Mike Lister

A statement or bank book dated 1 January 2024 will work, what more can there be.

I don't know how it works for others but every time I get a new passport, I have to get my stamps carried across and the Immi system is updated with the new numbers. And when I get a new passport, I have to register the number with my banks, they are pretty hot on that score and wont let me transact using an unregistered passport number....I know this from experience two years ago.

The member asked me how so I explained and I did say, theoretically. What are we supposed to do, ignore members questions and hide behind a bush!

Theoretically......Immi is part of the Police. If TRD believes you've committed tax evasion and want to talk to you, Immi would record your name in the access database and you would be stopped.

Immigration has to care how many days a person spends in Thailand, if it's under 180 days, they are not tax resident and don't need to file a tax return.

That 3 or 4 million comprises everyone from neighbouring countries, Chinese, Laos, Burmese, Cambodian , Malay etc etc. A huge percentage of them will not earn enough to pay tax, let alone file a return. Western expats are believed to be in the region of 300k, including retirees..

I never suggested that individual transactions were being monitored, only that the capability exists. A foreign credit/debit card transaction has a large footprint. The merchant has a record, the merchants bank has a record for settlement purposes, Visa/Mastercard has a copy and the central bank gets a copy.

At some point you are going to present your passport to somebody, either on the way in or the way out. At that point, they found you.

How do they know? The question is, what are you going to declare and say it is? It's not as though you remit some money to Thailand and the TRD has to guess what it is. The purpose of the tax return is for you to tell them. Their job is to determine if they believe you and whether to ask for more evidence.

already answered above....NO

It's my opinion, based on what I understand about the complexities involved and the lack of interdepartmental cooperation. It's a very big step with lots of hurdles that aren't easily removed.

The only issue is whether it is or is not, the mechanics of how and the odds of detection are nothing we get involved in.

The recipient in Thailand is on the hook for the income she receives, if she doesn't file a return and declare it, she's evading taxes, if found out. The sender is off the hook, because they presumably are not Thai tax resident.

A person can be tax resident here and spend more than 180 days in Thailand in a calendar year but not have assessable income and have no need to file.

No need to file a return, the minimum assessable income threshold is either 60k or 120k for single people, based on the type of income and 220k for married people.

The Mastercard and Visa networks report traffic, volumes and transactions to BOT, it's an important part of BOT's currency management. I have no doubt that data is shared.

I've seen this said a couple of times and am surprised. My wife got two tickets through the mail in the past year, sent to out home address, caught by speed camera. I picked one up three years ago that I didn't pay and was unable to renew my vehicle tax until I did.

It depends on the bank letter and how much is declared in it. Many years ago my bank letter declared all my bank assets in Thailand which spanned six or eight accounts and over 5 mill. Come visa extension time, I had to reconcile all the bank books back to the letter to prove both, it was accounting 101 for the Immi lady. I learned my lesson. Subsequently I keep my 400k in an account by itself and the bank letter refers solely to that account and ignores everything else.

Thread closed //

Gift Tax allows money to be gifted free of tax, up to a high limit. The gift must meet certain criteria but the support of aged parents would meet them easily I imagine. There is a thread about these things, linked below. Since there are several related threads on tax, I will close this one and ask you join the one linked below.

That is correct: https://library.siam-legal.com/thai-law/u-s-thai-tax-treaty-pensions-and-social-security-payments-article-20/

It's easy to think it might be linked but those who are certain it will be, haven't thought it through. The other aspect in addition to the scenario you point out is tax residency, not all long term visa holders are tax resident.

A couple of members seem confused by the above, feel free to ask questions if you don't understand. One of them should do so before his ban takes effect!

IMO, eventually it may be, but definitely not in the short and improbable in the medium term.

The messenger is a not to blame but the story line is unproven and unsubstantiated scaremongering.