oldcpu

Probably true. ... The fast track line only had a couple of dozens of what looked to be foreigners waiting in it - which would be far superior to the hundreds of foreigners waiting in the regular foreigner immigration line. Still, with no one waiting in the combined "Thai-citizen/air-crew/priority" line (and us walking right up to an immigration booth with no wait) , it was a far more pleasant experience than any of the other lines.

The crazy thing was (according to my wife) they were asking 200 baht for people to use the fast track (announcing such out loud, albeit I did not hear such). I wonder if they would have 'waived' the 200 baht fee for an LTR visa holder?

One further LTR travel related comment. I flew from Penang Malaysia to Phuket. In Penang at the Firefly airline check-in counter, they puzzled over my passport, and I was asked, did I have a Visa for entering Thailand? I pointed out the LTR visa stamp in the passport - noting it was a 10 year visa to 2033. Once the airline staff saw that and had it explained to her, she printed my boarding pass. (I note prior to arriving at Penang airport, the online checkin did not work for me). I went away wondering, given the online checkin was not working (for me as a non-Thai), and the puzzlement at check-in might have meant they would have asked for an on-ward ticket (out of Thailand) if I was entering Visa-exempt (without an LTR visa or without a non-O/OA or other long term visa) ?? That is only pure speculation on my part - and with hindsight , out of curiousity, I could have asked the person at the airline counter - but it never occurred to me to do so until later.

I arrived Phuket International Airport (with my Thai wife) after us being out of country for a week. There was a massive line up of foreigners waiting to clear immigration at the airport - I dare say it would take 60-to-90-minutes to clear that line. Someone in a uniform caught my attention and pointed out a Fast Track line, that had FAR less people in it, ... but they advised it cost 200 baht to enter that line. My Thai wife grabbed and hand and reminded me to go to the Thai citizen line instead. She saw no point to pay 200 THB. At the entrance to the Thai line was a sign noting it was for "Thai citizens, aircrew, and priority passengers" (I may have that wording inexact). There was NO ONE in that line. So we went to that line, and I was accepted and was through in about one minute. My permission to stay stamped for me to stay until June-2028 (as I am on an LTR visa - I obtained my LTR visa in June-2023 and I am on the 1st 5-years of that 10 year Visa). I believe I qualified for the "priority" line because I am age-70 and also because I have an LTR visa. And I also 'qualified' for the "Thai line" as I was accompanied by my Thai wife. Having that sign (by the line entrance) stating it was for "Thai citizens, aircrew, and priority passengers" is IMHO an improvement over the past, where I do not recall seeing such a sign. Being allowed to use that short line sure made a big difference in making the return to Thailand more pleasant.

Thanks for that tidbit. I knew of the freeze functionality but misunderstood the unfreeze. I had mistakenly thought after freezing, one might be required to get a new card. And I had mistakenly thought the unfreeze only useful for new cards. What you note could be highly useful. Thanks for that suggestion.

Yes .. I regularly backup. It's also about the inconvenience of having to not only change phones ( if phone lost) but also be without a wise card while replacing a phone. Good to read you also have a physical card. Of course no approach is perfect. The physical cards can also be hacked in a crowded space by someone with a special electronic device moving the device close to where a physical card is located on one's person. To help protect against that, my wallet is lined with thin metal to block such scanners. Sometimes it seems one can't be too careful.

About 3 years old? Galalaxy A53 5G. It's not about the age of the phone. And I still receive the latest security updates from Samsung. So your assumption not correct. It's about not having all one's information on one single device. No amount of software security will prevent physical loss of one's phone. Multiple phones is also not a good solution as there are other considerations. And as already pointed out on this thread, one can make payments with a physical debit card that one can not make with a virtual card on one's phone. I recommend any one who can get such a physical debit card - do get one. And don't be sidetracked by claims that a virtual card is equivalent in functionality for everything. A virtual card has limitations.

