark, do you really think they will want to stay.

Gifts from husband to wife are not taxable as I understand, I think there's an upper limit of 20 million per year so be sure to stay under that. :))

I'm a Brit, if I went back there to stay I would get my State pension uprated but that would push me into the 20% tax band plus my US income would become taxable. If I stay here, I don't get uprated plus my US income is not taxable under the treaty. I don't like Marstons Pedigree that much! :))

Unless you import more than around 65K Baht a month, you are most unlikely to have any tax to pay. I predict there will be a turn around in opinion and attitude once the coin drops that the effective tax rates in Thailand are much much lower than back home.

I think he's wrong, the current tax year is out of scope. The new rules start with transactions in 2024 and the tax return during first quarter 2025

CRS data is high level consolidated data, there is nothing at the micro level.

If less than 180 days, you are not tax resident and not required to file.

100% agreed. The risk however is unintended damage, the shell might just clip a few friendlies on its way to the intended target.

Let's hope they are not too minor! Seriously though, nearly 200 lengthy posts on this subject from one poster alone and not a positive or constructive word of advice or useful informational link in any of them. They are all worst case and many are doomsday scenario's. It's as though people want to perpetuate the myths about all the very worst of Thailand and I just don't understand why they would behave that way. In a worst case scenario, if nobody knows, remain neutral and wait for more information.

I think everyone is jumping the gun on this issue and needs to sit back and wait a little while. It's classic Thai government style to announce the measure before the details have been worked out, before too long they will be and then we;ll know..

Yes, the large downtown hospital is actually called Maharaj which is located near to Suan Dok Gate on the moat, for many years it was known as Suan Dok as a result. Both Maharaj and Sriphat are on the CMU campus and yes again, Sriphat is the private wing. Sriphat relies on Maharaj for many of its diagnostic facilities. The rooms at Sriphat are much more modern and appealing than at Maharaj but the English speaking reception and customer handling part of Sriphat is what most foreigners will find appealing. It is not clear to me whether Sriphat has its own operating theatres etc but since it has its own ICU CCU, presumably it does. My options must therefore be, Sriphat or Maharaj with the latter presumably being somewhat cheaper because of room cost etc. Nakorn Ping is the government District hospital which is located some way out of the town to the North, this is not an option for me.

I don't agree that you have the right slant on what's happening. I do not believe it is that the government wants to extract additional money from foreigners, it's more that the government wants to stop tax evasion by Thai nationals using overseas accounts and that by default, foreigners have to be included in that process. Foreigners are not the target, their residual or collateral damage. I do not believe that the majority of regular retirees will be affected, only those with above average income will. It's also worth pointing out that the effective tax rates in Thailand are substantially below what they are in most Western countries, an income of 70k Baht per month is likely to incur an annual tax of around 10,000 baht, based on the calculations various poster have made and had authenticated by their local RD office. I can't speak to what paperwork may be required, or whether it will need to be translated etc etc, in the event of more complex and higher value transactions. I do know however that Thailand's property sector relies heavily on foreign buyers who are unlikely to be willing to see their purchase price funds taxed or the property sector see a massive downturn in sales.

bump.... @Sheryl Are you able to provide guidance on this?

Capital Gains in Thailand are taxed at Personal Income Tax rates, there are no capital gains taxes per se. Fixed Rate (actually both fixed rate and fixed duration) accounts are offered by all Thai banks in THB but these are relative to the BOT rate which is currently 2.5%. 1, 2, 3 year fixes etc are available with rates around that level. Note: 15% with holding tax is with held from all fixed rate accounts and must be reclaimed from the RD via a tax return at year end....it has been this way for many years. Variable rate savings accounts are also available but again, subject to 15% tax. Foreign Currency accounts are also available in USD but the combination of low interest rates and account charges make these accounts uncompetitive.

Pseudoephedrine is a Category 2 controlled substance here because it is used in the manufacture of methamphetamines'. There was a problem a couple of years ago where several million doses of the drug went missing from local hospitals, believed to have ended up in Myanmar in the hands of drugs factories.

No, thats bar stool gossip! Google the newspaper that may not be quoted, google "hospitals must treat emergencies without cost".

I have an estimate of 200k/300k to remove a cancerous thyroid, at Bangkok hospital, I also have an option to have it done at Suan Dok/Maharaj but I don't have a figure for that yet. The surgeon works out of Sriphat which is the semi private arm of Suan Dok, can anyone confirm whether the Suan Dok option is definitely cheaper?

I NEVER said anything even remotely similar to that! However did you get from me defining the duration of a tax year, to all incoming funds having tax with held?

The tax year runs from 1 January to 31 December, the tax return must be filed the FOLLOWING January through March.

Very true. They teach in MBA business schools to be wary of companies with marble foyers and soft comfortable couches surrounded by vases of fresh flowers, that's very true.

No I haven't and I can imagine that districts where there are lots of foreigners and tourist businesses, may well be the exception.

No, if you arrive and leave in the same day, you had zero days in that country. Revenue departments globally count where you were at midnight. If you happened to be on a plane at midnight you weren't anywhere for tax purposes on that day.

You think the strength of the Thai economy is governed by foreigners spending the entire year in Thailand? If so, you weren't paying attention in Thailand Economics 101.

For Revenue purposes, a day is where you were at midnight hence the day of arrival and day of departure are often not counted. I know this because I counted days in this way for three different Revenue Departments, for several years. If your flight leaves before midnight and arrives after midnight elsewhere, you get to pick up an extra day or so.