dinga

Try reading it again....

This article is a powerful demonstration that fiat currencies are pretty well useless/irrelevant to 'value' gold. https://www.kitco.com/opinion/2025-04-25/gold-isnt-going-your-money-just-losing-value

No - I beg to differ. For clarity, the "value" of gold in fiat currencies is irrelevant. The test of 'value' is what real, tangible assets [eg. land; houses; moveable property etcetcetc] gold can buy. To illustrate, over the past 100 odd years the USD has lost something like 95% of its purchasing power. In contrast, the same amount of gold held for 100 years at the very least maintains its purchasing power.

A different perspective...... absent semantics. It's got very little to do with the 'value' in fiat currencies - it's all about the purchasing power of gold. That's the measure of gold's 'value'

My Danish friend had no end of trouble in trying to explain to his Danish Bank why he didn't need/qualify for a Thai TIN [I think his bank required the TIN due to their regular remittance of his pension to his Thai bank account]. In the end, he gave up, obtained the TIN and advised the Danish bank accordingly. Nothing heard from them since. He's been retired for many years and has never (been required) to submit a Thai Tax Return - guess the issue now is whether he'll ever hear from the TRD in the future.

Who cares - certainly not I

https://www.mtsgold.co.th/en/products/detail.php?ID=91&SCODE=ProGoldBullion

Thanks for the suggestions - an update.... I went to Rayong yesterday and visited a number of shops both in Laem Thong Mall as well as around the market/bus station. I managed to find only 2 shops that had Gold Bullion Bars - but both had very limited stocks/range and I was turned off by charges of 290 baht and 500 baht per Baht Weight in addition to the Baht Weight prices notified by the Gold Traders Association. I'll get my missus to call some shops in Pattaya to check on availability and prices - if there are similar limitations and additional charges looks like I'll be heading up to BKK.

So, what was the advice/reaction of the TRD, specifically in relation to Social Security/OAPs payments???? PS A couple of asides: * It would be very pertinent to know who "The Thai woman" has been talking to at the TRD - being female and young with seemingly a soft persona, I seriously doubt she has the status to get access to senior and knowledgeable TRD Officials. My guess is also that it is very likely contacts have been limited to telephone conversations with lower level officials. * In my view, it's very important to bear in mind that the Western Tradition is for lawyers & accountants to look for every loophole and to find 'defensible' positions. In contrast, the Thai environment is very different - read the words, that's what the law means (don't search beyond that for legislative intentions; different interpretations & stretched alternative meanings etcetc)

Having listened to some of their - and some others - speils, I personally have serious reservations about the accuracy of a number of their positions & conclusions in relation to Thai Tax provisions. Others should research the issues and reach their own conclusions - not simply accept as gospel the statements of (especially foreign) service providers. Section 42 of the Thailand Revenue Code deals with categories of assessable income that are exempt for the purposes of income tax calculation, and would be a good place to start. Tax Lawyers, Accountants and others stumping for business clearly have incentives to attract new paying clients - from lodgement of Tax Returns up to and possibly including to support of appeals against contrary TRD decisions. Frankly, I place much more credance on the opinions of TRD Officials on tax matters. Some others have directly discussed potential tax implications with senior TRD Legal Officials - has Carden done similar and has he reported the results?????

Agree - UKRULES interpretation is nonsense. The Thai Revenue Code does treat foreigners and Thai citizens equally ie. Social Security payments made under Thai law are consistently treated regardless of the status of the recipient. There is ZERO implied 'equivalence' of social security payments made by other countries.

I prefer Rayong, but Pattaya is doable. Appreciate those details Thanks

Seems not - I've approached around 6 shops and they only sell gold jewellery.

Does anyone know where to purchase Thai Gold Bars (96.5% Gold) in Rayong?

"power of american consumerism" - based on PRICE. Consumers will disappear when employment collapses. Smoot-Hawley 2.0 - original was universally a Great Success