To the best of my knowledge there is no such thing as a 12-month tourist visa. Further, also from what I have read, one can not get 1-year extensions (on one's permission to stay in Thailand) year after year after year on ANY tourist visa. So what you typed is wrong. A tourist visa, for allowing one a permission to stay in Thailand, is NOT as good as a Type-O non-immigrant visa. Yes - I grant that. I have friends (who keep 800k THB in a Thai bank) who always go with an agent to avoid dealing with immigration. Some like the idea to pay an agent for that. Safer? How is that? You edited your post and removed the risk comment. Let me go back in history - there was a time in the 1997 to 1999 timeframe when one could stay visa-exempt in Thailand and never leave the country. One just had to pay an immigration officer outside of 'office hours' and they would handle getting one's passport stamped as if one left the country and returned. Well - eventually that was stopped (immigration officers disciplined) , and those with the particular exit/re-entry stamp in their passport could be in trouble if spotted, ... so I recall reading of some who deliberately reported their passports lost, so to get new passports and not see these 'tell-tale" stamps that were in the old passports. So lets now consider "safer" and "risk" . My view is there is more risk that the time could come that agents will find it more and more difficult to lubricate the acceptance (ie bribe an official) of one's extension (when one does not have the funds in Thailand) .. MUCH more risky than having the 800k in one's bank. So safer to pay an agent to likely bribe a Thai immigration official (than stability of a Thai bank) ? .... I don't think so. Now - don't get me wrong. For those who don't have the funds, and who have no choice (if they wish to remain in Thailand) who have to go for an agent - then I say sure ! Go for an agent. All the power to them. But for those who adopt that approach - just to make a few extra thousand Thai baht ? IMHO those going to make the extra thousand are putting at risk those who don't have the money, for if too many adopt such an approach, I believe the risk of a crackdown increases. Sure - its a dog eat dog world - but sometimes one can get bit. So while I support most of those who use agents, we have very different views here.

I prefer not to have everything on my phone. Thus far I have managed not to go do something stupid and forget my phone .. but making such a mistake is possible for me. I think each has to decide on their own choice here.

Downsides? You may have to maintain a postal mailing address outside of Thailand to obtain and keep your Wise card (at least it used to be that way). I've been living in Thailand since 2019 and just prior to COVID in early 2020 my Wise card expired. Wise would not send a replacement to Thailand. Instead they sent such to a German address I maintain (an address of a friend) who passed the card to another friend and hand delivered the replacement card to me in Feb 2020. I've had to work around this (not deliver card to Thailand) one other time. Wise transfer times can vary, dependent on the currencies involved and the amount being transferred. Further for transfering large very sums of money I find Wise can be more expensive than a bank's swift transfer and currency exchange. Also Wise can be used to transfer money into Thailand, but it can not be used to transfer money out of Thailand. Also, one does not get 'frequent flyer' or other 'points' for using a Wise card. Having typed all the above, I find the Wise card very useful for traveling in different countries in South East Asia, Europe, and in Canada. I believe the amount I save using the Wise card (with its superior exchange rate) is better than trying to build up flyer points on a different card with horrible exchange rates.

If you have not already been provided a different Thai TIN, then providing your pink-ID # (with a caveat that it has not yet been activated for online tax submission) is NOT providing a fake TIN. Its the truth - which was confirmed to me by a Phuket RD official (when he assessed I did not 'qualify' for a separate Thai TIN nor any Thai TIN (yet) for that matter ) - but he also advised my pink-ID # for online tax submissions could be my TIN only after it was activated. Its the absolute best information you have at present time.

If all foreigners who reside in Thailand > 180 days are to be assigned tax IDs, then the local provincial RD offices need to be educated on this. Because that is not their view. Their view is more complex. Some of us, who reside in Thailand greater than 180 days applied for Thai TIN and we were refused a Thai TIN. I am one of those. So perhaps it is more accurate to add some qualifications on that statement that all tax resident foreigners will get a Thai TIN, because currently that is not the view of some provincial RD offices. These offices claim its more complex than such blanket statements. Yes .. this could change, but then let's make that clear too ..ie a blanket tax ID is not required for all at present ( albeit tax ID is definitely required for some to many) and not make non verified statements that this will definitely change. Rather qualify such statements with the facts. That is what the Thai RD try to do. I think we all ( who reside > 180 days) need to both wait and see, while also evaluating our own situation relative to the need to get a tax ID as news becomes more clear.

