jayboy

19 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

What's the difference between a Brit and a 747 ?

 

The 747 stops whining when it gets to Sydney.

Nah, this version is better.

What's the difference between a 747 and a plane load of Poms?

The 747 stops whining when the engines have been turned off.

1 hour ago, Goat said:

Very interesting take from famous Pattaya Vlogger, tech guru, love matchmaker, historian and businessman Dan Cheeseman.

He's an interesting guy though I can't work out his motivation.This particular video is ludicrous focusing as it does on Pattaya sexpats breakfast sausages.That is the joy of Dan's videos - the juxtaposition of vaguely philosophical pondering and the absurd reality of his Pattaya life.He's obviously a good man and a responsible father.I think he also has a genuine entrepreneurial instinct.What he needs to do is get away from the scummy Pattaya environment and move up a few notches.How embarrassing it must be to be flogging those horrible Pattaya condos and third rate restaurants.Maybe some elocution lessons too as that sarf London accent is going to put a lot of serious business people off though probably not in Pattaya where it is pretty much the norm.

10 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

So no, you don't have to convince the RD before hand

Thanks for useful response which has helped clarify my thinking.

I wasn't however thinking of convincing RD beforehand, more of contemplating the complications in submitting the return if remittances had to be differentiated ie whether sourced before or after 2023.If the situation of savings/investments made prior to 31.12.23 becomes crystal clear (ie remittances not subject to tax), I'm not completely sure they need even be included.Anyway my attitude is the same as yours - if tax is due, I will pay it

1 hour ago, Mike Lister said:

You still have file a return to account for the funds, the source and origin of those funds is not relevant.

I can see that a tax return may be required in respect of the remittances to Thailand.But the source and origin of those funds is surely extremely relevant since we have been advised they will be tax exempt (because all pre-2024).

The question I suppose is how to convince RD the funds are indeed tax exempt.It might require some kind of detailed statement of investments as at 31.12.24

I have a feeling I'm missing something so perhaps someone  could help me out. Consider the following scenario which I will keep as simple as possible -

I have a company pension and a UK state pension paid monthly into a Jersey bank account.Up to now I have transferred funds from this source to a Thailand bank account to meet my living expenses.

I understand that from 2024 I will be taxed in Thailand on amounts remitted from this source.For reasons I need not go into the company pension is paid - with HMRC approval - to me free of UK tax (so DTA is irrelevant.)

But what is stopping me simply accumulating pension in my Jersey account and relying instead on transferring investment funds all accumulated prior to 31.12.23? Does this take me out of the Thai income tax equation?

I think I would still have to submit a Thai tax return.All speculation of course but a few may also be in the same boat.

3 hours ago, billd766 said:

 

It costs about 50 or 100 baht.

I've had both my doctor and dentist sign these off.Neither would accept payment though I offered.The dentist said "it's part of the job".

21 hours ago, Bangel72 said:

it can be achieved on very different basis from one person to another depending on which category they are applying with.

 

Actually it's the opposite of what you suggest.The criteria are virtually identical in all categories.

22 hours ago, stratocaster said:

I have always been under the impression that to apply for PR you must have been working for a minimum of 3 years at the time of your application. Have the rules changed? I have just watched a you tubers video in which he claims that his lawyer told him he is 'entitled' to PR. He has lived in Thailand on retirement extensions as he freely admits. He is in the process of brushing up his Thai for the exam which he seems to think is the main requirement for PR. He does do an amount of charity work in the community, is this method a back door way to PR. Normally I would not comment but already people are messaging him for the name of the lawyer to inquire about PR, so getting their hopes up. Or is as rumours abound, a backdoor way to PR with a 'good' lawyer.

It's almost certainly b******t but let's see the video please so we can be sure.

15 minutes ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

No - social media complaints and media stories can and do.

I don't think so in this case.It's been a theme for successive Thai governments to upgrade the quality of foreign tourists and residents, specifically discouraging the indigent and encouraging the wealthy.I can assure you that the concerns of some foreign residents fretting about paying a limited amount of income tax will not weigh heavy with Thai decision makers - however many whiny social media posts are made.

