amsterdammer

The guys currently conversing in the "Farang Population In Nakhon Sawan" thread will most likely be able to offer the very best up-to-date- advice for you. They will have the low-down on current developments and the better districts.

Bank non disclosures may well be a viable option. At least you can glean an idea of current prices for land and property in the area. Two banks offering online listings in English are:-

Kasikorn Bank

http://propertyforsale.kasikornbank.com/Pr...p;x=42&y=14

Bank of Ayudhya

http://www.krungsriproperty.com/setlanguage.asp?lang=en

With relevant pricing information, you should be able to choose whether you will go the new build / pre-owned / build your own route.

Plenty of research on this forum will help you avoid some of the pitfalls.

Chock Dee!

http://www.gamesclip.co.uk/ offers a wide choice of classics along with some more up to date titles.. Enjoy

No IBAN numbers in LOS...

Your bank must use the SWIFT code...

As many others, I do this with my bank in Europe and no problem.

Good luck

I concur with the above given advice.

I have made such transfers now on many occasions.

SWIFT code for Siam Commercial Bank is: SICOTHBK

Fill out the transfer form details such as recipients account number, name, and branch details. Always ensure you send money in local currency (Euros in your case) so as to achieve the better exchange rate rather than making the conversions at source.

Good luck!

I know the kind of lamps and bulbs you are talking about, although have never seen how effective / ineffective they can be.

My best guess would be the larger hardware chain-stores

HomeMart http://www.cementhaihomemart.com

HomePro http://www.homepro.co.th/en/index.asp

Global House http://www.globalhouse.co.th/en/

Home Mart seem to be dotted around most provincial capitals. HomePro nearest you would be Phitsanlok, Global House have location mainly in Issan but do have a store in Chiang Mai

Many online stores stock such items (e.g. http://www.doityourself.com/invt/8973752) so maybe this would be the better way if home delivery is an option.

Osram Sylvania appears to be a common brandname and the logo appears prominently on the above websites.

Until you can install the lamp, just keep that bug splatter handy, or those "tennis racket" style swatters with the in-built bug taser can be fun!

Thanks for this. I probably should have researched a little and found the info myself.

I guess I am just a little surprised how quickly such a store can be built and become operational when considering building permits, land fill, levelling and compacting, construction, shop-fitting, stocking and staff recruitment. Just goes to show how quick projects can come to fruition when the right incentives are applied.

Any visitor reports? The map shows it pretty much equidistant to Sukhothai old and new towns (around 6 clicks each way). How are the local traders bearing up? I do recall a small scale campaign organized in an attempt protect local traders interests from the powerful incumbent

I can't get back into town until end of this year to check it out for myself, and dunk some donuts (not)

Cheers!

Thanks for checking and confirming guys...I really thought it was just me for a while there.

Yep, just by reading some of the other posts in this forum it certainly seems that a number of bugs and unexpected side effects have crept in following the most recent upgrade. Perhaps as the old saying goes "if it isn’t broke...."

Any news on the Big C Superstore opening in Sukhothai?

I happened to be in Sukhothai on July 5th last year progressing a land purchase of my own, when it appeared that the deal had been struck between Big C officials and a number of local land owners for the construction of the latest superstore.

I was at the local government land registry dept. making the necessary land transfer tax payments etc at the time. I expected the overly bureaucratic process to run at snails pace, but I did not envisage so many other people making similar land transfers and tax payments in front of me in the queue.

Next it was into the Sukhothai branch of Bangkok Bank, and this too was packed with locals carrying large wads of cash. The manager looked flustered to say the least, and the bank-note counting machines where working overtime. I met the manager of the Toyota dealership in the hotel restaurant that evening, and he said he wished his office had a revolving door that day as he sold so much stock. I imagine the liquor store done good business that day too!

I was told that the new Big C store would be located on the Jarodwithithong Road between Sukhothai old and new towns and that it would be open within the year.

I can imagine that a large superstore opening up in the neighbourhood cannot be good news for some of the local small traders. Don't know how small proprietorships can compete on price or convenience, I guess locals and tourist alike prefer to do their shopping in large air conditioned superstores rather than traipsing around hot and dusty streets, plus of course you get KFC and Dunkin' Donuts, but that’s progress I guess.

Chock Dee my friends

My currently limited experience of the Central region so far has shown that Phitsanulok appears to have a reasonable choice of stores when shopping for household goods and applianances.

They have:-

• Big C, Pichaisongkram Road

• Home Pro, Mittrapap (Phitsanulok-Lomsak) Road

• Index Living Mall, Mittrapap (Phitsanulok-Lomsak) Road

• Makro, Boromtrailokanat Road

• Tesco Lotus, Mittrapap (Phitsanulok-Lomsak) Road

• Topland Plaza, Akatossarot Road

Home Pro is likely to have each of the items you need, but I found that Index has some more stylish lines.

Not sure if any of these will offer a chance to use your bartering skills on price, or if any could offer better deals on warranty upgrades etc. The availability of home delivery / installations may also be a factor.

I too will be needing to make such purchases in the coming months and so I too am eager to hear fellow members experiences (i.e. could a trip to Bangkok offer the best price / choice combination)

Can it really only be me....?

Are there currently issues with the thread tools options menu for "Print this topic" and "Download this topic"?