Anyone with that sort of money can easily restructure a portion of their funds to meet BoI requirements instead of stubbornly sticking with their current financial structure. However such restructuring costs some money and one has to decide if such is worth it.

Deleted. Wrong thread.

I had something similar to fill in earlier this year wity two different Canadian financial institutions. I simply replied with the truth in the form that they had me fill out (which they accepted), which was my Pink-ID # (same number is on the Yellow Book) might become my Tax-ID, with the written caveat that my Thai TIN is not yet activated (there is lots of room in the form to succinctly add that detail). I confirmed that information PRIOR with a phone chat with the Thailand Revenue Department (Phuket branch) who noted I did not qualify for a Thai TIN (despite my spending >180 days/year in Thailand as I was not bringing money into Thailand and because I had no Thai income). The RD official advised that my Pink-ID # "might" become my 'online Thai tax-ID' ONLY AFTER it was activated as such. But the Phuket branch RD official advised I did not qualify for such a Thai TIN to be activated at present time. This is all 100% legal and it is the truth. The two Canadian financial institutions were more than happy to receive that information.

My take on this is as follows: if one needs to file an income tax return, one DOES NOT file for income earned IN THE CURRENT (ONGOING) TAX YEAR, but rather one files for income in the PREVIOUS tax year. PREVIOUS ! Ergo this applies to when/if one TYPICALLY files a tax return (which if an annual return and if filed on time, this is ALWAYS filed for the previous tax year). ie ... taxation is exempt for any nominal tax return (if filed). But I am no taxation expert. I am fortunate to have the financial luxury to wait a few years to see all of these taxation changes 'play out' before I bring any more money into Thailand.

I can't speak for SCB, but in Phuket for Krungsri and for Bangkok Bank, I had to do so at my local branch in Phuket.

I too am on an LTR but I think we will need to wait and see. I have read and re-read translations of the LTR Royal Decree many times, and it states (for Wealthy Pensioners and Wealthy Global Citizens) that their foreign assessable income is tax exempt. It does not state such foreign income is not assessable. Does that make a difference in regards to having to file a Thai tax return (and thus obtain a Thai tax ID)? I don't know. I appreciate your view that to file a tax return when zero money is legally owed reads to be "paperwork for nothing" ... but there are countries (Canada in particular) that DO want want such paperwork for nothing - so if Thailand does eventually demand tax returns for nothing, they won't be alone. Given I already attempted to get a Thai tax ID (and was denied such as I don't bring in any more money into Thailand at the present time), my intent - as an LTR visa holder - is to wait a couple of years (and NOT bring money into Thailand), and see how any potential tax submission requirement for LTR visa holders may play out. TIT and one never really knows. I do hope your sense is correct that no tax return will be required for the noted LTR visa holders, who have no Thai income. .... ie a sense that such LTR visa holders will NOT have to file a Thai tax return for assessable foreign income brought into Thailand. Its clear (from the Royal Decree) there is no tax due for noted LTR visa holders foreign assessable income brought into Thailand - but for me it is not so clear that there is no requirement for a tax return. .

If you have a yellow book and a pink ID you could give them your pink ID number with the added caveat that it hasn't been activated yet as your tax ID. That is what I did for a couple Canadian financial institutions and that worked OK. Prior to doing that I applied for a tax ID and was refused. The Thai RD official advised me my pink ID # could be my tax ID only after it was activated. .. So what I provided to the Canadian financial institutions was accurate.

