jayboy

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?

26 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Possibly through immigration.

Or they could simply require all tax resident foreigners to file.

If you want to lie on that, best of luck. 

It's already a requirement for tax resident foreigners to file.I very much doubt whether 1% non working retirees actually do.

As noted elsewhere implementation of requirement for tax certificate on exiting the Kingdom would do the job.

23 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

No tax clearance certificate, no visa/re-entry permit or visa, the US used to do similar with green card holders.

Tax clearance certificate seems most likely as the statutory requirement is still on the books.The practical implementation was phased out in the 1980's.

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

My take is at the very least eventually most Thailand tax resident expats are going to at least be required to FILE a Thai tax return even if they will owe nothing.

 

Perhaps but I don't see how it would be enforced.

6 minutes ago, sirineou said:

A bit difficult  for immigrants to be of the same ethnicity as the host country.

Er, actually it's quite easy if we are referring to immigrants from the same stock/cultural background as the majority population - think Ukraine compared with Libya.

It's a sensitive and complicated area of course.In the UK Nigerians, South Africans,Australians and Indians for example tend to fit in well because they share cultural characteristics including language.

Educated immigrants from anywhere tend to fit in and adapt.Uneducated and religious zealots tend not to.

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Will those be the same people who voted to replace immigrants from Europe with immigrants from India and the Philippines I wonder?

 

Yes there's an irony there if one believes those who voted for Brexit were essentially racist in motivation.They didn't get the immigration system they wanted - though to be fair I don't think there is much prejudice at all to immigrants from the countries you mention.

In all these matters there's a need not to jump to simplistic and intellectually lazy responses (Not accusing you of that!).

On 11/4/2023 at 6:41 AM, sirineou said:

Why is it that surveys that support one's bias are always done properly and the ones that opposed, have to have something wrong with them?  

I have no reason to believe this poll was not done properly though the sampling is rather small.However the extract omits a key point which is given in the Guardian article, namely that 2/3 respondents still believe it is a bad idea for immigrants to be of a different ethnicity/culture to the majority population.

2 hours ago, Hardcastle P said:

They must be retired civil servants with a golden pension pot certainly not you Mr average whose pension will  be frozen the day they come to Thailand. 

Not necessarily.Since you seem to be unaware of it most middle class UK pensioners - even those you describe as Mr Average - have additional pension support in addition to the state pension.This could be a company or government pension, and/or a personal pension built up through savings/investment over a career.The state pension is in these cases a very small part of overall pension income.

Schemes of this kind are I agree beyond the scope of those completely dependent on the UK state pension.I would go further by arguing people in these restricted financial circumstances should not be considering retirement in a country like Thailand.

In view of the possibility resident expatriates remittances from overseas will be taxed with effect from 2024 (details still vague I know) how will transfers of this sort be treated I wonder? In other words transfer of substantial amounts derived from savings to purchase high value items such as a condo.Surely this kind of transfer will not be taxed but I don't see how the Thai Revenue Department system will be able to differentiate from it from investment income etc

10 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Also used it to open a bank account, at Krungsri, but I had to also show my passport.

And that in a nutshell is the issue with the Pink Card.

Having said that I have had no problem in using the Pink Card to book into 5 star hotels.But in any kind of transaction with banks such as opening accounts it's probably sensible to take the passport along as well.

I understand that a Thai national's Tax Identity Number is the same at his/her 13 figure national identity number as issued by the Ministry Of Interior.

For foreigners with PR I wonder whether the same applies - ie the 13 figure number on the tabien baan/driving license/pink card etc - or is there a different method used?

3 hours ago, Bangkokhatter said:

You seem to have a problem with No.3 why can't you just ignore all the nonsense posted on his social media like most of us do ?

No problem with number 3 at all. But it's absurd to put him in the same category as Heinecke and Link.The former two are $ billionaires for a start and extremely well connected.

1 hour ago, Goat said:

When I think of successful expats who have really made it here in Thailand, three people come to mind.

Agreed, agreed and are you having a laugh?

22 hours ago, Metapod said:

So from all of this, my take away for my situation is to simply remit less money into Thailand and pay tax on what I remit. I had planned to make some more investments here but I'll be parking that money abroad and investing outside of Thailand instead. I'll also consider any large purchases or plans domestically as well if it will cost me an additional 30% to do it locally. I travel abroad frequently, so I'll do my major shopping in other countries and things like elective surgury for LASIK etc will just be done elsewhere.

 

 

I have been thinking about these issues too, but surely it's the case that we just don't know enough of the detail at this stage to make specific arrangements.I don't object to paying Thai income tax if fairly implemented.I do object to Thai income tax on inward remittances on sums which are from savings not income, and in my case have in part already had Thai tax paid on them years ago.

Be that as it may some possibilities come to mind:

- paying school fees directly to the school from off shore

- using foreign credit cards for Thailand expenditure - hotels, flights etc

- ramp up cash/bank holdings in Thailand now

and of course reduce remittances to Thailand as far as possible.

On 10/24/2023 at 4:49 PM, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

a position with a large multinational firm that would give them a generous expat package

Dream on.These are as rare as dragons teeth these days and certainly not available to Thai expatriates  who deign to return unless they have some highly marketable skills.Most end up working for the family firm.

I have interviewed quite a few of these people in my time.A key impression was how dreadful (not personally but in terms of being employable) were the alumni from second rate American universities.The best of them with advanced critical thinking faculties wrote their own ticket.

The main problem even high flying Thai expatriates experience on return to Thailand is the lack of a personal network.Obviously this will vary depending on the length of absence.

2 hours ago, In Full Agreement said:

And I'll bet you totally avoid Pattaya at all costs.

Not really.The top resorts are an excellent and convenient escape from Bangkok.

2 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

The last question “which will pair watch with Iphone?” I don’t understand.

Not a question, just an observation that the watch will be paired with my Iphone to share a number.

Thinking of buying new Apple watch.Should one buy from Apple store online (as I have done before) or via a local provider (AIS,DTAC etc) which will pair watch with Iphone?

41 minutes ago, SingAPorn said:

The new tax rules aimed on foreigners

There are no new tax rules, just broad policy directives which will eventually result in specific changes.

In any case they are not "aimed on foreigners." Although one would not realize from the multiple and often hysterical posts on this thread, they are aimed at Thais with foreign assets/investments.Foreigners who are 180+ residents may obviously be obliged to pay whatever additional tax is required but they are not the main target.

I have had my eyesight checked at a top Bangkok hospital, and am therefore with records of the "medical'"side of my eyes.However as the next step I am now seeking a good optician who is familiar with contact lenses, spectacles and all related issues.Any recommendations?