Choosing either of these options appears to simply reload the current page. Previously a second page was displayed where these choices could be made. Of course from the browser menus I can use "File -> Save As", but the download format previously provided via the aforementioned thread options menu worked just a treat for future reference, or simply to review topics off-line.

All other items on the topic options menus appear to function fully.

Tried with both Internet Explorer 6.0 and Firefox 2.0.0.15. Anybody else using these functions with success?

SCB Can be found at http://property.scb.co.th/ although you'll need Thia language skills to be able to read it.

Bank of Ayuthaya can be found at http://www.krungsriproperty.com/ and does have English content.

The very best search tool that I have found is at http://www.thailisting.com/main/default.aspx?l=en This site compiles lists of property foreclosure’s from multiple banks in one convenient place.

Happy Hunting

I do not have any info on the place, however it is referenced as a subdistrict (tambon) of Kanchanaburi on Wikipedia(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphoe_Mueang_Kanchanaburi)

Chok Dee!

I do not know the area, but I do find that the Thai Banks’ listing stock of Non Performing Assets a useful guide.

A quick search for Prachinbur with Kasikorn (Thai Farmers) Bank retrieves 5 pages of assets.

http://www.kasikornbank.com/PropertyForSal...p;x=46&y=12

Reference number 01-88-07620 is 1 rai precisely and is priced at 140,000 baht; however these pages do not offer info on the availabity of utilities etc. You will need to speak with the concerned bank if you find items of interest.

These prices should just be used as a guide only. Just like most things in Thailand, the price is most likley dictated by how much the seller needs sell, and or how badly the buyer wishes to purchase. Just as in the west, values are vary according to the availability of good access roads, proximity to a town center, surrounding neighborhoods, and environmental issues such as common flooding etc.

When buying from a bank some of the insecurity of land deals is mitigated (i.e. proof of land ownership / land size / borders etc), this of course if off-set by the in-ability to effectively barter down the asking price. (However a bid at auction of around 80% the asking price is often successful if there are no counter-offers)

Even when dealing with property purchase from a bank, I would still employ the services of a "trusted" lawyer to oversee the deal.

Good luck!

Ploughboy, I believed that withholding tax was based upon the full value of the property (either the price actually payed, or the price as per the land office valuation (whichever is higher)). Of course I'll stand corrected if I misunderstood

Thanks for the additional info Nitram.

The plan is for the house and land to be entirely in my girlfriends name, and hope to remian in her good books

The aniversary of the 5 years for previous owners occupations is just 4 months away so I will be checking with the Land Office for potential benefits in delaying the transaction as the tax liability will change.

Just as I imagined. I will have to try and workout the breakdowns from the amounts that requested.I'll be bringing my calculator with the enlarged "percent" key

Although I could not find exact translations for "Transfer Fee", "Stamp Duty", and "Withholding Tax", I did however find the below related translations with a little extra research. They may be useful for others treading the path. No doubt I'll get the real Thai words after my visit to the Land Department, after which maybe I can provide an update.

Tax ภาษี phaa see

Account งบ ngohp

Real estate tax ภาษีที่ดิน phaa see thee din

Business tax ภาษีการค้า phaa see gaan khaa

Income tax ภาษีเงินได้ phaa see ngern dai

Inheritance, estate tax ภาษีมรดก phaaM see maaw raH dohk

Pay tax เสียภาษี siia phaa see

Government Tax Office กรมสรรพากร grohm san phaa gaawn

Tax receipt ปี้ bpee

Duty (tax) อากร aa gaawn

Accounting การบัญชี gaan ban chee

Greetings fellow board members.

Although I have been a viewer of these pages for a long time now, this is my first posting. I have always previously found answers to my queries within the pages of the forum, but now I have an important matter that perhaps others have experience of.

I together with my Thai GF will be taking the plunge soon and purchasing a house and the land it sits on. I’ll be spending in the region of 2.4 million baht. Through this forum, and my local advisors I have a pretty good feel for the process and what to expect.

My query revolves around the taxes payable during this transaction. I understand that I’ll be liable for

1) Transfer fee of 2% of Bt2.4m or Bt48,000

2) Stamp duty of 0.5% of Bt2.4m or Bt12,000

3) Withholding tax at the variable progressive rate, calculated as follows:

Deduction with the expense of possession for 4 years = 71% 1,704,000.00

Balance = (2,400,000 - 1,704,000) 696,000.00

Divided By years of Possession (4) 174,000.00

Taxation on progression rate (100,001 - 500,000 Baht = 10%) 17,400.00

Multiply by the year of possession (4) 69,600.00

Therefore (48,000 + 12,000 + 69,600 = 129,600.00) baht.

Of course all these calculations could change according to the values made by the local land department appraisable prices.

My query really revolves around just how this tax bill will be presented to me. Will I just see the total taxes payable, or will it be broken down as per Transfer Fees, Stamp Duty, and Withholding Tax? Or even be broken down and details as above.

I have not been able to find translations (Thai script) or romanised English) for these three different types of tax, and so I am a little worried I will not be able to understand or effectively communicate the 3 different taxes involved.

Of course I will too be looking to divide up this tax liability between myself and the vendor, so effective communications of the individual taxes involved is needed. Tax is as an emotive issue (particularly in today’s political climate) , and I want to ensure that correct dues are paid.

All input is valued. Thanks in advance.