9 hours ago, MartinBangkok said:

You are dead wrong here. 

Doesn't tax paid have to be proved at renewal time?

1 hour ago, White Rabbit said:

I assume you are much much wealthier than that as you are bringing this up

Sadly not

53 minutes ago, SABloke said:

No, I mean that the requirements for getting permanent residency is easier when one is married.

Er, no it's not.Requirements are largely the same and in my opinion in some ways more inconvenient.It's cheaper though.

3 hours ago, Mike Lister said:

Your lawyer is correct. 

 

The only way you can become a Resident in Thailand is to become a naturalised Thai subject, foreigners here on long stay visa's are not Residents in that context.

 

Your willed ownership of the condo will depend on the quota's at the time. Assuming the condo was purchased from within the Thai quota (51%), the foreign owned quota at the time of her passing will determine whether the unit you are willed can be absorbed into that quota or not. If it can, you will not have to sell. If it cannot, you will have to sell.

 

 

The Tilleke advice suggests that the position is even more constricted.Assuming the 49% limit isn't breached (in which case every foreigner inheriting would have to sell) one would still have to be a Permanent Resident (with red Book etc) or with investment promotion status.

The great mystery is not so much the boring and inane content but why any organization should think it's worthy of publication.

Perhaps a greater mystery still is why I read this mind numbing junk and then commented on it.

33 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

You contradict yourself here, pink ID card is useful but makes sense to carry passport.......begs the question - what's the point?

There is no contradiction as would have been clear to those who read the post carefully.

The Pink Card is definitely becoming better accepted and it is Government Policy to encourage its use (so I was told by a senior Immigration official)

After a time one gathers a sense of where are the risk areas.I never carry my passport now when checking into hotels; the Pink Card seems to be accepted everywhere.

I wouldn't yet rely on the Pink Card for any kind of bank transaction.

Ideally the PInk Card format would be updated and improved to hold more information.

On 3/19/2024 at 7:24 AM, Ben Zioner said:

But "they" are the affluent, entitled Thai upper and middle classes.

In many cases of course of Chinese heritage themselves.

Don't however agree with your simplistic take on Thai attitude to foreigners.Thailand is far from being anti-foreigner but they like to be able to place people in an understandable context.

23 hours ago, Mike Lister said:

Lastly, don't expect any support our of the UK Embassy on this, the Swiss debacle was a one off.

Probably not as I have mentioned elsewhere.Still hope beats eternal etc etc.

I don't know why you describe the session with the Swiss Ambassador and a very senior official from the Revenue Department as a "debacle", especially as I recall you didn't have the time or inclination to listen to it.It was very far from being a debacle:in fact the session was very illuminating.I and many others found it extremely useful especially as it's the only time a RD senior official has presented on the subject.

There are plenty of sources of information available on the subject.I had a long discussion with a senior banker who is following the expatriate tax issue very closely.His view is that there are many aspects which are very far from clarity.It seems sensible to wait and see and avoid any kind of prescriptive lecturing.He did mention that those who brought in funds before year end acted very sensibly.

26 minutes ago, fulhamster said:

Has the UK Embassy or Consulate arranged a meeting with Thai tax authorities to obtain some clarification regarding the new tax legislation ?

555555555555555

Not while there are diversity conferences to organize.

Can you think of one thing or initiative - just one - that the Embassy has done for the great mass of resident British expatriates who are not influential or connected? They don't even attempt to keep a record of those resident.They would respond by saying consular services are available which is true but I am thinking more of specific initiatives to support local British citizens.Unlike other Western countries this aspect is of no interest to them.

Example? Think back to Covid and how the Embassy ignored hundreds of very worried elderly expatriates when vaccines were problematic.Just fatuous high level representations.Eventually the British Chamber had to step in.

28 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

As to obtaining a TIN, not sure if my wife did so, but not to my knowledge at least. However, she has filed our Thai Taxes as a married couple with my Pink ID in the Tax ID field for years now. I am on a Non-O (Family) Visa, not PR.

Interesting.Maybe once a TIN has been accepted for a number of years nobody is going to check to see whether it was properly authorized or not.It's also quite possible my initial assumption was wrong - ie no problem in using Pink Card number and no separate application for a TIN is necessary.

10 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

using my Pink ID number as my Thai Tax ID

For foreigners subject to income tax, it's true your Pink ID number (if you have one) might be the same as your tax ID (TIN), but not necessarily (see below).

My understanding is that for foreigners a specific application is necessary to the Revenue Department to acquire a TIN (even if the number provided is the same as your Pink Card). It's not possible in other words to submit a tax return without have specifically obtained a TIN. Anyway that's my clear understanding for those with PR.I might well be wrong for other categories of foreigners and in any case I'm not sure their TIN will be same as that on their Pink Card.Someone better clued up could advise.

3 hours ago, jayboy said:

In the last 40 years Christian Adams, David Fall and Mark Gooding have impressed.

I should have also mentioned the very capable and personable Mark Kent.

On 3/11/2024 at 3:14 AM, beautifulthailand99 said:

I had the great pleasure and privilege to work at the Embassy back in 2003 at the old compound on Wireless Road under the wonderful Ambassador Sir David Fall, so I hugely appreciate all the work you do in so many areas, Consular, Trade, Political and Defence to name but 4,all under difficult circumstances. There were 50 UK staff then and 200 LE, and we were always busy, so I can only imagine how run off your feet you must be now. We had Gurkha guards back then, and I remember one morning asking if I could see the knife the kukri they carried, and he replied politely I would love to Mr BT but if I did, I would have to kill you ! If Khun Attakorn is still working there, send my regards, he will know who I am.

David Fall was never knighted though he deserved to be.In fact the only recent Ambassador to be knighted was the likeable James Hodge but this was really because of the Queen's visit during his time.For many years the British Ambassador has not been knighted whereas in the 1960's and before it was almost standard.Whether this reflects the decline of Thailand's importance in British eyes or mediocre Ambassadors, I'm not sure.In the last 40 years Christian Adams, David Fall and Mark Gooding have impressed.There have also been some real stinkers but I will not name them.

If a UK company pension has been agreed by HMRC to be paid free of UK tax (ie has been given an NT coding) does that mean it will be free of tax in Thailand if remitted here? I'm pretty sure that it would be taxable in Thailand but thought the question was just about worth asking.

12 minutes ago, Chongalulu said:

It’s because they moved their onward flights to Australia and the like from Bangkok to Singapore. Obviously AOT became uncompetitive/ inconvenient compared to Singapore,so this just reflects what they reckon Bangkok only route is worth 

And it may explain the silly business class price I quoted earlier.I'm guessing BA hopes to capture the relatively small First Class market with a decent business class and a price to match.To be fair the premium economy and economy fares look quite reasonable

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

That's a nonsense equivalence. The sufferings of the Japanese people caused by the American attacks ceased entirely after they surrendered. The Gazans are already conquered and blockaded, and the illegal collective punishment continues anyway.

Have the Hamas criminals surrendered?