jayboy

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

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.

Some people will never learn.In Thailand it is often possible to structure entities that are nominally legal (there are multiple lawyers who will advise on this though they rarely mention any downside) but are nevertheless in conflict with the spirit /intention of Thai authorities.Nine times out of ten there will be no problem and the entity can operate without significant issues.The problem can come when the entity is stress tested perhaps by an unforeseen event, a hostile local business man or a tightening up of laws to better reflect intent. A wise foreigner looks beyond lawyers advice and tries to ensure his operation reflects Thai policy as well as Thai legal niceties. There are I should say excellent legal firms who give non partisan decent advice - but they are expensive and few in number.The foreign cowboys rarely consult them.

There are quite a few young Brits on TikTok like him extolling the virtues of Thailand and reviling the UK.Mostly they are thuggish creeps but there are also decent Gap Year types who are in love with Thailand - not a wrong reaction from a young arrival - we've all been there. This particular individual is a pleasant enough young man but super naive, and I suspect a bit thick..He should lose his horrible speaking manner and stop sculpting his eyebrows.

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

As a former frequent flyer (usually business class) with BA from Bangkok to UK I swore that after horrible experiences I would never fly with them again.Then they gave up on Thailand so I did not have to consider. Now they are back from end year.Out of curiosity I checked the business class return cost.It's Bt 276,000 about Bt 150,000 more than better alternatives such as Eva. So I will continue to forswear the delights of poor service, obese cabin crews, grating estuary accents, unreliable timing and disgusting food and overall mediocrity.Not a hard choice.

Have the Hamas criminals surrendered?

Your proposed "solution" would not solve anything as well you know. It seems you are a pacifist, a perfectly honourable position but not mine.

This is like someone in 1945 saying saying the Pearl Harbour attack in 1941 was a very unfortunate event which cannot be excused - but that it is all in the past and we should concentrate on the sufferings of the Japanese population perpetrated by American genocidal maniacs. This type of poster, not necessarily malevolent, curses the Israelis but never ever ventures to suggest what should have been the appropriate response to the Hamas crimes.

Tough to have much sympathy with this peculiar combination of ignorance, stupidity, racism and muddled thinking.

What an odd comment.It only takes a few minutes and as far as I know it's the only briefing that has been given by a senior source in the Revenue Department.

The video makes it very clear that the person is a senior legal expert from the Thai Revenue Department.

What a pointless comment.In my opinion the ambassador did an excellent job.I

I'm not sure there is a "right wing" position on this issue.In fact many "right wingers" have argued that it is wrong to deny this woman her rights and privileges as a British citizen.It doesn't mean they have any sympathy for this woman but they dislike the concept of a powerful state which ignores ancient constitutional principles.Actually the proponents of a powerful interfering nanny state are usually to be found on the "left."

You and many others on this forum have ignored the great point of principle at stake here.It is perfectly possible to hold this individual in contempt and yet insist she has a right to her nationality.Some will be surprised by the author of what follows. https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/shamima-begum-shouldnt-have-lost-her-british-citizenship/

Jonathan Sumption, former Justice of the Supreme court and one of the smartest legal brains in the country, demolishes the argument that the UK can cast its obligations aside in this case. " By statute, the home secretary cannot deprive a person of British citizenship if it would render them stateless. The person must have citizenship of at least one other country. When the decision was made, in 2019, Ms Begum was 19. She was a citizen of Bangladesh, but only in the most technical sense. She had provisional citizenship until she was 21, when it would lapse unless she took it up. This was because her parents were born there. But she has never been to Bangladesh. She has no links with the country. And Bangladesh has disowned her. Her Bangladeshi citizenship always was a legal fiction."

Read his Wikipedia page.It's quite an eye opener.

Bangkok Hospital offers a higher dose flu vaccine for those who are 65+, apparently offering greater protection than the normal 4 strain flu vaccine.Price is Baht 2800 compared to Baht 700 - Baht 1000 or so for the usual flu jab. Not sure whether the higher dose is recommended for all 65+ or just those not in particularly robust health.My doctor has never mentioned the higher dose option when discussing vaccinations. Does anyone know about this?

I always enjoy being tutored by Dan about Thai culture in which he is so expert not to mention hearing about exciting business opportunities. I would single out the guided tours of shabby chic Pattaya condos and recommended all you can eat dining spots in that delightful metropolis.All this in his dulcet English tones so reminiscent of Benedict Cumberbatch.

High income types (lets use the LTR definition of $ 80,000 per year though I think that's on the low side) are very few in the expatriate retired category.Those that are usually aren't residents for more than half the year and in any case are sophisticated people who have decent tax advice. I doubt whether they are particularly concerned because unlike typical pensioners, can easily structure their remittance from pre-2024 wealth and hence non-taxable. Then they assume wrong.I was thinking primarily of the use of foreign credit cards for Thailand related goods and services - hotels, flights and the like.For the rather sad thought of some pensioners using ATMs to fund Thailand expenses, I doubt whether most of these will be filing tax returns at all.By definition they will be at the lower end of the income scale.It is anyway at this stage just nonsense to suggest using ATMs will carry any kind of risk.This is a tourist economy, remember?

Congratulations on making an astute decision.

The LTR visa is looking like a smart decision by those who qualify - particularly from a tax perspective. I would be interested to know how many people have been able to avail themselves (ie actually succeeded in obtaining) the "wealthy pensioner" category which requires assured income of at least US$ 80,000 p.a. From the BOI perspective all the other LTR categories make sound sense in terms of fulfilling the strategy of attracting expats who can add value.But the 'wealthy pensioner" category doesn't seem to me to make much sense or even belong in the programme at all given the comparatively low financial bar * to entry.I think those who have qualified in this category should congratulate themselves.My hunch is that prospective new entrants in the future might well find this route blocked. * Please don't respond by claiming $ 80,000 is already a very high sum.It's not for a "wealthy pensioner" but debate on this subject - at least on this forum - is pointless.

Once again common sense is needed.We are talking in the main about retired expatriates on average to low incomes.It is almost inconceivable that the Thai RD will be hitting this category with audits.So we start from that base.Even in the hypothetical case of an audit there would be no repercussions from the occasional use of a foreign credit card - not least because it would not necessarily show up in any audit trail. If all resident retirees were compelled to submit income tax returns, the matter might be worth reviewing again - but even then the risk in my view is negligible. On this forum there are a great many people who are understandably concerned.There's are a lot of information which should in most instances reassure them - and we will have to see how the next year pans out.

You may have finished with Covid.But has it finished with you?