Chonnikarn

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You're definitely not alone the TM30 system is confusing, even for tech-savvy folks. If you're not extending your stay or doing a 90-day report, you're unlikely to face any issues on exit without a TM30. It's technically required, but rarely enforced unless you're dealing with immigration in-country. If your landlady's never done one, the easiest option is the eTM30 site, but registration requires her ID, the condo's documents, and your passport info. That said, for a short stay, most people just let it slide without problems. Hope that helps!

Such a heartbreaking tragedy. He was just trying to help his family, and it ended in such a devastating way. My deepest condolences to his loved ones.

That's just awful. Really sad to see someone treat a home like that after being trusted with it. Hope the landlord gets justice and the place can be restored soon.

It’s great to see the government taking immediate action after the earthquake and building collapse. The new Cell Broadcast system sounds like a solid step towards better emergency communication. Do you think it’ll be enough to prevent delays in future disasters, though?

That’s a smart move, especially with how bad PM2.5 has been lately. I wonder though will this actually stop sellers from inflating prices, or just push them to sell under the radar? Anyone here already noticed changes in prices or availability?

Interesting to see Thailand ranked so high! Life here definitely has its charm great food, friendly people, and a laid-back vibe. Stats or not, many of us feel pretty happy living here.

Sounds like a positive step for making business in Thailand easier for foreigners. Let’s see how it plays out in practice!

It’s heartbreaking to see how far families have to go just to afford basic education costs. Pawn shops may help short term, but this really shows how urgent it is to address deeper economic issues. Education shouldn't come with this much financial stress.

Thailand already attracts millions with its culture, food, and festivals not casinos. Targeting only the ultra-rich for gambling seems risky and unnecessary. There are better ways to grow tourism, like concerts or sports events, without the downsides of promoting gambling.

In Thailand, anyone earning income is technically required to file a personal income tax return by March 31 if filing on paper, or April 8 if filing online. That said, there are income thresholds below which you’re not obligated to file. For example, a single person earning only salary income under 120,000 THB/year doesn’t need to file. For married couples, that goes up to 220,000 THB. If your income comes from other sources, the filing thresholds are even lower: 60,000 THB for a single person, 120,000 THB for a married one. Thailand uses a progressive tax system. The first 150,000 THB is tax-free. The next 150,000 is taxed at 5%. Then 10% for the next 150,000, 15% on the next 250,000, and so on, eventually reaching 35% on income over 5 million THB per year. You can see the full breakdown here: Mazars Thailand. But here’s where things get interesting: Thailand offers very generous deductions and allowances that can significantly reduce your taxable income. For example, a retired foreigner over 65, married to a Thai citizen and living full-time in the country, could easily reduce their taxable income by over 500,000 THB through various allowances. There’s a personal deduction of 60,000 THB. Another 60,000 if you have a spouse. If you’re over 65, an additional 190,000 THB. Half of your pension income is exempt (up to 100,000). And the first 150,000 THB is tax-free on top of that. There are also deductions for health insurance, life insurance, and more. You can check the full list of deductions and conditions here: Revenue Department and Sherrings guide. Filing online is possible but only in Thai. However, the forms can be downloaded in English here: TRD Forms. The filing window runs from January 1 to March 31, and penalties may apply if you miss the deadline. Thailand uses what’s called the “honour system” you don’t need to submit documents unless you’re audited. Still, even if you believe you owe no tax, it’s a good idea to file. If you don’t file and you were supposed to, the Thai Revenue Department (TRD) can audit you going back 10 years. But if you do file, they can only go back 2 years. So filing, even with zero tax due, gives you protection. And yes, there are real penalties. Fines can go up to 200,000 THB and even jail time (up to 7 years) in serious fraud cases. Declaring all income properly is important. For example, claiming that foreign pension income is tax-free when it’s not, or forgetting to report transfers, can get you into trouble. There’s also something called a Tax Clearance Certificate. It’s not required for most people, but some believe it might become linked to visa renewals in the future. Right now, it’s only mandatory in specific cases, like leaving the country permanently or changing visa types. You can also request two useful documents from the TRD: a Tax Residency Certificate and a Tax Payment Certificate (form R.O. 21). These can help you avoid double taxation or prove your status to other authorities. There are still a few grey zones where the rules are fuzzy, and even tax professionals disagree. For example: How do you prove whether money transferred to Thailand was income or capital? If you earned income during a tax-resident year but transferred it during a non-resident year, does it still get taxed? If you spend foreign money inside Thailand using a foreign credit card, is that considered “imported income”? What about loans from overseas for buying property — are they taxable? And if you gift money directly to your Thai spouse, is that counted as your income or theirs? If anyone here has gone through the tax process with the TRD, especially if you’re a retiree or long-term expat, I’d love to hear your experience.

Wow, this is something everyone should know especially expats or anyone using a foreign SIM! The deadline’s super close. Better to double-check now than lose access in June!

Oh wow, people really need to know about this! Super important info, especially for anyone using a foreign number in Thailand. Thanks for sharing —really useful stuff!

Pinning down exact costs for design approval and construction can be tough because it really depends on the scale of your project, the complexity of the design, and maybe even specific local requirements.

I'm not quite sure about the insurance company reaction so have to wait for their decision on covering the costs.

I'm Thai and I've never seen a hotel at that price in the last 5 years. Even for a hostel, it's still hard to find that price.

For Condo ROI in Thailand really depends on many factors location, market timing, various fees, taxes, etc. Plus, you usually need to hold it for the longer term to see worthwhile returns. Are you sure how long you plan to stay in Thailand? If you're not certain, or maybe just for a few years, renting first could be more flexible. It reduces the risk of price drops when selling, and avoids the burden of finding tenants or managing the unit. Just something to consider.