3 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

I think what is daunting for most average people at this stage is the fear of the unknown, fear of "The Revenue" and the lack of familiarity with the subject matter. Get stuck in, the RD people are super helpful and will do it for you if you ask,they are used to foreigners asking for help.

I think what is most daunting is the prospect of paying tax in a case where none was payable before - not some anxiety at the process involved.

There are always some clerical types who will get off on completing the paperwork.Happy Christmas to them.

Yes I'm sure RD bureaucrats were super helpful to eager foreigners especially those naive enough to insist on making tax returns when it wasn't really necessary.Let's see how helpful they are when it is actually necessary.

4 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

 

All the prostitutes in Thailand wouldn't generate anywhere near the revenue required to power the level of development going on in Pattaya.

As I have already tried to explain, an infrastructure has developed - hotels, supporting services, golf, Bangkok weekenders etc so that Pattaya has a momentum of its own and has in fact for several decades.But the truth is, which even major hoteliers don't deny, that it was built on prostitution.

I can think of other places round the globe which more discretely perhaps had the same kind of origin.What's unique to Pattaya is the mainly very downmarket clientele.Look at the farang influencers who promote Pattaya on social media.I mean just look at them.

57 minutes ago, BigStar said:

 

That you're aware of, having seen little of Pattaya, but in fact there is, living in the upscale condos and the housing estates all around. Business owners, professionals, middle managers, etc. Kids going to private schools and later studying abroad, the whole bit. The dynamic growing economy built on international and domestic tourism and retirees has led to a surprisingly prosperous small city. 

 

The argument that the middle class isn't as large as Bangkok's is silly and irrelevant, given the respective sizes of the cities. The worry about "residency" is phony in any case. You don't have a credible argument.

 

 

Don't confuse the economic development of the Eastern Seaboard with the prostitution driven economic activity of Pattaya.

8 minutes ago, Mike Teavee said:

Me & all of my mates found our way to Pattaya after living in Bangkok for a few years (I came down here 1st as my Partner had close family living in Rayong & we wanted to get out of the city & live by the sea), none of us moved here for the Mongering. 

 

 

It's like judging Bangkok by Soi Nana / Cowboy etc..., or Singapore by Geylang / Orchard Towers (Now gone) etc... Yes it's there if that's what you're looking for but it's not hard to avoid if you're not looking for it. 

 

 

 

Again, you're talking about one small part of Pattaya City, out by the lakes there are some really nice houses, I live in a really nice beach front condo, there's something for everybody here. 

You make some fair points and obviously there are going to be exceptions, no doubt many.

However Pattaya is a resort built on prostitution and that is the reality.The judging by Soi Nana/Cowboy argument doesn't really work because Bangkok is built on so much else and has a sophisticated and educated middle class.

1 hour ago, Mike Lister said:

Good, I hope that continues, not everyone has had the same good fortune however.

It may depend on what address is used, ie Thailand or home country.The latter might present problems over time.However if the card is issued (let us say by a British bank) to a openly declared resident of Thailand  - with Thailand address etc, I don't think that any Thailand based expenditure on the card would be queried.Why should it be?

58 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

If you have a child at private school in Thailand and you are also living with a wife, remittance of gift to spouse might be a good way to handle school fees. 

As matters stand if one paid school fees from a cash bank account which existed prior to 1.1.2024 ( memo to self: get accountant friendly record of year end cash balances), I don't think the question of Thai income tax would arise at all - so no need to gift spouse.

But as one member correctly observed this kind of discussion is a bit daft and there's a danger of overthinking on paltry evidence.Let's wait and see.

3 hours ago, Repton1 said:

Appreciate all the responses. Very useful and informative. Yes I have been residing with PR status in Thailand for several years now, during which 6 months ago I applied for and received a reentry permit/endorsement. I also recently exited and reentered Thailand with no issue. I am also aware of the updating of the red police book every 5 years. 
However I recently found out a friend of mine, who is also a PR holder, has under advisement of his agent reported to immigration annually. I see various mentions of this online from various sources though seems a bit vague. See https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand-visa/permanent-residence-thailand under heading "Annual Reporting". Is this information incorrect/out of date? Thank you.

You should tell your friend to get a new agent because he is either dishonest or incompetent.As to the link you provided, the section on annual reporting to immigration is simply wrong:there is no such requirement.

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

Atorvin  (made by Unison)   

Chlovas  (made by Millimed)

Lipostat  (made by  Siam Bheasach) 

 

Will run about 500 baht for 30 tabs

Many thanks.These alternatives appear to be about half the price of Atavorstatin Sandoz 20.

On another tack is there a difference in efficacy between Atavorstatin and say Simvastatin or is it not a question possible to answer because they do different things? I had always assumed statins were much the same, and doctors prescribed - sometimes after trial and error - based on the patients tolerance and minimization of any side effects.

