ukrules

No, this is important economic news.

What if you have assessable income remitted into some bank account in February during your winter vacation but are not a tax resident and never will be - for example, are any of us really tax residents in any given year before June 27 (June 28 this year due to leap year) assuming people remain in Thailand between Jan 1 and June 27 and hit 180 days during the year ? We know they won't tax non residents on non Thai earnings so this 60 day rule makes little sense - I've never heard of it before. Not saying you're wrong but I would like to hear more on this rule.

Indeed, I like Brooks and they are widely available. Heinz are well over priced, but then again for me Ayam are just fine too - I only need the small tin as I probably eat beans about once a month max. This is an outrage, who do I complain to? The American Embassy? 🤣

Not me, I took a 3 week trip out of Thailand last month and I'm going again this weekend for the rest of the year. The first trip for me was what I might call a 'gain a foothold' trip - I sorted out a long term visa for me and the Mrs and rented an apartment for a year - that took me 1 week to complete so it was very easy to do. Now I'm tidying up my affairs here in Thailand and leaving again in a couple of days. The thing about the 'change' is that it wasn't a law that was changed, it was a memo that introduced this 'remit next year' rule 40 years ago back in the 1980's and it was a memo that removed it late last year. That is alarming - that's all it takes to change something that affects millions of people here - a memo issued by the right person in the right government department. No debate in parliament, no vote - just a memo by someone who is no longer in their job at the Revenue Department - this memo came withing the Prime Ministers first few weeks in the job - then the Revenue Department head changed to someone else who is also talking about global taxation. Something to consider before moving to Thailand, we're one memo away from massive change at any moment. I may purchase an apartment while I'm in Cambodia, haven't decided yet and make this a more permanent arrangement but that depends on how I feel about the place after an extended stay (I like it down there so far) and how they proceed with the global taxation rules. For the next couple of years I will watch and see what else they change, specifically regarding global taxation....that will determine whether I ever become tax resident again. Right now I'm considering doing the full 10 years non resident covering any possible auditing period. I don't have a TIN and want to keep it that way as legitimately as possible - if I never stay more than 180 days then I won't ever need one. There will never be any visa renewal in country for me either as I already have a Thailand Elite membership which is good until 2040 so I believe I've covered all my bases for a long time to come.. I'm treating this issue very seriously and will consult with international tax advisors whilst in Cambodia - there are a few international companies who have offices there and I will use one of them at some point in the next month or so.

It's not a punishment - it's a debtors prison - the debt being the fine and price of an airline ticket.

I live in Hua Hin and know some people who come every year for decades I have no idea why they like it so much, it's a complete mystery to me. At best it's ok here and better than living in the real big city like Bangkok and definitely better than the UK which I left a long time ago.

Is this version of the vaccine available in Thailand?

Based on my understanding and personal research you will not be taxable at all as you are a non resident and the money wasn't earned from inside Thailand. The source of foreign money is irrelevant as a non resident but if it's money you had from last year or before then it wouldn't matter anyway. I will also be non resident this year and likely next year and plan on depositing a large amount of money at some point during this period of time - I will consult international tax advisors before doing so.

Do you have a separate laptop and phone in this bag of yours and how often do you remove them to make sure they remain charged? I don't have a 'go bag' but I have something that I use for carry on luggage, I tend to empty it when I arrive at wherever I'm going to.

That's the number of days when they can not count you as tax resident - you can spend far more days there if you want but they come with various conditions attached. There is a hard limit subject to various interpretations and 'ties' tests of 90 days. But 15 days or less and it is not possible to be tax resident. Then again I haven't been over to the UK for about 12 years. If my family want to see me then they come here or send me a message on facebook.

Nonsense, it's quite acceptable to have no tax residence and you're not going to find countries competing for your residence - the rules are very clear and normally about the number of days. In Thailand it's 180 days. I can remember reading that there might be one or two countries out there who 'ensnare' their own citizens when they don't have another tax residency after leaving their country of citizenship - but that's definitely not the norm - probably Germany or some Scandinavian country where they like tax everyone almost to death every year. One example, the UK currently uses an automatic test - if you don't go there for more than 15 days per year then that's it - no possibility of you being deemed a tax resident - but there's no escaping paying tax on any money earned in the UK, even while you're non resident - that seems to be pretty much the same everywhere. There's more to it than that - but for the UK if you leave and simply don't go back - you're out. No need to fill out any forms either these days unless you've overpaid and want a refund. The system has changed a bit over the last 10 years or so

I doubt they will go back to that old antiquated system but you never know. If they do then I suspect it might only apply to those who are actually tax resident and stay in Thailand for the full 180 days or more per year. It would be quite a nonsense to have people get tax clearance certificates in the first 180 days of any year unless of course they were resident in the previous year - now that would take a lot of checking and form filling.

Yes, they do for their foreign income, not for their Thai income though. The rules we read are not designed for 'the foreigners', they're aimed at Thai people - but they apply to us as well.

You're never going to have another bank account again - there's special rules in place for Americans.

No, you miss the point entirely. If you're not tax resident and have no Thai income then that's it - there is no tax to pay - doesn't matter if you paid any tax elsewhere, many countries don't tax you at all under the right circumstances and this is all above board. and legal. You need to be prepared to put in some legwork every few years and move around a bit to take thi to the extreme - which could be worth it but it would depend on the amount.

The discrepancy is in the definition of the word 'remitted' - he says it's not remitted - I think it is. Don't get me wrong, I'd love them to issue a clarification giving us the green light to spend as much as we want on credit cards and have unlimited tax free ATM withdrawals - it would be an easy way out - but I have a feeling that's never going to happen.

Agreed, a definite grey area.

That's not quite what he said, I watched the interview yesterday just after it was uploaded. He said ATM withdrawals and credit card spending are 'not remittance' and then something about it needing to be paid into a bank account if I recall - is he correct? I have no idea, but I wouldn't rely on that.

Never! I've done my own research on this and acted accordingly to protect myself, hence this year I shall spend less than 180 days in Thailand, perhaps next year too and who knows, maybe I'll just keep on doing that for many years as I quite like it in Phnom Penh.

I believe no anonymous anything, I will only act on absolute facts. Nonsense can come from anywhere, even lawyers!

Yeah, I'm not so sure he's correct on that - I certainly wouldn't use that method and rely on it to not come back and bite me a few years down the road.

Cambodia is fine for storing some cash, I'm back in Thailand for a few weeks right now but when I return to Phnom Penh I'm going to open a new ABA account now I have my 1 year visa.

I will believe it when it happens

I'm hoping to see a real world example of the 'laffer curve' play out here - that would make them a global laughing stock and also pay for their foolishness.

Were they not convicted in a British court?