Qld4000

What do they expect. They’ve let the place evolve into maybe the worlds No 1 Sex tourism destination . The streets are crawling with prostitutes , drug dealers, pick pockets , hustlers , touts , crooked cops , Cannabis shops, live sex shows, criminals on the run etc ….you name it , every lowlife would have Pattaya on their bucket list. But wait….they’re thinking of throwing Casinos in to spice things up….and then you’ll have loan sharks & pawn shops at every turn. However , a couple of drunk goons decide to punch on & can’t be bothered making an official complaint over it & it’s shocked the local “community”. What’s that saying “ build it & “they” will come.” Just as garbage left on the street will attract Rats & cockroaches.

Why on earth would the rich retire here……it’s a no brainer . The heat, the insects, soi dogs , pollution , the stench of cats piss everywhere , devoted & trustworthy women 🤪, clear & transparent Govt policies, “interesting “ foreign visitors & overstayers, top notch road conditions where common courtesy & decency is widely practiced….the list goes on. Oh …you could also throw in cheap living , but the wealthy are in no need of that .

What a mess , I’ve read so many interpretations of this Tax issue on forums , seen so many YouTube carnival barkers spruiking different angles and still in the dark other than disappearing for six months & avoiding the problem. IF…your total foreign income needs to be declared & submitted to Thai Tax authorities , do you really want them trawling through your financial affairs & questioning you every step of the way since they like that approach when the option of rinsing you for money is in their hands. Another thing, will those financials require translating & notarising by a consulate or relevant authority. Otherwise you could submit anything. Will they need to liase with the Tax accountant that prepared your financials. ?? Will they require bank statements, details of transactions etc etc ……I can imagine this b@ll<deleted> could drag on indefinitely AND …it’s likely you’ll be interviewed by a tax office “underling “ with no idea either . Even if it’s finally set in stone what is required……do you really want to go through the above process every year with likely follow ups. At the moment….my affairs are easily done 5 minutes on a Govt website who have ALL my financial info via a TFN tax file no. That site simply sends me its figures from its data base on me…..I amend if necessary & hit ENTER. Done & dusted. Compare that to dealing with Thai tax authorities. Not a hope in hell. A change of scenery for 6 months of the year will be a pleasure. A rolling stone gathers no moss & a few blokes here could be better off as a moving target & ATM service as well.

Ah well…if that’s the case I’ll be just staying the 180 days & do other locations for the remainder of the year . Some nice alternatives only a quick flight within the region which I have always visited anyway to break up the day to day routine in Thailand. My income is from a Superannuation Fund and other sources which are Not taxed due to the Fund arrangement. Double Tax treaties won’t do anything either . I see it as a fresh start with variety of lifestyle AND I’ll be saving a bundle in Tax I won’t be handing over to Thailand . In effect,,those sojourns will be more or less Free since the Tax bill I won’t be getting will more than cover it. win win….😆

Whoa..Jaysuz,,😆 I’m getting dizzy reading all this stuff. 45 days, 183 days, DTAs etc etc. Im not the sharpest knife in the drawer with Tax & Numbers but let’s assume it was YOU or ME that is actually paying an Aussie pensioner living overseas. Look at these numbers. The base Oversea Pension rate is $27,270. If taxed at 32.5% = $8870 Nett Return about $18,400- ( What if the Thais insist on Health Insurance) …..given the quotes for the elderly , you could lose half of that & then be living on rice & beans . Then the old guy would possibly go home to Australia & then Pay NO TAX, and be eligible for Tax Free Rent Assistance , Full pension Supplement, Energy Suppliment, then Govt electricity rebate ….totalling $7700- approx So, at this point the Govt or YOU is only about a $1000 in front . On top of that the PBS scheme , Medicare Bulk Billing, Subsidised Aged care home, Carers allowances, free eye wear & dental, free public transport in certain locations, free coffee at Maccas 😆, Seniors card discounts etc etc…..The PBS scheme alone can be a big $ number. And the above benefits are only what I know of. Not a hope in hell $1000. will cover those. Then you’ve got the Housing crises to consider , where do they stay.?? so maybe the Govt bean counters would prefer the old guys to stay away for good , die there kids get sent the Ashes in a DHL satchel. Thats my take on it…..I haven’t factored in the DTA issues…my head is still spinning after reading thru the previous posts.

Regarding Australian Expats living in Thailand or any other Overseas destination , that are receiving the Age Pension as their prime income source. Given that the Age Pension IS Taxable income , but due to SAPTO rebates most recipients are not liable for Tax on it if total taxable income is under $32,300 approx. Here’s an issue. Resident & Non Resident Tax. If you’re actually living overseas for an extended period most Aussies would be considered as Non-Resident for tax purposes & subject to 32.5% flat from the get-go. So on approx $27,300- Pension Income , that would equate to $8865- TAX….OUCH? I’m yet to meet an Australian retiree “living “ overseas that’s ever been Taxed on their Pension income , even tho they’d highly likely be classified as Non-Resident for Tax purposes in Australia. Anyone with a heads-up on this matter.

The 80 million target is more than Double this years target. Phuket ( supposedly the jewel in tourism crown) has major traffic congestion problems & it’s getting worse by the day. Can you imagine Phuket with more than Double what’s there now..? You’ve got to wonder what is their interpretation of saturation level tourist arrivals. When you see incidents of overloaded tourist boats capsizing & passengers hanging from the sides of trains & sitting on roofs of buses in some Asian destinations……maybe the sky’s the limit.

Thanks Rhodie,, The actual Centrelink website does state that any time spent outside Australia within that 2 year period IS counted towards the 2 years. And “absences” AWOL etc …..are case by case for up to 6 weeks . That “case by case” situation they have , likely explains the varied answers people are getting. Maybe I’m already being assessed favourably , I’ll leave it at that. If I ring up, or go see them , I could likely screw it up. 😆 Im not planning on going anywhere in the foreseeable future so ….let sleeping dogs lie.

Hello. I’ve been looking at this topic regarding Portability & the 2 year stay in Australia to qualify it as portable to take anywhere. After speaking to a friend ( who’s lived in Asia for 8 years) who just went thru this procedure when going back to Australia. After enquiring….Centrelink staff told him that he could leave immediately after Pension approved & stay outside Australia for up to 13 weeks …But NO payts while away. If he didn’t return within 13 weeks , the Pension would be cancelled & he would need to Re Apply . The 13 weeks away still counts towards the 2 years though. So….he said he could come & go in 12 week cycles , but only get payt for the time spent in Australia. He can still spend considerable time with his wife & kid in Thailand. He’ll basically bounce between Thailand & Australia every few months. On the other hand I’ve read reports that durations of up to 6 weeks is the normal allowance & on case by case basis .?? Personally, I returned after 10 years away , applied for a part-pension & was approved & paid within 3 weeks. I had an online digital ID & My Gov account so applied online . I was then advised to call personally to show my Photo IDs were actually “me”. Simple process……the Centrelink staff member was really good & offerred to complete my application then & there . I was NOT asked anything about my time spent overseas ( that was detailed on application) The approval letter I got was just the standard letter…..and nothing specific about a 2 year portability qualification period. I’m assuming IF a I want to go away again & advise my travel info ,,I’d find out then. Who knows. ? Maybe I got lucky. However, I like it back here on the Sunny Coast QLD & don’t mind an extended stay , maybe for good. To cut a long story short….has anyone that’s been through the pension application process actually been advised specifically about the 2 year portability situation. Thanks .