I have (albeit not recently) gone for a one year extension of my permission to stay in Thailand on a Type-OA visa for reason of marriage) in Phuket. I believe what I encountered is also true for Type-O visas. The caution I have is if applying in Phuket do indeed apply as soon as possible, as my understanding is the final approval for a 1-year extension, for reason of marriage to a Thai citizen, is not done in Phuket province but rather the paperwork, collected by Phuket immigration is sent outside of the province for final approval. This takes extra time for you to get the final approval back (and IMHO it may be one reason why Phuket allows one to apply 45 days in advance). Good luck in your efforts.

Thanks the article toward the end states: " If the Revenue Code is amended to implement a worldwide income tax system, the Royal Decree governing LTR visa benefits would likely need to be revised to maintain these tax advantages." But it does not go into detail as to why the Royal Decree might need a revision in such a case. I note RD Notification regarding income tax (no.427) for the LTR visa income tax reduction and exemption confirms that LTR visa holders (Wealthy Pensioner , Wealthy Global citizen, or Work from Thailand professional) are eligible for tax reduction or exemption in accordance with the Royal Decree. Further Section-5 of the " Royal Decree issued under the Revenue Code governing reduction of tax rates and exemption of taxes (No. 743) B.E.2565(2022)" notes that income tax under Part-2 Chapter-3 in Title-2 of the Revenue code shall be exempted for a foreigner categorized as a Wealthy Global Citizen, Wealthy Pensioner, or Work-from-Thailand Professional under immigration law for assessable income under section 40 of the Revenue code derived in the previous year from an employment, or from business carried on abroad, or from a property situated abroad, and brought into Thailand. My speculation would be only that if "Part-2 Chapter-3 in Title-2 of the Revenue code" is no longer the relevant reference would the Royal Decree need updating. Else I speculate an update would not be needed.

This is one of the documents BoI either put on your BoI website account for you to download (or send to you by email - I can't recall which) and you print this out and you take to the BoI office. It is 2 pages long. First page has the title : "Notification of qualification endorsement for Long-Term Resident Visa" and the second page a small table with your LTR visa applicant #, your name, passport number and a couple of other items, together with an official red BoI stamp.

By "retirement visa" I assume you mean a non-immigrant type-O for reason of retirement. In which case it DOES provide more benefits than someone on a 30-day visa exemption stamp. Most Thai banks will NOT allow one to open a new bank account on a 30 day visa exempt. Most Thai banks WILL allow one to open a Thai bank account on a non-immigrant type-O visa. For someone who hopes to spend years in Thailand, a Thai bank account is incredibly useful, not to mention necessary when go for 1-year extensions on their permission to stay. Speaking of extensions, one can NOT get a 1-year extension of one's permission to stay on a 30-day visa exemption stamp. One CAN obtain such on a 90-day type-O non-immigrant visa. So there ARE benefits of a type-O non-immigrant visa (for retirement purposes) over a 30-day visa exemption stamp, DESPITE what you posted. I urge caution for anyone on a Visa exempt thinking they can just waltz in to Thailand and open a bank account. .... Now reference the 800k THB (retirement) or 400k THB (marriage) in a Thai bank when on a Type-O for a 1 year extension on one's type-O visa's permission to stay in Thailand , unlike yourself, some do consider it the proper legal approach , and for them being fully legal is important to them. They don't think it strange to do things 100% legally, even if it may be more expensive than arguably walking on a thin legal fence when using an agent when one does not have the per-requisite funds. Don't get me wrong. I am not one to put down those who use an agent, but neither am I one to put down those who follow the letter of the Thailand law. One great thing about Thailand, IMHO, is it has many different visas and also for some visas different approaches to do such - which can suit the needs and approaches of different people. I believe this is a good thing, and not strange at all that some like to take a different approach.

Yes - I agree re: the numbers. I also thought it would be the end of it until someone falsely accused me of inferring that DTAs protected everyone from Thai taxation. Facts are IMHO the only way to counter such.

No worries. But the misinformation simply grows and grows and grows. It NEEDS to stop sometime. Facts are the best way to stop such. Show me a better way to stop the misinformation. I am listening.