2 hours ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

all the Thai partners complaining that their Farang is going to leave Thailand is a good thing.

Yes, that should change the policymakers' minds.

9 minutes ago, Metapod said:

It is a remittance and would be assessable income. Transferring money or withdrawing from ATM is essentially the same here.

How would it be assessable income if someone in Thailand used an ATM to withdraw cash with a card issued in say London or New York? Who would know? Likewise any expenditure incurred in Thailand with such a card would not be known to the Thai authorities.Of course an upstanding paragon of virtue such as myself would declare such expenditure in my tax return but some would not.

1 hour ago, Mike Lister said:

And you need to stop following me around and delivering your one or two word answers, if you are able to formulate a sentence and have something to say, say it. In the meantime, if you have observations on this point, I suggest you read the post the adjacent post.

What a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive.

12 hours ago, Mike Lister said:

My state pension is frozen but every few years I return and it gets uprated, I did that last, 5 years ago by moving into my UK flat and saying I'd returned.

Oh

3 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

I don't understand what your problem is, it doesn't cost me anything and I don't pay any extra tax plus it means my tax return here is legal. Contrast that with the hundreds of tax returns that expats have filed to recover tax paid on bank interest and have not bothered to complete the rest of the return regarding income details. How about if the RD does decide it wants to audit a few people, anyone who gets their pension deposited directly into a Thai bank (as I do) but didn't declare it when they reclaimed the tax paid on bank interest could get well and truly stuffed for filing a fraudulent return.

No comment.

11 hours ago, Mike Lister said:

I'm actually not that civic minded but I could see many years ago that we would reach this point and I didn't want to get caught out, in case somebody in the RD wanted to go digging into my history. I now have three years returns under my belt, even the lady at the RD asked me why I was filing when I didn't get a refund so I had to explain what the law and RD rules are.

Oh dear

Don't want to buy it online but where would be the best place in Bangkok to buy a Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II?

Not looking for cheapest but it has to be that specific model so really asking for recommendation for place with full Canon range.

16 hours ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

 

Now I am not trying to be a 'drama queen' but all you have to do is check the internet websites of any tax accountant/lawyer in Thailand - they are all publishing details of what this change means

Actually the sites I have looked at (all top tier accountants with tax practices) are mostly absolutely clear that, having summarized the initial announcement on 2024 changes, the implementation details are not known and that there are many unanswered questions.

I have also seen at the scummier end of the scale many of the usual bottom feeders offering advice/webinars etc.Ignore them:they know no more than you.Wait until the details are known - I don't see there's a rush.

On 11/11/2023 at 3:37 PM, Mike Lister said:

I do, I'm a good boy. :))

The existing regulation isn't enforced nor do the Thai authorities expect foreign residents or Thais to pay tax on overseas non current income streams.That of course may change wef 2024.Let's see.If I am required by law to pay more tax, that's fine.

For those who pay tax unnecessarily I can think of several adjectives - public spirited, hopelessly naive etc but 'good' doesn't really come to mind.

Those foreigners who have a desperate need to pay tax regardless of whether it is required or not can always write a cheque and send it to the Thai Ministry of Finance.I'm sure it would be welcomed.

4 hours ago, ezzra said:

Murdered and kidnapped Thai's lives don't matter to the Thai government or the Thai public, not one word of condemnation from the the Thai government or even a single protests by the Thai people to show sympathy with the lost ones, why? do Thai people not care about those innocent agriculture workers who were murders by a the terrorist Hamas not even belonging to conflict? and what about those who were taken as hostages? Shame Thailand, Shame...

I agree completely.It is a matter of shame for the Thai government.It would of course argue that discretion is best when negotiating for the release of hostages through back channels (not that I believe this for a moment).Personally I feel the lack of interest in the media and among the Bangkok middle class more keenly.We've seen it before of course - the disdain for unimportant agricultural workers.

Have I got this wrong? Is there even one prominent public figure who is speaking out?