Can someone please advise a locally available alternative to Atorvastatin 20mg Sandoz.

18 minutes ago, noobexpat said:

 

I've bolded the incorrect bits.

 

You also misunderstand the purpose of a DTA. 

Thanks.Isn't the purpose of a DTA to prevent the double taxation of income? Thus if a Brit has HMRC agreed NT status on his/her UK sourced pension income the provisions for tax exemption/tax credit in Thailand under the DTA are not relevant to him/her.Seems logical but perhaps I have missed something.

2 minutes ago, noobexpat said:

 

Stick to your day job, which clearly isn't tax. I will do the same - which is!

You're right it's not my day job.Can you refer me to the bit or bits where I have gone wrong.

52 minutes ago, noobexpat said:

 

Why would they be taxed in UK when you are non resident and the pension provider is using an NT tax code provided by hmrc?

 

I think a lot of expats never completed their P85. I couldn’t wait to fill mine in 555

 

I believe the onus is on the individual to submit the P85 and argue the case for NT status with HMRC who would then advise the pension provider.

I gather it's not nearly as simple as it might appear and I know a few who have been unsuccessful in getting the NT status despite having a good case.

Be that as it may, those residents of Thailand with NT status will obviously not be able to benefit from the provisions of the UK/Thailand DTA (because they have been exempted from paying tax in the UK resulting in a conclusion they should pay in\come tax in Thailand).That presents a problem for them, unless they have the financial resources to fund themselves from pre-2024 investments/savings.

27 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

 

The only drawback is you will have to file a tax return (currently not required if you owe nothing at all). And may need, at least the first time, the services of an accountant well versed in the DTA etc to know how to show the fact that the SS is exempt.

 

If you have a US credit card that you can pay out of a US bank account, making more use of that for larger ticket items might help you stay within just your SS. Alternatively, transfer some extra funds as a cushion now before the new rules go into effect.

 

in order to be extra sure I can live solely on my SS I have switched to use of US card when buying air tickets to abroad and for my (internationally based) health insurance.  In both instances, though I do the transaction from Thailand the funds never enter Thailand at all, except/unless I use a Thai air carrier.

 

This sums up my own position exactly.Funds already transferred to my Thai bank account.Next year will maximize use locally of UK credit card.Resigned to having to file tax return for 2024 tax year and in due course will seek accountant that meets my requirements.Will take no immediate action as for time being this is a developing situation.There is time - filing limit for 2024 tax year is 31.3.2024.

20 hours ago, kennypowers said:

Save yourself the hassle of speculation and read this: https://www.thethailandlife.com/expat-tax-thailand It has the facts and latest updates. Thank me later :)

 

Just a rehash by some beachcomber type of what is already known though missing out on chunks.Near useless.

13 minutes ago, Shoeless Joe said:

For me, I've transferred around 1 million baht in pensions from my bank every month for about 12 years and live quite comfortably.

1 million baht per month in pensions.That's amazing - you are very fortunate. That"s about £ 22,000 pm or £ 264000 pa, say £ 343,000 gross before UK tax.

14 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

I never said anything of the sort, you can't read properly or comprehend or both.

"The average farang retiree lives here on much less than 1 mill, surveys in this forum over the years confirm that."

1 hour ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

Yes there are honest, English speaking, competent tax experts - but they aint cheap - they mainly deal with businesses in regards to income taxations.

I know some of them personally, mainly well known firms which are reliable and have integrity.The problem is that, as you note, they are pricey. Having said that biting the bullet and coughing up - at least in the first tax year or so - might well be preferable to using one of the farang bottom feeders.

On 12/6/2023 at 12:40 PM, Dogmatix said:

I took a break from this thread for a few days to regain my sanity.  Now as the year is drawing to a close I am thinking of liquidating some long held shares overseas.  The question is does it seem likely that the RD would accept evidence of capital gains realised in 2023 as 'seasoned' income that can be remitted tax free any time in the future, regardless of what happened to the proceeds after that?

Interesting question to which I don't know the answer.It does occur to me to wonder whether honest, English speaking, competent and intelligent firms of tax advisers exist in Thailand who would process expatriates tax returns for a reasonable fee.

I also wonder what would be the position if one was able to ring fence investments made prior to 31.12.2023 and only make remittances to Thailand from this source,thus presumably without being liable for Thai tax.But would be the tax status of dividends or interest on cash deposits? Would they count as current income and thus eligible to be taxed?

42 minutes ago, Stevey said:

Didn’t a nurse come out and say she was involved in the Boris near death experience and say it was overblown?

He probably would not have died but he was extremely ill as his doctors attested.

As for the obesity issue, it's not even up for debate -

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/health-blog/may-2021/covid-19-dangerous-patients-obesity